Chapter 35

In the car, Rafa felt strange, sitting next to Tácio. It had been so long since they’d last spoken that she couldn’t bring herself to say a word.

"Sorry for taking so long," Tácio said, breaking the awkward silence lodged between them.

"You didn’t take long," she replied.

"How could I not? You barely left work, and there was already a guy hitting on you."

His comment brought a faint smile to her lips.

"He wasn’t hitting on me. That’s my boss."

"Really?" He glanced at her for a few seconds before turning his attention back to the traffic. "I thought he was some jerk bothering you. I almost got out of the car to confront him."

There was something in his tone. Even though years had passed, Tácio didn’t seem affected by the distance between them. He felt like the same person as always, with the same familiar closeness.

"Good thing you didn’t do that. I wouldn’t like it if you offended my boss," she smiled, joking.

"Don’t tell me you’d take his side, Rafa. I was your boss