Page 79 of The Intimacy of Control

“We did. Very happy lives, and Ernesto left me the two greatest gifts of my life.” She placed a hand on each of her son’s shoulders, giving them a smile. “Now, I get to share one of those gifts with you, Jack. You make my son very happy, you know.”

“He makes me very happy, too.” I looked at Forrest, taking in the gorgeous side profile of the man I loved. Truly, deeply, undeniably loved.

River groaned from across the table. “That’s so gross. You two are gross. This is an outrage.”

“Just because you can’t get anyone special, fartwad, doesn’t mean you have to be mean to me.”

“That’s exactly what it means. You’re all happy and blushy and gross and weird. Hopeless romantic.”

Their mom glared at River. “Mijo, be kind. Hopeless romantic isn’t an insult. You’ll find your person one day. He’ll come when you least expect it, and then you’ll understand.”

I nodded along with her. “Your mom is right⁠—”

“Josefina, honey.”

“Josefina is right. I mean, look at me. I never thought I’d find someone special. I was too scared to think I could.” I grabbed Forrest’s hand, rubbing my thumb along the back of it. “It took forty years, but I found the one. You’ll find your one. It’ll feel like magic when you first see him, and the magic won’t ever stop.”

River didn’t roll his eyes. He didn’t make a big fuss. He didn’t immediately settle for throwing out rude comments. Instead, he looked straight down at his bowl and dipped his spoon into it. “Magic sounds kind of nice, I guess.” He was mumbling, but we could all hear him.

I wondered if River was lonely. All that personality…was it a front?

“You’re going to be a great addition to the family, Jack. I’m very glad my son found you.” Josefina looked up at the photo of Ernesto one more time. “We both are.”

We ate what I found out was called el pozole together—a rendition of pozole made in Puebla—talked about everything under the sun and laughed together. River talked about moving to Newton once the new Fire and Ice location opened, to which Forrest had to go all big brother on him. They bickered. Josefina admonished them, reminding them that they do, in fact, love each other.

The Castillo family made me feel right at home—something I hadn’t felt since Grandma passed. All it took was a little bit of magic, a small taste of freedom, and a whole lot of time to get here, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

They didn’t hate me after all.

chapter twenty-seven

Callum rounded the table, placing his palms onto it and staring straight into my soul. “Your house is boring and lifeless. And this wooden table? A crime.”

I raised my eyebrows at him, giving a cursory glance across the top of the table. “Wow. Thanks, buddy. Way to give me the confidence boost of my life. What the fuck is wrong with my table?”

“The grain is fucked to all hell. The legs aren’t stable. It’s all beat up and stuff.”

I ran my finger over some of the grain. “My table is fine, you bastard.”

“I could make a much better one.” He shrugged. “Just saying.”

Forrest was laughing beside me, which was rude as hell. I nudged his shoulder. “Don’t laugh. You’ll only egg him on.” I pointed to the chair Cal was neglecting to sit on. “Care to tell us why you called this emergency meeting and refused to let us come to your house to do it?”

“Okay, okay.” He finally took a seat, folding his hands out in front of him. “I have something I want to ask. I only trust you two with this, okay? So hear me out.”

Well, that kind of scared me. I glanced at Forrest, who was already looking at me, too. When I turned my attention back to Callum, I nodded. “Okay. Go for it.”

He looked a little hesitant to open his mouth at first, but then he took a deep breath and focused on us. “I want you guys to have Papa’s house. Together.”

Okay, yeah. Didn’t expect that at all whatsoever. I looked at Forrest, Forrest looked at me, and both of us had wide eyes and shocked faces of nothing but confusion. Us? Together? For one, I already had a house, despite Cal saying it lacked life. Which, ouch. That shit kinda hurt.

A million thoughts and words and concerns passed between Forrest and me without even a single verbal one. I looked at Callum, tilting my head. “Why us? We don’t even live together. We can’t just own a house together.”

Cal shrugged. “Why not? This gives you the chance.”

“We’ve barely started dating, though.”

“Okay, and? Tobi moved in with me before we started dating. We turned out fine.”