Chapter 5: The Trust Test Jim woke up the next morning feeling like shit. He'd barely slept. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Miguel's face. That easy smile. The way Valeria had hugged him. The casual announcement that he was staying indefinitely. He grabbed his phone off the nightstand. 7:23 AM. Too early to be awake on a Saturday, but his brain wouldn't shut off. There were no new texts from Valeria. Just the one from last night where she'd asked if he got home safe and he'd responded with a simple "yeah." Jim stared at the ceiling for a while, running through everything in his head. The logical part of him knew Valeria was probably telling the truth. Miguel was her cousin. He was going through a breakup. It made sense that he'd stay with her for a bit. But the other part of him—the part that had seen how comfortable they were together, how easily they switched into Spanish, how Miguel looked at her when she laughed—that part wasn't convinced. He sat up, rubbing his face. He needed to figure this out. Needed to know for sure if he was being paranoid or if his gut was right. Then it hit him. Nancy. Greg's girlfriend was smart, observant, and most importantly, she didn't know Miguel. She could run into them somewhere, see how they interacted when they thought no one was watching. Give Jim an unbiased read on the situation. It was a little crazy. Maybe more than a little. But Jim needed to know. He texted Greg first. **Jim:** yo is nancy around **Greg:** she's asleep next to me why **Jim:** need to ask her something **Greg:** it's 7:30 in the morning **Jim:** it's important **Greg:** this better not be some dumb shit **Jim:** just wake her up A few minutes passed. Then his phone rang. It was Greg. "What the fuck do you want?" Greg's voice was rough with sleep. "Is Nancy awake?" "Yeah, because you're being annoying. What's going on?" "I need a favor. From Nancy." There was a pause. "What kind of favor?" "The kind where you don't ask questions and just put her on the phone." "Jim—" "Please." Greg sighed. Jim heard muffled voices, then Nancy's voice came through. "Hey Jim. What's up?" "I need your help with something." "At seven-thirty in the morning?" "Yeah." Nancy laughed softly. "This must be good. What do you need?" Jim took a breath. "You know Valeria has a cousin visiting from Spain, right?" "I think she mentioned it. Miguel?" "Yeah. Him." Jim paused, trying to figure out how to say this without sounding insane. "I need you to accidentally run into them somewhere. Like a coffee shop or something. And just... observe." Silence on the other end. "Observe," Nancy repeated slowly. "Yeah. See how they act together. If anything seems off." "Jim... are you asking me to spy on your girlfriend?" "I'm asking you to grab coffee at the same place they're grabbing coffee and happen to notice things." Another pause. Then Nancy said, "You think something's going on with this cousin?" "I don't know. That's why I need you to look." "Have you talked to Valeria about this?" "Yeah. Last night. She said nothing's going on, that he's just staying with her while he deals with his breakup." "And you don't believe her?" Jim didn't answer right away. "I want to believe her. But something feels wrong." Nancy was quiet for a moment. When she spoke again, her voice was gentler. "Okay. I'll do it. But Jim, if I don't see anything weird, you need to let this go. Trust issues will kill a relationship faster than anything else." "I know. I just need to be sure." "Alright. Text me when you know where they'll be." "Thanks, Nancy." "Yeah. And Jim? Maybe talk to someone about this. Kenny or Zion. Don't keep it all in your head." "I won't." He hung up and immediately texted Valeria. **Jim:** morning **Jim:** you and miguel doing anything today? He waited. The typing bubble appeared, then disappeared. Then appeared again. **Valeria:** good morning to you too **Valeria:** yeah we're getting coffee around 10 **Valeria:** why? **Jim:** just wondering **Jim:** wanted to see if you were free later **Valeria:** i should be free after lunch **Valeria:** you wanna come over? **Jim:** yeah **Valeria:** okay :) **Valeria:** btw we're going to that place on amsterdam ave if you wanna join for coffee Jim stared at the text. She was inviting him. That was a good sign, right? If