Uriel's POV
The thought of Larry's past with Lara kept me on edge. My mind spun with questions, doubts, and feelings I wasn't prepared to face. But I also knew I had to be open—if we were going to have a real shot at this, I needed to give him the chance to explain. If what he had to say turned out to be outrageous, at least I could walk away knowing I hadn't buried the truth.
Larry once said we weren't rushing things, and he was right. We hadn't even kissed. So, if things fell apart, I could live with that—maybe not painlessly, but without regret.
I was heading back to school, and this time, I had Cue with me. My favorite birthday gift from Larry. She was bigger now, well-behaved, and full of energy. Fortunately, none of my roommates had allergies, and Cue was trained well enough not to be a burden.
One of our drivers dropped me off at school. Later that evening, I slipped away, telling my roommate I was going for a walk—technically not a lie. I called Larry, and we agreed to meet at his house by 5 PM. I kept it simple—no dramatic dressing up. A face cap and light cologne would do. I didn't want to draw attention, especially if any family members were lurking around.
When I got there, he was home, dressed casually in white shorts and a sleeveless top. Cue ran to him, tail wagging as if she recognized him instantly.
"Good girl," Larry cooed, stroking her head. "You should've told me she was coming. I'd have gotten some treats ready."
"She just ate before we left," I replied, settling onto the sofa. "We're not staying long. You probably already know why I'm here."
He nodded, taking a seat beside me. "Yeah. I also hoped you'd stay a little longer."
"Oh no," I laughed softly. "I need to be back in two hours, tops. My roommate might start sniffing around."
"Sniffing?" he repeated, amused.
"Yeah, I think she's on my mom's payroll," I teased, but not really joking.
He chuckled. "You mentioned that. Has she done anything recently?"
"No, but I'm staying cautious."
Larry's expression softened as he took my hand. "We don't have to stay hidden forever, Uriel. I want this to be real. Someday, I'd like your parents to know. I want their blessing."
I sighed. "And you know what that would mean. Especially after everything."
"But maybe your mom's already starting to see you differently," he added gently. "She picked out your outfit for the reunion, didn't she? That dress... you looked stunning. Maybe she's realizing you're a grown woman now."
"I hope so," I said, smiling faintly.
I set my glass of juice down. I wasn't sure if I was ready for this, but the tension had been sitting between us for far too long.
"Speaking of the reunion," I began, trying to sound casual, "I need to ask you something."
His eyes shifted slightly, his posture stiffening.
"About Lara?"
He blinked. "What about her?"
"Don't do that," I snapped, trying not to let my voice shake. "Don't act like you don't know. Because if you keep pretending, I promise I'll walk out that door and you won't hear from me again."
He paused, then exhaled slowly. "Fine. You deserve the truth. I just didn't know how to tell you."
I folded my arms, bracing myself.
"Lara and I dated," he said. "We were engaged."
My breath caught. "Excuse me?"
He looked down. "It was a while ago. We were introduced by your mother. Things moved fast. It felt right at the time… until it didn't."
I felt my heart sink. "My mother introduced you two?"
He nodded.
"That's why she interrupted your argument," I murmured. "She's still invested in that chapter."
"Yes," he said softly. "We ended it. Things didn't work out. We were never compatible—not the way you and I are."
"No, no… This is too much." I stood, my hands trembling. "You're not just a family friend, Larry. You're also my cousin's ex-fiancé."
"It's not what you think—"
"That's exactly the problem. It's worse than I imagined."
I whistled softly for Cue and headed for the door.
"Uriel," Larry said urgently, "at least let me take you home. It's dark."
I hesitated, but he insisted. The ride back was quiet—Cue resting on my lap, Larry focused on the road, and me? I sat there, wondering what I had just stepped into.
And what I was still feeling… despite everything.
The moment Uriel shut the door behind her, I felt the weight of silence settle back into the car.
She didn't even look back.
I sat there for a while, staring at the building like I could somehow will her to come back out and give me just one more second—one more chance to explain everything better. But she didn't.
Cue's leash dangled from the passenger seat, and I could still smell her faint perfume lingering in the air. It was subtle, familiar. A reminder that she was just here, and now... she wasn't.
I leaned back in my seat and let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. My hands tightened around the steering wheel. I had rehearsed the truth a hundred times in my head. I thought honesty would clear the air, bring relief. But watching the disappointment in Uriel's eyes made me realize that truth can sting worse than lies—especially when it arrives too late.
The worst part? I didn't regret dating Lara back then. I regretted that it was Uriel who had to find out like that, in the middle of something we were still trying to define. Something so fragile, it could shatter from one wrong step.
I wasn't proud of how close my past still sat at the table of my present. Uriel deserved clarity, not complications. And certainly not a love triangle she never asked to be part of.
I started the car, but I didn't drive off immediately.
I sat in the dark, engine humming, thinking about how I could fix this. If I could.
Maybe I should've kept things quiet between us longer. Maybe I should've told her about Lara the moment I realized how deep my feelings for Uriel were. But "maybe" was useless now. What mattered was whether she'd still let me in after this... or if I'd already lost my shot.
I pulled away slowly from the curb, knowing that the road ahead wasn't just about driving—it was about finding a way back to her. If she'd let me.