44. Ariella
FORTY-FOUR
ARIELLA
“IS THAT A GOAT?”
My insides felt like a tsunami, the water getting sucked out to sea before pummeling the beach.
“Planning on chewing through your lip there, Contreras?” Monroe asked. The question wasn’t quite a green light to sit in the chair in front of his desk and talk about personal issues, but I treated it as such.
“I did something, and I’m not sure how it’s going to go over.”
He raised a brow, pulling his attention from the computer. “Wow, that wasn’t vague as shit. Yes? Like what the fuck are you expecting from me with that information?”
I groaned, head hitting the polyester fabric on the chair’s back. “I may or may not have had another jersey made for Dalton and threw out his old one.”
Oh look, the urge to throw up was back.
Three full blinks. That was how many it took to get a response. Monroe wasn’t pleased. “The fuck do you mean you threw out his jersey? We get on a plane for our season opener in like an ho?—”
“I put Thatcher on the back,” I blurted out, copper filling my mouth because I really was chewing a hole in my bottom lip.
Monroe’s face blanked before blooming into an honest-to-good smile. It was brief, but I witnessed it.
“Thatcher.” He stared at me for a moment, then gave a curt nod. “Listen, whatever the consequences are for that stunt, because you know there will be, you’ve got my support.”
“Yeah. I know.”
And I did. His father was not a fan of mine, and I wasn’t a fan of his. But unlike him, I cared about his son. Dalton deserved to see what it was like for someone to care about him. To realize he already had all the love and support he needed, and that his sperm donor was nothing but a leech.
“That was the name that should have been on his back the entire time. That kid is like a younger brother to me, and—” he paused, staring at his hands. “Dalton has a heart of gold. Cares for people in a way that is genuine. Sees the best in people. Even those who don’t deserve it… so be patient with him if you see him accepting shit behavior he shouldn’t. Maybe you can show him how to stick up for himself, too.”
The words come tumbling out before I could stop them. “I’m pretty sure his dad propositioned me.”
Monroe’s eyes flew to mine. I’d been wrong. He didn’t walk around with a scowl, this was a scowl and it was borderline terrifying. “I want you to be very careful, and very specific, with what you’re about to say, Ariella. What makes you think that?”
I bristled at his tone, wishing I could tell him to forget about it and move on, but it was clear that wasn’t going to happen. The air was cold in my lungs as I took a deep breath. “I saw him in the hallway outside of Dalton’s apartment. He asked me if I was going to be a distraction for Dalton. Make him stray from the plans Vincent has for his son.” The lines between Monroe’s brows deepened with each word, but he sat there still as a statue. “He told me Emma and he had an arrangement , and he could give me all of my dreams if I fell in line.”
That made him react. He scoffed, running his hand down his face, muttering what sounded an awful lot like “piece of shit.”
“You’re sure about his meaning? There’s no way you misunderstood him?”
I took out my phone and pressed play. There wasn’t anything on the screen, just a shot of the inside of my bag, but Vincent’s voice was as clear as day. We sat in silence as the recording played all the way through.
“Send it to me. Then go get ready to head out.” His voice was sharp, attention back on his computer, which I took as my sign I was dismissed. “And Contreras,” he said, looking up at me as I stood. “I’d take what he said to you as a threat and watch your back. Take it from personal experience…there’s a punishment coming because of your response.”
I groaned when we had to drive farther and farther down the street to find parking.
“Wow, you weren’t kidding when you said parking was a bitch in San Jose,” Dalton said, sliding the little rental into the first open space he saw, which was nearly five houses down from my parents.
“Yeah, parking does suck. But all these cars belong to my family.”
Dalton’s eyes widened, taking another look at the row of vehicles.
A burst of laughter came from the back seat, and Jimenez’s head popped between our shoulders. “This is going to be fun. How many boyfriends have you brought home?”
“Who even invited you?” I asked,
“So none.”
My cheeks heated because the asshole was correct, and the grin on his face as he sat back said he knew it too.
We’d landed a little over an hour before and headed right over to my parents’ place. I’d specifically told them to keep it small. That we wouldn’t have a lot of time to stay before we had to get to the arena, which was conveniently only a few short minutes away.
But it looked like Dalton was about to meet far more people than he bargained for…
Maybe we should just leave.
My heart dropped at that thought. I’d actually been looking forward to seeing everyone…to introducing them to my boyfriend. My mom had been on cloud nine when I told her I was bringing someone. My father was less than th rilled, but Ricky’d piped up and given his approval, which shocked both me and my dad.