something was going on, she wouldn't invite him along. Unless she thought he wouldn't come. Unless this was her way of seeming innocent. He hated that his brain worked like this now. **Jim:** nah i'm good **Jim:** still tired from practice yesterday **Jim:** see you after lunch **Valeria:** okay baby **Valeria:** love you **Jim:** love you too He screenshotted the text about the coffee shop and sent it to Nancy. **Jim:** amsterdam ave **Jim:** 10 am **Nancy:** got it **Nancy:** i'll let you know what i see Jim set his phone down and lay back on his bed. Three hours until Nancy would be there. Three hours of sitting with his thoughts and trying not to lose his mind. He got up, threw on some sweats and a hoodie, and went downstairs. His mom was in the kitchen making breakfast. The smell of eggs and bacon filled the house. "Morning, mijo," Roxanne said, glancing up at him. "You're up early." "Couldn't sleep." She studied him for a second, that mom-look that saw right through bullshit. "Everything okay?" "Yeah. Just thinking about the next game." Roxanne didn't look convinced, but she didn't push. "You hungry?" "Starving." She made him a plate and he sat at the kitchen table, eating in silence. His dad came down a few minutes later, already dressed in a polo and khakis like he had somewhere important to be. "Morning, Jimmy," Lenny said, pouring himself coffee. "You see the Bucks game last night?" "Nah. I was at Valeria's." "They destroyed the Celtics. Giannis had forty-three." "Damn." "Yeah. It was beautiful." Lenny sat down across from him. "You alright? You look stressed." "I'm fine." "That's what you said last week before you punched a hole in your door." Jim looked up. "I was fourteen when that happened." "Still proves my point." Jim went back to his eggs. His dad was right—he did internalize shit until it exploded. But what was he supposed to say? That he didn't trust his girlfriend? That he was having her followed by his brother's girlfriend to see if she was getting too close with her cousin? Yeah. That would go over well. "Just got a lot on my mind," Jim said finally. Lenny nodded. "Basketball stuff or life stuff?" "Life." "Valeria?" Jim hesitated, then nodded. "You wanna talk about it?" "Not really." "Alright. But if you do, I'm here." "I know. Thanks, Dad." Lenny stood up, clapping Jim on the shoulder as he left the kitchen. Jim finished his breakfast and went back upstairs. He tried to distract himself—played some 2K, scrolled through Instagram, watched highlights of last night's games. Nothing worked. His mind kept drifting back to Valeria and Miguel. At 9:45, Nancy texted him. **Nancy:** heading there now **Nancy:** i'll keep it subtle **Jim:** thanks **Jim:** really appreciate this **Nancy:** just don't make me regret it Jim sat on his bed, phone in hand, waiting. This was insane. He knew it was insane. But he had to know. Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. Then thirty. At 10:37, his phone buzzed. **Nancy:** okay i'm here **Nancy:** i see them **Nancy:** corner table by the window **Jim:** and? **Nancy:** give me a minute **Nancy:** let me watch Jim's leg bounced. He stood up, paced his room. Sat back down. Checked his phone. Nothing yet. Another ten minutes. Then: **Nancy:** okay so **Nancy:** they're definitely close **Nancy:** but i don't think it's romantic **Jim:** what do you mean close **Nancy:** like they're laughing a lot **Nancy:** he touched her arm a few times **Nancy:** she leaned in when he was talking **Jim:** that's not nothing **Nancy:** i know but it didn't feel flirty **Nancy:** more like... comfortable **Nancy:** idk how to explain it **Jim:** try **Nancy:** okay so like **Nancy:** when you and valeria are together you can feel the chemistry **Nancy:** there's tension even when you're just sitting there **Nancy:** with them it's different **Nancy:** it's familiar but not electric **Nancy:** does that make sense? **Jim:** yeah **Jim:** i guess **Nancy:** WAIT **Jim:** what **Nancy:** he just put his hand on her lower back **Nancy:** helping her up from the table **Jim:** the fuck **Nancy:** yeah that made me uncomfortable **Nancy:** like it wasn't sexual but it was... too comfortable **Nancy:** you know? Jim felt his chest tighten. His hands gripped the phone harder. **Jim:** yeah i know **Nancy:** they're