Chapter 7
Manny
Thanksgiving Day
After having the best sex of my life—and sleeping with Daisy wrapped around me—I reluctantly left her place this morning. As much as I wanted to spend the entire day with her, helping to prepare for the feast, I had to come into work.
We were in our own little world—sex-hazed and all-consuming—and I completely forgot to ask if she wanted to come with me to the MacAllisters’. Not that it matters; I’m sure she’ll want to spend the holiday with her family.
The music in my truck cuts out as a call comes through the Bluetooth system. A smile pulls at my lips as I hit accept.
“Hola, mi amor. How are you?”
“Papi, feliz Sangiving.”
I chuckle at Tommy’s choice of words.
“Feliz Sangiving, hijo. What are you up to today?” I already know he’ll be with his mom since her boyfriend had to be elsewhere.
“Mami and I are making pastelones,” he says, music filtering through the speaker. “Maybe I’ll bring you a couple on Sunday.”
“That’s very generous of you, hijo. Thank you.”
“Yeah.”
He pauses, and I frown. Something’s off. Before I can ask, he says, “I miss you, Papi. I wish you were here with me.”
I inhale sharply.
Even though I had no choice but to divorce my ex, I hate that Tommy is caught in the middle of it all. Sometimes I wonder if moving to Azalea Creek—taking him away from everything familiar—was really what’s best for him.
Guilt hits me square in the chest, spreading like a sickness. Fuck. Did I screw up my son’s life just because I couldn’t stand to live in the same city as my cheating ex?
“Papi?” Tommy’s voice pulls me out of the spiral.
“Yeah, hijo. I’m here. I miss you too—so much. I’m sorry I moved us so far away.” My voice wavers. I tense, bracing for whatever he’ll say next.
But nothing in this world could have prepared me for what comes out of his mouth.
“And not having met Xander González and practicing hockey with him? Or not having Daisy? No, Dad. I enjoy our life in Azalea Creek. Besides, the air in the mountains is better than the air here.”
A laugh bubbles up in my chest, and I tilt my head back, letting it out.
“I’m grateful you think that way, son. I’m happy here too.”
And it’s true. Our life in this small town is completely different from the one we had in Miami—but I love it. We spend more time outdoors. Sure, we miss the beach, but we can always fly down for a weekend whenever we want.
“Have you seen Daisy?” Tommy asks casually, as if he were asking about the weather. I send up a silent prayer of thanks that I’d just parked, because otherwise I think I might have crashed.
I clear my throat, scrambling for an answer. Do I lie? Or do I tell him we’re together now?
Before I can decide, a feminine voice fills my truck. “Hey, Manny. Tommy wanted to say hello, but we’re in the middle of cooking, so we’re going to cut it short. Happy Thanksgiving.”
I close my eyes as I count to ten. Yoly’s not only a cheater—she’s fucking rude. I’ve never told Tommy he couldn’t talk to her while he’s with me, but whatever. I’ll see my boy in a few days.
“Okay, Papi. I gotta go. Say hi to Daisy for me if you see her.”
I nod, even though he can’t see me. “I love you, mi amor. See you soon.”
“Te amo,” he says before hanging up.
I close my eyes, smiling, proud that my son isn’t afraid—or ashamed—to express his feelings. The new generation doesn’t carry the old belief that men don’t cry or that they’re weak for showing emotion.
“Hey, baby,” I say as Daisy answers my call.
I’m on a quick break after a long morning in the ER. A group of hikers got lost in the Blue Ridge and were rescued in the early hours. One of them had several fractures, and the ER doctors called me in to assist.
“Hey. I wasn’t sure if you were going to call or text today, but I’m happy you did.”
“Why?” I ask, frowning. Didn’t I make it clear last night we’re together now?
“Well, I just wasn’t sure how busy you were going to be, and I didn’t want to be the one interrupting you at work,” she says so fast it takes me a moment to process.
“Daisy, you can call or text anytime. If I don’t answer right away, I’ll make sure to get back to you as soon as I can,” I tell her, my voice firm. “But please know that I always want to hear from you.”
Her sweet chuckle loosens the knot in my chest.
“Okay,” she says, then pauses. “So… I’m getting ready to head to my parents’ place, and I was wondering if you wanted to join us once your shift is over?”
My chest fills as I picture meeting Daisy’s parents. Every time they come up in conversation, her face lights up. She’s the only girl and the middle child. The way she talks about her parents—with love and admiration—reminds me of my own.
They seem to be a tight family, just like the one I grew up in. I remember sharing stories about life back home—how the palm trees danced to the rhythm of the drums and the trumpet, how we spent summers in Puerto Rico with Papi’s family.
She told me that while there weren’t trumpets blaring in her house, her parents waltzed around the kitchen on big holidays; that she spent long, humid summer days hiding from the sun under tall trees and dipping her toes in the cold creek water.
Her brothers always ganged up on her, but if anyone at school even looked at her wrong, they were there in a heartbeat.
Their sibling banter reminds me of my younger sister, Aurora, and me.
A flutter of nostalgia invades me as I realize how long it’s been since I last checked in with her.
She moved to London about five years ago, and I haven’t made the effort to visit.
I make a mental note to plan a trip next year with Tommy to see Rory.
“Yes, absolutely. I’d love that.”
“Phew, yay.” Relief fills her voice. “I just wasn’t sure since I thought you were going to the MacAllisters’.”
“I’m sure they’ll understand,” I tell her, instead of admitting how much shit the guys will give me. Her family is important to her, and now that I’m part of her life, I want to know them too.
“Yeah, okay. I’ll text you their address, then.”
“Okay, baby. I’ll see you in a bit,” I say before hanging up and firing a quick text to the group chat.
Manny: Happy Thanksgiving, friends.
Miles: How’s it going? *eyes emoji*
Xander: Yeah, any new developments?
Manny: I’m going to Daisy’s parents for Thanksgiving today.
Miles: Ohhhh meeting the parents. Nice! I guess it’s a done deal then.
Manny: Yes, we’re officially together.
Gio: Congratulations, man. Happy for you both.
River: Nice job, Manny. Now they’ll all go back to focusing on me.
Xander: We can focus on your sibling, Riv. He also needs to get it together.
Xander: And Manny, that’s great news! Daisy is a great girl. I’m glad you didn’t fuck it up.
Miles: Congrats, Manny!
Miles: And no, no one needs to focus on me. It’d be a waste of time.
Gio: I’ll see you all later. I gotta go help Ruin with whatever she’s cooking.
Xander: Ruin is cooking? Rain has been up since an ungodly hour doing the same. You’d think the chef in the family would get to rest on a day like today. *shaking head emoji*
Miles: Sorry, bro, but Rain’s food is delicious. How could we pass up her cooking today?
Xander: *middle finger emoji* Starting next year I’ll just cater the food again. My woman deserves a day off.
Gio: Sounds like a plan. I agree she shouldn’t be cooking today.
River: I’m fine with whatever, so long there’s food on the table.
Miles: You all are no fun. See you later.
Manny: Say hi to everyone for me. I’ll have to stop by soon with Daisy to tell Granny.
Xander: I’m sure she knows by now.
I chuckle. Yeah, who am I kidding? I’m sure Ms. Eaton spread the news like wildfire.
Feeling my heart full—love, gratitude, anticipation all tangled together. I finish my shift with one thought guiding me forward: Daisy, my soon-to-be in-laws, and the life we’re building.
I can’t wait to meet them.
I can’t wait to be hers in every way.