CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Asher
Three knocks rattled the door, yanking me awake. Dread clamped my chest—Kaia was in my arms, and if one of our parents stood outside, there’d be no way to explain her presence in my bed.
“Ash?”
Javi. Relief surged. I pressed a quick kiss to the top of Kaia’s head before slipping free of the covers.
When I cracked the door, Javi gave me a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his neck. “Mierda, I’m sorry. Didn’t think you had company.”
I glanced over my shoulder at Kaia. We’d stayed up talking, and I hadn’t had the heart to send her away—even with the risk. Selfish, maybe, but I slept better beside her.
“It’s fine,” I said. “What’s up?”
“Want to go for a run?”
“Sure.” I stifled a yawn. “Give me a few minutes.”
He nodded. “I’ll be downstairs.”
I shut the door and returned to bed. Kaia stirred. I brushed a kiss over her forehead.
“Peque,” I whispered. “I’m going for a run with Javi.”
She blinked, yawning. “Okay. I’ll head to my room. Just give me a second.”
Once she left, I tugged on a black shirt and sneakers and joined Javi in the foyer. Outside in the driveway, he stretched, rolling his neck. “Was Kaia okay last night? She looked pretty sad at the gala.”
“I think so.” I jogged alongside him. “Thanks for keeping that asshole Ethan away. I owe you one.”
Javi’s breath steamed as he chuckled. “You don’t owe me shit. She didn’t look thrilled about dancing with him anyway. I just read the room.”
She should’ve been dancing with me. My pulse kicked at the memory of her in that red dress. Helplessness gnawed—anger too—at the circumstances that forced us apart. What if she got tired of hiding?
“So, what’s the plan?” Javi asked as we rounded the corner. “Kaia coming to Ale’s too?”
Ale had suggested celebrating Javi’s contract with Sport Union Madrid at his place. I liked it—privacy, and Kaia wouldn’t feel left out.
“Yeah. She might need to lie to Russell, though. I doubt he’ll let her come.”
“You should be more careful.” Javi shot me a look before refocusing on the sidewalk. “I see how you look at her. If I notice, others might too.”
“I’m fucking done with this.” Frustration burned through me, and I quickened my pace, forcing Javi to push harder. My lungs seared, muscles screaming, but it felt better than exploding—better than telling Russell to go fuck himself or asking Kaia to run away to Spain with me.
“I don’t blame you,” Javi said, panting now. “Honestly, if I were you, I’d sign with another team just to cut Russell out. Then he couldn’t touch your career.”
I’d be lying if I said the thought hadn’t crossed my mind. But leaving Kaia? My chest tightened at the idea. The logical voice in my head whispered it would happen someday anyway. Dad had started with Forward Racing, then moved on. I would too.
But not yet. Not now. Kaia wouldn’t be in high school forever. We still had time.
“I won’t let him mess with anything,” I told Javi as we turned the corner. “I’ve got it. Don’t worry.”
***
We were only supposed to have drinks at Ale’s, but he surprised Dawson, Kaia, Javi, and me with homemade dinner.
Kaia moaned around a forkful of his signature seafood paella, eyes fluttering shut.
Fuck. Peque was going to kill me. That short gray skirt already had me half-crazed, and now her moan would haunt my R-rated dreams.
While Ale chatted with Dawson and Javi, I slid my palm onto Kaia’s thigh under the table. She caught my hand, giving it a squeeze as she shifted in her chair. “Behave, mi nino.”
Chuckling, I took a bite of food.
“How’s the paella?” Ale asked Kaia.
“Delicious,” she said, grinning.
“I’m glad.” He stood and disappeared into the kitchen, returning with another bottle of white. Kaia had been drinking water, but when Ale began filling glasses, she held hers out. “I want to try it.”
“It’s Albarino,” Ale explained as he poured. “Typical of northwest Spain. Fresh, fruity—perfect for seafood.”
Kaia swirled the glass and took a sip. “It’s great. I like it.”
Ale winked. “Then let’s toast to Javi and his dream team.”
We clinked glasses. Javi chuckled. Everyone seemed relaxed except Dawson, who hadn’t spoken a word to me all night. He could be moody, so I let it go.
“Want more?” I asked Kaia when her plate was empty.
She eyed the paella shyly, as if worried about asking. I spooned another helping for her and downed the last of my wine.
“You should take Kaia to Spain,” Ale said. “Show her where you grew up.”
Kaia set her fork down. “I’d love that, but I doubt my father would let me. Maybe once I’m in college.”
I slung an arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple while she finished eating. When the last bite was gone, Ale gathered our dishes.
“I’ll help,” I offered.
He shook his head. “Later. I’ll make coffee first.”
As he disappeared into the kitchen and Dawson asked Javi about his first match with the new team, I caught Kaia’s hand.
“Come with me.”
She gave me a curious look but laced her fingers through mine.
I knew Ale’s apartment by heart. The guest room sat beside the bathroom, and I led her straight there.
As soon as the door clicked shut, I cupped her face, my thumbs brushing her cheeks. “Are you having fun?”
“Yeah.” A shy smile spread across her lips. “Thanks for inviting me.”
“I wanted you to spend time with my friends.” My knuckles skimmed down her neck. Goosebumps prickled her skin. She inhaled sharply and closed her eyes.