leaving now **Nancy:** walking out together **Nancy:** okay jim i'm gonna be real with you **Nancy:** i don't think they're hooking up or anything **Nancy:** but he's VERY comfortable with her **Nancy:** like more than i'd be okay with if i were you **Jim:** fuck **Nancy:** you need to talk to her **Nancy:** like actually talk to her **Nancy:** set boundaries **Jim:** i tried last night **Jim:** she said i was being jealous **Nancy:** well maybe you are **Nancy:** but that doesn't mean you're wrong **Nancy:** she should respect how you feel about this **Jim:** she thinks i don't trust her **Nancy:** do you? Jim stared at the question. Did he trust Valeria? A week ago, he would've said yes without hesitation. Now? He didn't know. **Jim:** i don't know anymore **Nancy:** then that's the real problem **Nancy:** not miguel **Nancy:** the fact that you're questioning it **Jim:** yeah **Nancy:** talk to her jim **Nancy:** and if she gets defensive or dismissive again **Nancy:** then you have your answer **Jim:** thanks nancy **Jim:** seriously **Nancy:** anytime **Nancy:** and jim? **Nancy:** trust your gut **Nancy:** it's usually right Jim set his phone down. Nancy's words echoed in his head. Trust your gut. His gut was screaming that something wasn't right. He looked at the time. 11:04 AM. Valeria said she'd be free after lunch. That gave him a few hours to figure out what the hell he was going to say. He tried to think it through logically. Miguel being touchy—that could just be how they were. Family dynamics were different for everyone. Some families hugged all the time, some barely made eye contact. But Valeria knew Jim. Knew he wasn't comfortable with other guys being all over her. And Miguel staying indefinitely at her apartment, the two of them cooking together, spending all this time alone... even if nothing physical was happening, it felt like an emotional line was being crossed. Jim grabbed his phone and texted Kenny and Zion. **Jim:** emergency meeting **Jim:** my place **Jim:** now **Kenny:** what happened **Jim:** just get here **Zion:** on my way Twenty minutes later, both of them were sitting in Jim's room. Kenny on the desk chair, Zion on the floor leaning against the bed. "Alright," Kenny said. "What's going on?" Jim told them everything. The coffee shop. Nancy's report. Miguel's touchiness. The way Valeria had defended him last night. When he finished, Zion let out a low whistle. "Bro. That's heavy." "You had Nancy spy on her?" Kenny said, eyebrows raised. "I didn't spy. I asked Nancy to observe." "That's literally the same thing." "I needed to know." "And now you know," Zion said. "Dude's too comfortable. So what are you gonna do about it?" "I don't know. That's why you're here." Kenny leaned back in the chair, thinking. "You gotta set boundaries. Tell her Miguel being that touchy makes you uncomfortable." "I tried that last night. She said I was being controlling." "Then try again. But don't accuse her of anything. Just say how it makes you feel." "And if she gets pissed?" "Then she gets pissed," Zion said. "But you can't just sit here and let this eat you alive, bro. That's worse than any fight." Jim rubbed his face. "I just don't want to lose her over this." "You might lose her anyway if you don't say something," Kenny said. "Resentment builds up. You'll start acting weird, she'll notice, and it'll blow up eventually." "Better to blow up now while you can still control it," Zion added. Jim knew they were right. He had to talk to her. Really talk to her. Not just brush it off or let her dismiss his feelings. "Alright," Jim said. "I'll talk to her today." "Good," Kenny said. "And bro? If she can't respect how you feel about this, then maybe she's not the one." Jim didn't want to think about that possibility. But Kenny had a point. They hung out for another hour, playing 2K and talking about the next game. It helped distract Jim for a bit, but the anxiety was still there, sitting heavy in his chest. At 1:30, Kenny and Zion left. Jim showered, changed into jeans and a black hoodie, and texted Valeria. **Jim:** heading over **Valeria:** okay! **Valeria:** miguel's out with some friends so it's just us **Jim:** perfect He grabbed his keys and headed out. The subway ride felt longer than usual. Jim ran through what he was going to say in