I don’t bother correcting him, just smile back at the woman, letting her read whatever she wants into the silence. She beams at me, her whole face lighting up with genuine warmth, before turning back to Javier and fixing him with a raised brow.
“Lucas has a girlfriend?” she says. “When did that happen?”
“Recently,” Javier replies, his eyes still on me with a look that suggests he’s more interested in studying my reaction than actually answering her question.
I offer a polite nod to the woman before making my way over to a nearby table, where I place my laptop and settle into a chair, still within earshot of their conversation. As I power the laptop on, I hear the woman’s voice call over to me.
“Would you like some chilaquiles for breakfast, Julie?” she asks. “I just finished making the
