It was close to eight and she was setting the table while Valerio was checking the food. At eight there was someone at the gate. Lucrecia buzzed them in and opened the house door to greet Ander and Omar. Omar was surprised to see Lucrecia in a house he knew it didn't belonged to her parents and Ander just winked at her.
''Welcome boys.''
Omar hugged her first.
''You have so many things to clear up missy… I can't believe you just left us in the States.''
''I had to come back.''
''Had to? Really? What was on fire for you to disappear like that?''
Lucrecia just smirked.
''I was…''
It was now Ander's turn to hug Lucrecia and say hi. He didn't say anything, he just hugged her and smiled knowingly at her. After they separated, she took them to the dining room. They took a seat and she offered them a drink. Before Amar responded, Omar simply had to know.
''Is your sudden disappearance related to some man?''
''Maybe…''
''Who is it?''
Valerio showed up from the kitchen and Omar was surprised.
''Valerio? I had no idea you would be here. I was sure we are about to meet Lucrecia's secret lover… She just left us in the States for that man. Do you know him?''
He just looked at Lucrecia, waiting for some sign from her. He nodded at her letting her pick the moment and the way she would tell their story. She turned to Omar and gave him a small smile.
''What you hear and see tonight, has to stat between us. It's really important that you keep it a secret.''
''Lu, you are scaring me now? Is he hurting you? Blackmailing you? Is he married? Are you dating a woman and that's why there is so much mistery?''
''No, it's nothing like that. The reason why it has to be a secret is because it's not really acceptable.''
''So, he is married or it's a woman?''
''No, he is not married. I am not dating a woman. Why would I be ashamed of that Omar?''
Omar didn't have many other things on his mind. He looked at Lucrecia again and got up from his place. He came to her and knelt in front of her.
''You know you can tell me anything? I am here for you. I love you like I love Nadia… I love you like a sister and I can keep your secret.''
''I know, that is why I am doing this.''
''Good…good… I just wanted you to know that…''
''And I say thank you Omar. It's good to know you see me as your family.''
They both waited for a moment when she would spill her guts to Omar. Lucrecia had to be brave and say those words finally.
''Omar… The reason I came back early, the person I've spent most of my life in love with is…''
''…Guzman? You are back with him?''
''NO! No, Omar! I have nothing to do with him.''
''Now I am confused Lucrecia…Only man I've known you loved was him.''
Both Lucrecia and Valerio made disgusted faces.
''It's not quite like that. It's more complicated. I believed I loved him at some point, but in reality I spent most of my life in love with someone else.''
Omar was getting impatient.
''Ok… And who is it?''
Lucrecia stood by Valerio and took his hand.
''It's Valerio…''
Now Omar was confused. He had no idea what Valerio has to do with anything. He was her brother.
''What?''
''The man I am seeing….I've been with for years...And I've loved for years is Valerio…''
Omar was in shock. He just stood there and watched the couple in front of him and then looked at Ander who had small smile on his face. Ander knew about this and never told him. He felt a bit disappointed and betrayed his partner knew all along. Then he looked back and Lucrecia and Valerio who still held on to each other waiting for him to say something. Honestly, he had no idea what to say.
''I have no idea what to say… I am really shocked and surprised. I think I need a minute… I've had this movie in my head about all of us and how we were connected and who we loved… But after this… It's a whole new movie I am watching…''
That was something both Lucrecia and Valerio could live with for the moment. Valerio broke the weird silence.
''How do you like the chilly?''
Ander spoke first.
''I love it. Who made it?''
''I did.''
''You are an amazing cook.''
''I've learned from one of the ladies working for my papa.''
''Your dad?''
''No, my mom's dad. I've lived with him and my grandmother for few years. My mom was too busy with men in her life to pay attention to me.''
''I am sorry.''
''Don't be. Those were the best years of my life… Of course my years with Lu were also amazing, but this time was time with no pain, just nice memories. Lu and I tended to hurt one another a lot. We had very turbulent relationship.''
After hearing the word relationship along with their names, Omar spilled some chilly on his pants.
''I need to go to the restroom to wash this off.''
''I'll join you.''