“Come here,” I whispered, backing toward the queen-sized bed. I sat on the edge and drew her into my lap. Her hair tickled my nose as she curled against me, arms looping around my neck.
My mouth found the curve of her throat, laying a trail of soft kisses as I breathed her in.
It was nice to simply exist with her—no Russell, no mother to worry about. Moments like this were rare, and I treasured every second.
Kaia released a shaky breath. Spurred on by her soft gasps, I slid my hand beneath her skirt.
She pressed her forehead to mine, eyes sparkling even in the dim glow from the streetlights outside.
I stroked her thigh, watching the way she bit her lip and shifted on my lap, as if craving more. My fingertips traced the sheer barrier of her tights, inching higher with each deliberate caress.
“Too much?” I whispered.
She shook her head, lips molding to mine. I kissed her back, brushing the tip of her tongue with mine.
Kaia whimpered, fingers tangled in my hair.
The door banged open. She gasped, her heartbeat thundering against my chest.
“Sorry,” Dawson muttered from the doorway. “Thought this was the bathroom.”
Fuck. I hated the interruption—and hated even more that it scared her.
“Next door,” I said, forcing myself not to scowl. It wasn’t his fault. I should’ve locked the door.
As soon as he left, Kaia buried her face against my shoulder. “How embarrassing. Can I just hide here forever?”
I ran my palm down her back, chuckling. “Stop. We were just kissing. He’ll survive.”
She nuzzled into my neck. “He was weird at dinner. Didn’t say a word to me. Is it because of us?”
Great. The last thing I wanted was her worrying about Dawson.
“He’s like that sometimes, peque.” I kissed her nose. “I’m sure it’s not about us.”
“Anyway”—she slid off my lap, tugging her skirt down—“we should go back in.”
Reluctantly, I followed her to the living room, where Ale was pouring coffee into white cups.
“Just in time,” he said. “We’ve got chocolates. Grab the box, Ash.”
Javi smirked as I picked it up. What was their deal? It wasn’t like I made out with my girlfriend was stamped on my forehead.
Dawson returned just as I handed Kaia her coffee. I brushed my thumb over her cheek and kissed her lips. Hiding from Russell was one thing. Hiding in front of my friends? No. Kaia deserved better.
“Ale, I think I’ll head home,” Dawson said.
Ale arched a brow mid-sip. “Wait. At least have some coffee.”
“Some other time.” Dawson shook his hand. “Thanks for dinner. Best paella I’ve had.”
Ale laughed, clapping his shoulder. “I’ll tell my father his lessons paid off. I’ll walk you out.”
Dawson said goodbye, and I sat beside Kaia, wrapping my arm around her shoulders as we sipped our drinks.
“Tortolitos,” Javi teased. Lovebirds.
I flipped him off. Kaia had already dealt with enough from Dawson—I didn’t want Javi embarrassing her too.
She set her cup on the table and leaned into me. I ran my fingers along her arm, absently.
“Ready to play for your dream team?” I asked Javi. His first game with Sport Union Madrid was days away. He had to be both excited and nervous.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” He drummed his fingers on his knee. “Hope I get enough minutes. I’d rather not spend the first match on the bench.”
“No idea about the lineup yet?”
“Not until I’m back. We’ll see what Mister says.”
“El míster no da la talla.” Ale leaned on the doorway, sliding a hand through his styled hair. “He doesn’t measure up. Surprised they haven’t replaced him.”
“Not gonna happen, man.” Javi yawned. “He’s one of the best.”
Ale shrugged. “I’ve seen better. Fernando Osorio, for example.”
“Isn’t he in the States?”
Ale nodded. “He is. But I bet he’d move if Sport Union Madrid asked nicely.”
“If Sport Union Madrid paid nicely.” Javi laughed. “Nobody’s doing shit for prestige alone.”
“Of course not. Asked, paid—same difference. He’s excellent. Who the hell even knows what he’s doing in the States? More than one European club would kill to have him.”
During the pause, I glanced down at Kaia. Her breathing was steady, eyes closed.
“You wore her out.” Ale smirked. “Let her nap. Come on, help me in the kitchen.”
Javi stretched with another yawn. “I’ll nap too. Wake me when it’s time to leave.”
“Slacker,” I mouthed, easing Kaia off me. I settled her on the couch and pulled a throw over her, courtesy of Ale.
He was already at the sink when I carried in a stack of saucers and cups.
“You outdid yourself with dinner,” I said, setting everything on the counter. “Thanks for nothing. I’d rather Kaia keep thinking no guy cooks as well as I do.”
Ale laughed, sliding the cups into the dishwasher. “I’m pretty sure she prefers your cooking.”
I leaned a forearm against the fridge. “Why was Dawson acting so weird? Don’t tell me you didn’t notice.”
“I did.” Ale frowned. “But it’s best if you ask him.”
“What do you mean? Did he tell you something?”
“You know him.” Ale took the plate I passed him, slotting it neatly between the others. “He can be moody.”
“Yeah, sure—only he got moody after seeing me kiss Kaia. I thought he’d be okay with it.”
Ale shut the dishwasher and straightened, wiping his hands on a towel. “I really think you should just talk to him, mi nino. Don’t overthink. It’s probably nothing.”
It was never nothing. And even if I didn’t give a damn about most people’s opinions, part of me wanted Dawson in our corner.