Then, to my surprise, the rest of the week I kept getting calls from my dad asking about what Dalton wanted to eat, when we’d be there, he even asked if I knew how to get them into the game.
“ Déjala en paz, Jimenez,” Gracie said , trading places with him and sticking her head up front too. “ I don’t know why you didn’t think my tía was going to invite everyone over. By the way, thanks again for the plane tickets, Dalton.”
His face had a sheepish grin, but he didn’t look at all worried. He’d told me my cousin was coming—he hadn’t told me he was the reason she was able to. He rubbed at the back of his neck, glancing over at me. “Ari deserves to have everyone who loves her at her first NHL game. I didn’t want it to just be me there.” My heart rate kicked up, and I swore I could feel my blood pumping through my veins.
It wasn’t exactly an “I love you,” but fuck did it feel like that’s was what he was trying to say. Between his words and his gesture…
“Well, I’m fucking hungry. So let’s go. You two can make out later,” Gracie called out, already out of the car and halfway to my parents’ backyard.
“I’m with her,” Jimenez called out, practically sprinting after her like he was five.
I was still not fully prepared when we walked around the side of the house to the backyard, following the sounds of laughter and conversation. I smiled at the loud sounds of my family we could hear all the way from the street, but as we rounded the corner, something in my chest burst open. Tears welled up in my eyes.
Navy and orange banners hung from the fruit trees, and Desperados-themed party decorations covered almost every surface.
“What is going on?” The words were a broken whisper, and I pushed away the tears spilling over. Ricky jogged over, a wide smile on his face.
“Look at that. Seems we did good, eh? She’s even crying, which is a rarity for my sister. She tends to hit or yell instead.” He wasn’t talking to me. His eyes were behind me—on Dalton. I spun around, completely confused as to what was happening.
“You did this, too?”
“I called your brother after booking Gracie’s flight out.” He shrugged. “Introduced myself, told him he got a free shot if he wanted it when we met for moving his sister into my house.”
“I don’t need his permission to mo?—”
Dalton’s eyes sparkled when he cut in, “Told him that, too.” His eyes flicked over to my brother, who stood there with his arms crossed, a smirk on his face.
“Yeah, este cabrón told me that you didn’t need either of us trying to tell you what to do or where to live. You could handle making those decisions on your own.” He paused, nodding his head. “I tend to agree.”
This was why Ricky had stepped in for me with my father.
“I still don’t understand what’s going on here, though?” I looked up into Dalton’s warm green eyes.
His hand slipped into mine, giving it a tight squeeze. “ I told you, tonight’s special. You deserve to be celebrated.”
“I’m not even the one playing. Hell, I’m not even doing any actual coaching tonight. I’m basically another fan.”
“You’re nothing like a fan. You’re so much more, Sunshine.” He cupped my face with his hand, and my cheeks heated with the thought of him touching me like this in front of my family. For a brief second, I considered pulling away, but those were remnants of the old me. The one who ran from relationships because I thought they’d cost me my independence, that I’d be forced to support someone at the detriment to my dreams.
Yet here I stood, surrounded by family, never having felt more supported in my life.
And it was all thanks to one man.
Ricky’s voice cut through the moment, reminding me of where I was. “You know who will be a fan tonight? Me.”
I turned. “Wait, you’re coming to the game? You don’t even like hockey.”
Ricky shrugged a shoulder, taking a sip of his beer. “Your boyfriend got us tickets, so we’re all going.” He paused, looking over the yard where all my aunts and uncles were milling about. “Well, not all of us. My mom just got a little excited and thought everyone needed to come for birria .”
As if summoned by his words, something dashed between us.
“Is that a goat?”
My face flushed, and my eyes probably looked like fucking dinner plates. “Oh my god, I forgot that white people don’t usually butcher their own animals at family parties.” I covered my face with my hands, wishing the ground would swallow me. Meanwhile, Ricky was nearly doubled over in laughter.
We’d just been having this heartfelt moment, and a fucking goat ruined it.
“Ari?” Dalton peeled my hands away.
“I’m sorry, when my parents heard I was bringing someone, they got all excited an?—”
“Ari.”
I ignored him, the ramble pouring out. “They wanted to do birria , but I should have known that would be too weird and told them to do…I don’t know, quesadillas ? Or mayb?—”
He pulled me in tight, kissing the top of my head. “I am honored that you brought me, and I want to experience what your family is willing to share with me. I’d never come into their home and ask or expect them to alter their food, culture, way of life, or any of those things.” He pulled back, looking down at me. “Same way I’d never ask you to change for me. I want all of it, Ariella.”
I wasn’t entirely sure he was still talking about the food with that last part.