Jade groaned again. “It’s not that simple, Mia. They can be overbearing, and sometimes it feels like they don’t respect my independence. But at the same time… they’ve been there for me when no one else was.”
Mia leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “Sounds like you’re stuck between being mad at them and falling for them.”
“That’s the problem,” Jade admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know what to do. It’s like they’ve turned my life upside down, and I’m scared of what it all means.”
Mia reached across the table, grabbing Jade’s hand. “Okay, let’s break this down. First of all, you’ve been through a lot—losing your grandma, the house, everything. You’re allowed to feel overwhelmed. But these guys? They clearly care about you, even if they show it in their own messed-up ways.”
Jade nodded slowly, her grip tightening around Mia’s hand. “I just don’t want to lose myself in all of this. I worked so hard to be independent, and now it feels like I’m relying on them for everything.”
“Independence doesn’t mean refusing help, Jade,” Mia said gently. “Sometimes it’s okay to lean on people, especially when they’ve proven they’re willing to stick around.”
Jade sighed, taking a sip of her coffee. “You make it sound so easy.”
“It’s not easy,” Mia admitted with a shrug. “But it sounds like you’ve already made a choice, even if you don’t realize it yet. The real question is, which one are you going to pick?”
Jade nearly choked on her coffee. “Pick? Mia, I’m not—”
“Oh, please,” Mia interrupted, grinning wickedly. “You can’t tell me you don’t have a favorite.”
Jade’s face burned. “Mia, stop.”
“I’m just saying,” Mia said with a laugh, holding up her hands in mock surrender. “You’ve got options, girl. Own it.”
Despite herself, Jade couldn’t help but smile. “You’re impossible.”
“That’s why you love me,” Mia said, winking.
Jade laughed, the tension in her chest easing for the first time in days. For now, she decided to let go of her worries and enjoy the moment.
***
The sound of soft jazz filled the living room as Jade sat on the couch, scrolling through her phone. It had been a relatively calm day, a rare occurrence in her life lately. She looked up when she heard footsteps approaching, her eyes meeting Thiago’s. He was unusually serious, a faint tension lining his sharp features.
“Hey, Jade,” he started, his tone softer than usual. “Can I talk to you for a second?”
She set her phone down, immediately curious. “Sure, what’s up?”
Thiago sat on the edge of the couch, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees. He hesitated for a moment, which was unlike him. The normally confident and playful man seemed unsure, and it made Jade nervous.
“There’s someone I want you to meet,” he finally said, his voice steady but careful.
Jade tilted her head. “Okay… who?”
“My daughter,” he said simply, watching her reaction closely.