“I can’t be around you. You have to understand—”

“I know, Sof.” The dreariness she remembered from when they were in high school was back. He wasn’t the strong Brandon she’d been so impressed with last summer. The faint bruising around his eye didn’t help, either. “I just hoped I could speak with you one last time before I leave. Do you have a few minutes so we can go somewhere more private?”

“No,” was her immediate reaction—her brothers would flip—Eric would never forgive her.

He glanced around. “Can you give me a second then... here?”

She stood strong. What could he do here in a public store? “Make it fast.”

His eyebrows pinched and for a moment there, he looked ready to cry. “My old man is dying,” Taking a deep breath, he looked away as if to pull himself together. Sofia’s heart dropped. “I’m not just here for the holidays. I took an emergency leave to come back and get things settled. He’s known, but the cancer’s really spread now. I’m taking them both back with me to Georgia. The house is already for sale. My dad wants me to take the money and buy a house out there. The property is way cheaper than in California.” His eyes met hers, but only for a second before he looked away again. “I just wanted to say goodbye and apologize for any problems I’ve caused.”

The past few weeks had been horrendous for Sofia. Not hearing from Eric had been the worst suffering ever. Now she could only think about what Brandon must’ve been going through. “I’m so sorry, Brandon. I had no idea.”

“I just came in here to pick up his meds.” He lifted his hand with the bag from the pharmacy. “But I’m glad I saw you. There’s something I really want to tell you.”

Sofia’s eyes went from the bag in his hand to his face again. His expression was so pained, she was tempted to touch him. “What’s that?”

“Are you sure we can’t go somewhere else to talk?”

“No way, Brandon.” She’d learned her lesson.

He stared at her for a second before speaking again. “I’m in love with you, Sof.” His voice became a whisper. “I thought I was in high school. Last summer only confirmed it. I almost didn’t re-enlist because of that kiss.”

Sofia shook her head, feeling her eyes well up. This was the last thing she needed to hear.

“Don’t worry. I know it’s impossible. I just needed to tell you before I left. I won’t be back anymore.” He almost swatted the tear that escaped the corner of his eye. “I needed to say it to you, if only one time. I’m glad I got the chance.”

She had no words. He reached out and squeezed her shoulder. “Goodbye, Sof.” He turned and took off down the aisle in a rush.

Sofia stood there, still stunned. How could he be in love with her? He hardly knew her.

“Was it just a kiss?”

Sofia spun around, almost jumping out of her skin. Eric’s dad stood there waiting for a response. Mortification sunk in. He knew. Of course he knew. Eric would tell him something like this. They’d always been that close.

“Yes,” she whispered.

His chuckle surprised her. “Well, thank you for not agreeing to go somewhere private to talk to him. My son wouldn’t have been happy to hear it if you had.”

She pressed her lips together, at a complete loss of how to respond to that.

“Was all that drama this past summer over a kiss? Really?”

“Yes,” She nodded, chewing her bottom lip. “And I’ll regret it forever, Mr. Diego.”

To her surprise, he leaned over and hugged her. “Eric is something else.” He shook his head and patted her back gently. “You’re a good girl, Sofia.” He pulled away and spoke face to face to her. “I know you probably think I don’t care for you. I’ve never had anything against you.” He pursed his lips. “Well, that is until this past summer. But Eric made such a fuss I thought you’d slept with Brandon.”

“God, no! I would never!”

“The way he acted I was certain—”

“Did he say I did?” An uncontrollable panic swept through her. “He doesn’t think I did, does he?”

“All he ever said was that you cheated on him and that he’d never do to you, what you did to him.”

Words she’d never get over. She cried for days after that call.

“Sofia, I know Eric is still hurt. Butill hurt he loves you very much. I want you know I’m hoping it works out for you two. You belong together.”

There was no way to hold in what she’d been feeling all week. Her trembling lip betrayed her and he leaned in and hugged her again. After crying for a few more minutes, while Eric’s dad consoled her, promising things would work out, she left.

Sofia drove home in a daze. Once there, she sat in her driveway and continued to cry. At first softly, then she was overwhelmed and she buried her face in her hands. The garage door opened. She worked fast to clean up her face, but she couldn’t bring herself to stop crying. Alex walked toward the car, hurrying when he saw the tears.

“What’s wrong?” He flung the door open and squatted down. “What happened?”

She shook her head, afraid to even say Brandon’s name. “Nothing.”

Alex searched her face as the tears continued to pour out. “What is it, Sof?” He rubbed her knee. “Tell me.”