CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
Asher
Training and the sponsor photoshoot kept me busy until afternoon. By the time I crossed the racetrack’s parking lot toward my car, all I could think about was Kaia waiting at home.
“Asher.”
I did a double take. Dawson stood by my rental. “Dawson? What are you doing here?”
He shifted his weight. “The vacation I told you about. Are you heading home?”
He’d never said where he was traveling, and El Puerto was the last place I expected him. He loved Spain, sure, but this felt odd.
“Yeah,” I said. “Need a ride?”
“I was hoping we could talk. If you have time.”
I unlocked the car. “Where are you staying?”
“El Puerto,” he said. “I’ll follow you in my car.”
It would’ve been easier to stop by Grandma’s, but I nodded. “Let’s go.”
The drive took half an hour. I parked on the street and followed him to the same house he’d rented years ago. In the kitchen, Dawson pulled two bottles of beer from the fridge and handed me one.
We sat at the wooden table. He wasn’t a man of many words, but the silence between us felt loaded. Suspicious.
“What did you want to talk about?” I asked. “Have you seen Grandma?”
He set his cap beside his beer. “Actually”—he scratched at the label on the amber glass—“it’s about her.”
I froze mid-sip. What did she have to do with this? Unless…
Fragments of small memories clicked into place—him chatting with Grandma every evening when I lived in El Puerto, her always asking about him, them staying in touch after he went back to Stetbourg with me.
Dawson toyed with the bottle, eyes cautious.
It was oddly endearing to see him fidget.
“What about her?” I asked, trying to keep a straight face. “Did she finally tell you about that guy she’s seeing?”
His brow furrowed. “A guy she’s seeing? Is she seeing someone?”
Oh, priceless. I wished Ale was here—he was much better than me at giving people shit.
“Yeah,” I said. “Juanma, the gardener. Grandma’s ferns have never looked so good. She says he’s good with his hands. With other stuff too, I imagine.”
The tips of Dawson’s ears reddened. “Asher.”
I lost it. Laughter burst from me, and Dawson shoved my shoulder, groaning. “You little shit.”
Nobody had called me that in a while. I leaned back, arms crossed. “Not quite little anymore.”
He chuckled under his breath. “I can’t believe I fell for it.”
“I was convincing.” I winked. “And you have my blessing, if that’s what you’re after.”
He curled his hand around the bottle. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
My grandfather died almost sixteen years ago.
Grandma was alone, and so was Dawson. Who was I to tell them what they should or shouldn’t do?
I searched myself for the resentment, anger, and jealousy I’d felt when my mother announced she was seeing Russell—but found nothing.
Only relief. Only happiness that Grandma had someone besides me to care for her.
“I’m sure,” I said. “As long as you treat her right.”
Dawson’s lips twitched. “I will. Thank you.”
I took a swig of beer and set the bottle down. “I can’t believe I didn’t realize sooner. You two kept in touch all this time, didn’t you?”
“We did,” Dawson said. “But before, the time wasn’t right.” He paused, scratching the label on his bottle. “I don’t think I’ll carry on with Forward Racing another season.”
“Why?”
He drummed his fingers on the tabletop. “I got an offer here in Jerez. And Russell and I…we haven’t been on the best of terms lately. Guess I can’t move past the way he treated you.”
“If the job in Jerez is better, take it. But don’t say no to Forward Racing because of me.”
“I know. I just don’t think Maricarmen deserves to wait another season. And I’d rather be here with her. I love this country, Ash. And I love your grandmother.”
The words sounded strange, but they didn’t bother me. Quite the opposite—I was glad for them both.
“Are you going to have dinner with us?” I asked. “I wanted to take Kaia somewhere first, but come over later.”
“Tomorrow,” Dawson said.
I finished my drink and tossed the bottle in the trash. Dawson walked me outside and watched as I climbed into the car.
Five minutes later, I stepped into Grandma’s courtyard. She sat at a table with Kaia, laughing softly as she flipped through what looked like my childhood photos.
“Look how chubby,” she said. “Who would’ve thought all that baby fat would turn into muscle?”
Kaia giggled. “I mean, I’m not complaining.”
“Objectifying me in my absence? Not cool, peque.”
Kaia whipped around, a hand pressed to her chest. “Ash! You scared me.”
I bent down, cupped her face, and kissed her. “Caught you.” I brushed her lips again. “But please, carry on.”
Grandma chuckled, tapping a red nail against another picture. “Remember this, Ash? I still have that bicycle somewhere.”
My chest tightened as she showed Kaia the photo—Dad, Miguel, and me. I was clutching the handlebars of the bike Miguel gave me for my seventh birthday.
“Miguel used to say Ash could cycle once he got tired of bikes,” Grandma said. “And Ash got mad at him for even suggesting he’d lose interest in racing. But then he didn’t let go of that bicycle all summer.”
Kaia gave me a tender smile, then turned to her. “So Miguel stopped talking to you too? Ash has been trying to get in touch with him. We even stopped by his place in Madrid.”
