Without You: Book 1 of the Changing Hearts Series Read Online Free PDF Page A

and go. Fast. The odds are that we’ll break up, and then what’ll happen?”
    Ariana shrugged. “We keep being friends.”
    Mayra sighed. “I don’t know.”
    “We both know Jimmy’s been in love with you since we were kids.”
    Mayra chuckled. “Isn’t that crazy?”
    “Are you thinking of giving him a chance?”
    “I don’t know. Sometimes yeah. Sometimes no. I’m just not sure, so for now, we’ll just keep being friends.”
    Ariana nodded. “So no more being a jerk to me?”
    “I can’t promise I won’t try to nudge—”
    “Push.”
    “You and Lucas together because I see the chemistry, but I promise no more being a jerk.”
    They smiled.  
    “I think you and Jimmy might have chemistry.”
    Mayra turned towards the table and looked down. “Aren’t you worried about what might happen? What could change?”
    “Yeah, a little. But I also want you guys to be happy. You’ll never know what could happen if you don’t give it a try.”
    “True.” She looked at her. “Sorry.”
    “It’s okay. I don’t know why I broke down like that.” She wiped at her eyes again. She could feel the tears coming on again. “This is hard to say, but I think what happened with Carlos bothers me more than I thought. I can’t stop thinking about it sometimes.” A few tears ran down her cheeks. Mayra put her arm around her shoulders.  
    “He’s not here anymore. He moved.”
    “I know. And sometimes I just hate myself so much for even loving someone like him. And being with him for so long.”
    “Don’t beat yourself up over it. Everything’s okay now,” she said. “You are the strongest person I know. Besides my mom.”
    She smiled. “Thanks.”
    “Come on. Let’s go get you a soda.”
    As they walked past their usual table, Lucas looked up at her and gave Ariana a small smile.
    ###
    “So we still need to write the conclusion for the essay and finish the slides for the presentation on Monday.” Ariana said as she stared at her laptop.  
    It was Saturday afternoon, and Mayra was laid out on her couch with her eyes closed and her laptop on the floor. “I need a break. Please. My brain is literally fried.”
    Lucas laughed and shook his head. He was at the kitchen table with Ariana. She was working on the paper with Mayra, and he was putting together the slideshow.
    “Fine.” Ariana closed her laptop and checked her phone. They had been at it for over an hour and a half.  
    “I’m going to the bathroom.” Mayra got up from the couch, put her laptop on the table, and headed to her room on the other side of the house.  
    Count on Mayra to give her unwanted alone time with Lucas.
    Lucas closed his laptop too and looked at her. He sighed, and they both looked away. He hadn’t even mentioned her breakdown the other day, not even after lunch when they had gone back to the library to work.
    “So about the other day…” he began. She looked at her notebook. “Are you feelin’ better?”
    “Yeah. Thanks.”
    He nodded, and she looked up at him. He gave her a small smile.
    “So what are your plans for tonight?” she asked, trying to change the subject.
    “First you tell me I’m cute, and now you’re asking me out?” he asked.  
    “Oh my God,” she said. Lucas laughed and kept his gaze on her. Ariana wondered why he was being a flirt if he was interested in Mayra.
    “I was just messing with you.” He still had a smile on his face. Ariana loved the way his eyes crinkled when he did.  
    “I was just making conversation.”
    “I know.” He played with his pencil, looking down as he tapped it on the table. “Later, I have to take my mom grocery shopping. Then I have to go to work.”
    She nodded. “Sounds much more exciting than what I’ll be doing. Which is nothing.”
    “Doubt it. My mom doesn’t drive, so I take her everywhere. Her and my two little sisters.”
    “What about your dad?”
    He looked out the window. “He’s not in the picture.” He looked back at