Updated Feb 20, 2026 • ~6 min read
LUCIA
We’ve been officially dating for two weeks.
Real dating.
Honest dating.
And it’s better than anything I imagined.
We see each other almost every day.
Coffee before work.
Dinner after.
Long walks.
Movie nights.
It feels like falling in love for the first time.
Except better.
Because this time it’s real.
WESTLEY
I’m happy.
Actually, genuinely happy.
Work is good.
Family is good.
Lucia is…
Everything.
“You’re glowing,” Tate says at lunch.
“Shut up.”
“I’m serious. I haven’t seen you this happy in years.”
“Things are good.”
“Just good?”
“Great. Things are great.”
“Told you she was worth the risk.”
He’s right.
She was.
Is.
My phone buzzes.
Unknown number.
I almost don’t answer.
“Hello?”
“West? It’s Vera. Carmen’s old roommate.”
My blood runs cold.
“How did you get my number?”
“From Carmen. She asked me to call you.”
“Why?”
“She wants to meet. To talk. To explain everything.”
Carmen.
The real Carmen wants to meet.
“When?”
“This weekend. If you’re available.”
I look at Tate.
He’s watching me carefully.
“Can I bring someone?”
“Who?”
“Lucia.”
A pause.
“Carmen said you’d probably want to. She’s okay with it.”
“Then yes. We’ll be there.”
LUCIA
West tells me over dinner.
“Carmen wants to meet.”
I set down my fork.
“What?”
“Her old roommate Vera called. Carmen wants to see us. Both of us.”
“Why?”
“To explain. To give us closure, I think.”
My stomach twists.
“How do you feel about that?”
“I don’t know. Nervous? Curious?”
“Do you want to go?”
He takes my hand.
“Not without you.”
“West, this is about you and Carmen. Your past. I don’t need to—”
“Yes, you do. You’re part of this now. And I want you there.”
I squeeze his hand.
“Okay. Then I’ll go.”
WESTLEY
We fly to Phoenix on Saturday.
Lucia is quiet the whole flight.
“You okay?” I ask.
“Just nervous.”
“About what?”
“Seeing her. My sister. Your ex. It’s weird.”
“It’s definitely weird.”
She laughs.
But it’s strained.
“Hey.” I turn her face toward me. “Whatever happens today, we’re solid. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“I mean it. Carmen is my past. You’re my present. And hopefully my future.”
Her eyes fill with tears.
“Hopefully?”
“Definitely. You’re definitely my future.”
LUCIA
We meet Carmen at a coffee shop in Scottsdale.
She’s already there when we arrive.
Sitting in the corner.
I see her and my breath catches.
It’s like looking in a mirror.
But different.
Her hair is shorter.
She looks tired.
Harder around the edges.
She stands when she sees us.
“West.”
“Carmen.”
They stare at each other.
Five years of history hanging between them.
Then Carmen looks at me.
“Hi, Lucia.”
“Hi.”
We sit.
This is the most awkward situation of my life.
CARMEN
West looks good.
Older. More mature.
Happy.
He’s holding Lucia’s hand under the table.
I notice.
I’m glad.
“Thank you for coming,” I say.
“Thank you for reaching out,” West replies.
Polite.
Careful.
We’re strangers now.
“I wanted to explain,” I start. “About why I left. Why I didn’t contact you.”
“Lucia told me. Witness protection.”
“Did she tell you everything?”
West glances at Lucia.
“Tell me yourself.”
So I do.
I tell him about the night at the club.
About witnessing the murder.
About the FBI.
About the threats.
“They told me anyone close to me was in danger. My family. My friends. You.”
“So you left to protect me.”
“Yes.”
“You could have told me. Let me decide.”
“You would have insisted on staying. On protecting me. And you would have died, West.”
His jaw clenches.
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do. Because I know you. You would have tried to be the hero. And it would have gotten you killed.”
WESTLEY
She’s right.
I hate that she’s right.
But she is.
“I spent five years thinking you just left. That I wasn’t enough.”
“You were more than enough. You were everything.”
“Then why didn’t you send a message? Anything?”
“Because the safest thing for you was to think I was gone. To move on. To forget me.”
I look at her.
Really look at her.
This woman I loved.
This woman I was going to marry.
And I feel…
Nothing.
Not anger.
Not love.
Just…closure.
“I forgive you,” I say.
Carmen’s eyes widen.
“What?”
“I forgive you for leaving. For not explaining. You did what you had to do.”
Tears stream down her face.
“Thank you.”
LUCIA
I watch them.
My sister and my boyfriend.
Two people who loved each other once.
And I feel…
Okay.
Not jealous.
Not threatened.
Just okay.
Because West is looking at Carmen like she’s a chapter that’s closed.
And he’s holding my hand like I’m the book he wants to keep reading.
“Can I ask you something?” I say.
Both of them look at me.
“Are you happy? In Phoenix? In witness protection?”
Carmen considers.
“Happy? I don’t know. Safe? Yes. But lonely.”
“Do you ever think about coming back?”
“Every day. But I can’t. Not until the trial is over. And that could be years.”
My heart breaks for her.
My sister.
Living in exile.
“We could visit,” I offer. “If you want. Stay in touch.”
Carmen looks shocked.
“You’d want that? After everything?”
“You’re my sister. I’ve already lost you once. I don’t want to lose you again.”
She reaches across the table.
Takes my hand.
“I’d like that.”
CARMEN
After an hour, West and Lucia leave.
They have a flight to catch.
But before they go, West pulls me aside.
“Take care of yourself, Carmen.”
“You too.”
“I will. I have Lucia now.”
I smile.
“She’s good for you.”
“I know.”
“And West?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry. For everything. But I’m not sorry it led you to her.”
He looks back at Lucia.
“Me neither.”
Then he hugs me.
A goodbye hug.
Final.
And I let him go.
For real this time.
WESTLEY
On the plane home, Lucia is quiet.
“What are you thinking?” I ask.
“That was heavy.”
“Yeah.”
“How do you feel?”
“Relieved. Like I finally got the answers I needed.”
“And how do you feel about Carmen?”
I think about it.
Really think.
“I care about her. I hope she’s okay. But I’m not in love with her anymore.”
“When did that change?”
“I don’t know. Somewhere between losing you and finding you again.”
She rests her head on my shoulder.
“I’m glad we went.”
“Me too.”
“West?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
It’s the first time she’s said it since we started over.
The first time without the shadow of lies hanging over us.
“I love you too, Lucia.”
And I mean it.
With everything I have.
END OF CHAPTER 18
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