Chapter 42 - Gabriella (1)

While Angela is upstairs, Trigger and I catch up. He disappears into the kitchen for a moment to make us cups of coffee, and Mariano goes to check out the living room, kitchen, and back door exit. It's something he does out of habit, and I'm used to the men in my life doing the same since I was a kid.

He and Trigger come back at the same time, but they walk far apart—both of them clearly wanting to avoid each other. I can sense Mariano's discomfort with Trigger around, but he doesn't say anything.

I ask Trigger what's new around here and he tells me Angela has been learning how to cook. By default, if Gael was at work, he became the guinea pig.

"She hasn't poisoned me yet, so I guess it's going okay," he says and I laugh.

It feels nice to be back in Brooklyn and meet my family. The moment we landed at the airport, I was already buzzing with energy, the earlier jitters gone. I couldn't wait to see everyone.