Valerio gave them directions as where the bathroom was and they thanked men left and that left Lu and Val alone for a moment. She let out the breath she was holding.
''That went ok?''
''I think it did. It will take some time and maybe some weird questions, but he will be ok…''
In all honesty, Valerio had no idea if Omar would be ok with it. This reaction was initial shock and he was quiet and all nice because he was still in shock and putting the puzzle peace together in a different picture now. He had no idea how he would react when he realizes what they actually said to him.
They took their places at the table and Ander started casual conversation with Valerio about his work and what was next big thing he was working on. Both Lucrecia and Valerio were grateful for his quick thinking and not leaving room for awkward silence. Conversation was very fluent between the three of them with very silent Omar that was barely touching his food and watching the other three pretend siblings didn't drop mother of secrets on them.
''Stop it! Stop now!''
They all turned toward Omar and Valerio knew it was coming. Omar looked at his boyfriend in some mix of anger and surprise.
''How can you be so chill about it and pretend you haven't heard what they said?''
''Well, it's none of my business. I don't think anything I say or do would change the fact they are in love and that this is happening.''
''But she is his sister!''
From the other side of the table you could hear only mumbled half-sister. And that was it. Omar just gave them a look and turned back to Ander.
''You knew about this. That is why you are so calm!''
''Yes, Lu told me that night when we got drunk.''
''And you haven't told me?!''
''No, it was not my secret to share. If she didn't choose to tell you, I would have kept the secret until she was ready to spill…no matter how long.''
Omar was hurt. He believed they didn't have secrets.
''You promised there would be no secrets between us after Polo.''
''And there are not. This was not my secret and I had no right to share.''
''But I tell you everything.''
''I know…And I always tell you that I don't need to know secrets that our friends told you. I never betrayed you for telling me any of that. But I also believed it was wrong of you to tell me. People told you some things for a reason and not me or someone else of our friends.''
Omar just looked at Lucrecia and Valerio...
''All these years you were giving shit Nadia for Guzman and all along you were with him.''
Lucrecia felt need to defend herself.
''It was not really like that.''
''And how was it?!''
''I didn't lie when I said I loved Valerio since I was thirteen years old. But I never cheated on Guzman with him. Every time we had issues, I did turn to Valerio for comfort, but it was not always in any sexual way… There were times he just held me and not even tried to kiss me or more. I am not gonna lie and say that we never had sex minutes after Guzman ended our relationship or said something stupid about being on a beak….But we never did anything during my relationship. And she did have sex with Guzman when he was my boyfriend…Twice…''
''And that makes you better?''
''No, but clarifies some things you got wrong from the story. I never said I was a saint. I never wanted to be one. I always knew who I was and I never hid from that. Maybe I hid who the object of my desires and love was, but I never pretended to be better than others, what Nadia did for a long time. She was fucking my boyfriend behind my back and giving me some moral lectures. Well, I was not having it at the time and I am still not having it coming from anyone who thinks they could lecture me. We did become friends and all and I forgave her for Guzman, but I never let her lecture me in my life. And I am sure not letting you do the same.''
''I don't know what to think… It's weird Lucrecia… This behavior is very…. I don't know… Unhealthy on so many levels. Maybe you need some professional help…Someone to help you get rid of your deviant thoughts.''
That was the moment when Ander covered his eyes, because he knew that angry/ mean Lucrecia was coming out to play now.
''And that is coming from a man sleeping with another man. Good thing that what you are doing is not deviant behavior too.''
''At least we are not related.''
''We are not hurting anyone. We just want to be happy…just like everybody else. We deserve to be happy after all the crap we lived. In my life, Valerio was the only person who loved me for whom I was and never asked anything from me. I have a feeling that any other love, not just love with partner, was based on someone expecting or wanting something from me. Wanting to change me and make me into something I never was. Valerio only wanted me to be who I am…and he loved the best and the worst version of me with the same intensity… Just as I love him. So, if you think you deserve to be loved and have your relationship respected I don't see how you can think of saying others don't deserve it.''
''You do Lucrecia, but this...''
''What? Why are you so bothered by thins?''
''Because ! Because you haven't told me before.''
''No one knew… Ander was the first person I told.''