his head. He didn't want to come in hot, accusing her of shit. But he also wasn't going to back down this time. He needed her to understand how this was making him feel. When he got to her apartment, she was waiting at the door in leggings and one of his old hoodies. She smiled when she saw him, standing on her toes to kiss him. "Hey baby." "Hey." She pulled him inside. The apartment smelled like coffee. Miguel's stuff was spread out on the couch—a jacket, a book, some headphones. "You want something to drink?" Valeria asked. "Nah. I'm good." She sat on the couch, patting the spot next to her. Jim sat down, but kept some distance between them. Valeria noticed. "You okay?" "We need to talk." Her expression shifted. "About what?" "Miguel." Valeria sighed, leaning back. "Jim, we already talked about this—" "No. You talked. I didn't really get to say what I needed to say." She crossed her arms. "Okay. So say it." Jim took a breath. "I'm not comfortable with how close you guys are." "He's my cousin." "I know. You keep saying that. But that doesn't change how it makes me feel." "How does it make you feel?" "Like I'm being replaced." Valeria blinked. "What?" "You're spending all this time with him. Cooking together. Laughing together. Switching into Spanish so I can't even follow the conversation. And now he's staying here indefinitely, which means this is just gonna keep happening." "Jim, you're being ridiculous." "Am I? Because from where I'm standing, you're putting more effort into him than you are into me." "That's not true." "When's the last time we cooked together?" Valeria opened her mouth, then closed it. "Exactly," Jim said. "But you'll make paella with Miguel. You'll stay up late talking to him. You'll—" "He's going through a breakup, Jim. I'm being a good friend." "He's not your friend. He's your cousin. And he's too comfortable with you." "What does that mean?" "It means he's touching you. Putting his hand on your back, on your arm. Leaning in close. Acting like he has a claim on you." Valeria stared at him. "Have you been watching us?" Shit. "I—" "Oh my God. You have." Valeria stood up. "Jim, what the fuck?" "I needed to know—" "So you had someone follow me? Who was it? Kenny? Zion?" "It doesn't matter who—" "It absolutely matters! You don't trust me. You're literally spying on me." "Because you're not being honest with me!" "About what? What am I lying about?" "I don't know! That's the problem!" Jim stood up too, his voice rising. "You're acting different. You're defensive every time I bring up Miguel. You're making excuses for why he's always around. And now you're pissed at me for being uncomfortable with it." "Because you're being controlling!" "I'm not controlling. I'm setting boundaries." "By having me followed?" "I wouldn't have to if you'd just be straight with me!" They were both shouting now. Valeria's face was flushed, her eyes bright with anger. "You know what?" she said, her voice shaking. "I can't do this right now." "Can't do what?" "This. You. Us." She gestured between them. "You're so insecure about Miguel that you can't even trust me to have family over without thinking I'm cheating on you." "I never said you were cheating." "But you're thinking it. I can see it in your face." Jim didn't respond. Because she was right. He was thinking it. Valeria shook her head. "I need space." "Space." "Yeah. I need you to leave." "Valeria—" "I'm serious, Jim. Just... go. I can't talk to you when you're like this." "Like what?" "Like you don't trust me." Jim felt something crack in his chest. "Maybe I don't." Valeria's expression crumbled. For a second, Jim thought she might cry. But instead, she just walked to the door and opened it. "Leave." "Val—" "Leave, Jim." He grabbed his jacket off the couch. Walked to the door. Stopped in front of her. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I know." "I just—" "I know. But I still need you to go." Jim stepped out into the hallway. Valeria closed the door behind him without another word. He stood there for a minute, staring at the closed door, wondering if he'd just fucked everything up over nothing. His phone buzzed. A text from Kenny. **Kenny:** how'd it go Jim didn't answer. He just walked down the stairs and out onto the street, the sound of the door slamming still echoing in his head.