“Did you?” Grandma arched a brow. “Did you speak to him? I think Sergio’s funeral was the last time I saw him. Miguel and my son were close. Like brothers,” she told Kaia. “And Miguel treated Ash as his own. I thought he’d still be around after my son’s death, but I was wrong.”
“By the way, Ash, what took you so long? You texted a while ago you were on your way,” Kaia asked, probably to keep sadness from settling in. I was grateful she did.
I moved behind her chair and set my hands on her shoulders. As my thumbs worked slow circles, she leaned into my touch. “Dawson wanted to talk,” I said, glancing at Grandma. “I told him about the guy you’re seeing—Juanma, the gardener.”
Grandma slid her glasses back on. “You told him what?”
Kaia groaned. “Ash! He’s kidding, Maricarmen. Your grandson’s got a terrible sense of humor.”
“Never heard you complain.” I traced the delicate line of her throat with my fingertips. “But let’s not make this awkward, Abuela. You’re both adults, both single. I assume you know what you’re doing. You’ve got my blessing.”
Grandma sprang from her chair and circled the table, grinning. She planted a firm kiss on my cheek, then another on Kaia’s. “Mis ninos. So, what are you going to do for the rest of the day?”
“I planned to show Kaia some of my favorite places,” I said.
Kaia stood. “Let me go to the bathroom and get my purse.”
She disappeared into the house. Grandma sighed. “Take care of her, Ash. She’s been hurt too much for how young she is.”
“Did she tell you something?”
“Things.” Grandma shrugged, toying with her rings. “You know I’m good at reading between the lines. I can’t believe her father treats her that way. I wouldn’t let my child take out loans to study if I could help them.”
Unfortunately, loans were only a fraction of what she endured because of him. “I’d gladly pay for her studies,” I said. “I couldn’t before, but I can now. I just don’t want to make her uncomfortable. I know how important her independence is.”
Grandma nodded. “My job saved me after I lost your grandfather. She needs something of her own. But if one day you’re family, that changes. What’s yours will be hers too. That’s when you can help.”
“Ready.” Kaia emerged from the gallery encircling the courtyard. “You?”
“Me too. Don’t wait up for us,” I told Grandma. “We might have dinner in town.”
She kissed my cheek. “Have fun.”
***
The beach we ended up at was one of my favorite places in the area, a well-known surfing spot. As we walked along the edge of the water at sunset, surfers still carved waves, taking advantage of the wind.
Kaia twisted an elastic around her hair, pulling it into a bun. “I just love it here, Ash. Your grandma showed me another beach, but this one is spectacular. By the way, can you surf?”
I threaded my fingers through hers. “Ale tried to teach me. Guess it’s easier to keep your balance on a bike.”
“Alejandro surfs, then?”
“And plays tennis. Golf, too. I suspect he’s closed more deals doing sports than sitting in restaurants. Good for me. I’ve picked up a few more sponsors.”
Kaia squeezed my hand. “I’m happy for you. Seeing all this now, I understand even less why you went to Stetbourg to race.”
I stopped walking. The sky blazed orange, and I wanted Kaia to see it. “Look here, peque.” I took out my phone and aimed the camera at us. The sun sinking into crimson clouds framed the shot, and we looked so fucking happy I wanted to remember the feeling.
She grinned, cheeks flushed from the cool breeze. I snapped several pictures, then slid the phone into my pocket.
“To answer your question,” I said as we resumed strolling, “guess I was chasing Dad’s dream. Then you happened, and I didn’t want to leave.”
“The college I’m at was my mom’s dream too,” Kaia said, gripping my fingers tighter. “But also mine. It’s great. I love studying things I’m good at.”
She stopped and took both my hands. “Where do you see yourself in the future? Five or ten years from now?”
It was a loaded question, but the answer was clear. “With you. Wherever life takes us.”
She giggled, pointing toward the row of houses facing the beach. “I wouldn’t mind if life took me to that one. Imagine waking up to this view.”
A modern white-walled house stood out among the rest—exactly the kind Emrys would try to buy and flip into a hotel. Oceanfront properties here were rare, and even fewer ever went up for sale. I led Kaia closer to get a better look.
“It must cost a fortune,” she said.
Up close, the place looked unfinished. Whoever started the build had run out of funds, steam, or both. I snapped a picture and made a mental note to call Rys. He knew real estate better than I did, and the hotel he’d shown me was thriving.
The sun sank into crimson clouds hovering at the horizon. I spread my jacket on the sand and sat. Kaia lowered beside me, and for a while, there was only the hum of the ocean and the cries of seagulls.
“So, Dawson talked to you,” she said.
“Yeah.” I wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Still feels strange I never noticed.”
“I’m happy for them.” She glanced up at me. “You?”
“They’ve both been alone a long time. They deserve someone to grow old with.”
Kaia leaned into me. “It’s like a full-circle moment. Everyone’s getting their happily ever after, including us.”
I thought of everything I still wanted—plans, milestones, hopes. For the first time, the future didn’t scare me.
For the first time, it looked promising.