''And my sister has no idea?''
''She knows…''
''But you just said.''
Valerio lifted his hand.
''That would be on me. I told Nadia.''
''Why?''
''In the moment I believed she deserved to know. We became close and I felt like I could tell her anything. At first, I noticed she was shocked, then she was disgusted, but after some time she simply accepted it. I think that acceptance came after Polo's death. We all lost so much that night that us sleeping together was suddenly not such a big deal.''
Ander and Omar were both silent for a moment. That comment from Valerio brought them back to that night and Omar remembered that Lu was a mess before Valerio said something to her. He was staring at his hands and then lifted his gaze toward two of them.
''What did you tell her?''
''What?''
''What did you tell her before she lied to the police?''
''I asked her to lie for me… I asked her for one more lie to save herself. To do it for me… I needed her to be ok so I could be ok.''
''And she did?''
Lucrecia looked at Omar and took Valerio's hand.
''Unfortunately, there is very short list of things we wouldn't do for each other… and at some point to each other just to cause pain and destruction of the other one.''
Valerio had very sad look in his eyes. He took her hand and kissed it.
''It's all in the past Lu. We both grew up and grew out of that phase. Now we have a chance for something better.''
Omar was still in shock that he had no idea about two of them and that their connection was that deep. He started thinking about all the times he saw them very close and how he never doubted their relationship was more than siblings.
''I think I need a moment with this.''
Lucrecia nodded and gave him a small smile.
''I know it's not easy thing to hear or even accept. It took us years to realize what we felt and finally feel good about it.''
Omar was silent for a moment and then got up from his place. He came to Lucrecia and took her hand. He pulled her to get up and hugged her.
''I might need a moment to get used to all this… But I love you Lu… You are like sister to me…''
And then he mumbled…
''Shit…''
And that got everyone to laugh.
''Two of you ruined the word for me now…. But you know what I want to say… You are…shit… What word can I use that two of you didn't ruin with your shenanigans?''
Ander couldn't stop laughing and Valerio almost fell from his chair how hard he was laughing. Yes, they ruined words like sister, family and everything that Omar could think of to explain how he loved Lu.
After dinner they moved to the living room and spent some time chatting about Lucrecia's time in the US, about her new work and how were things with Valerio, bodegas and some new ideas he had for some parties and things that were far less serious than what the main topic of the evening was. Both Val and Lu caught Omar's looks from time to time and realized that he was seeing them with different pair of eyes from that evening and that he had to study them and make some puzzles fit in his mind. They spent some time remembering some moments from the school and laughed at some stories Ander had to tell. As the day went by Omar was getting more relaxed and more comfortable with the information he got. He watched Lu and Valerio sitting together on the sofa cuddled up and as time went by it stopped being that weird to him. He was simply getting used to them being an item.
Around midnight, Valerio and Lucrecia were loading the dishwasher and thinking about the night they just had. Maybe it was bumpy in the beginning, but afterwards it was a very pleasant evening. After they were done in the kitchen, they went upstairs to their room. Lucrecia went straight to the bathroom to take a shower and Valerio took his phone to check his calendar for the next day. He had to go to the office and have few meetings and then prepare for Barcelona the next day. He didn't want to go, but he had to. He was very determined to leave Lu at home and he knew he will miss her like crazy. Then he joined her in the shower and when she felt his arms around him there was a small smirk on her face.
''Took you long enough.''
''I am sorry my love. I was checking my calendar for tomorrow.''
''You have to go to work?''
''Yes, I do… I have some meetings and things I can't delay anymore.''
''What will I do here all alone?''
''I don't know… You can do the mail man… He comes tomorrow around noon.''
She hit him on the hand and started laughing.
''He better not be old.''
''From what I heard, he is an eye candy.''
''Than I might think about it.''
''There you go. Now you have an idea.''
''You are insane.''
''And you love it.''
''I do… I love it and I love you Val.''
''I love you too.''
They kissed and after they were done in the bathroom they went to bed. Lucrecia cuddled up to him and fell asleep in his arms. Finally they could both sleep in peace. She missed that feeling of being home and Valerio's return to her life gave her that feeling back. They were happy… They were finally happy.