CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Asher
November
“Congratulations!” Ale and Dawson clinked their champagne glasses against mine. Late-afternoon sun poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, spotlighting the boxes scattered across the polished wood floor.
I’d fallen in love with this place the second the realtor showed it to me. Now it held only my things, but I hoped it wouldn’t stay that way. I wanted her things here too. I wanted her. Two years was long enough. I was done waiting.
“You should be proud,” Dawson said with a grin. “The guys at Forward Racing are jealous.”
After I left Russell’s team, Dawson debated retiring.
In the end, he decided to stay for two more seasons since I couldn’t hire him the year I was teamless.
We caught up for coffee whenever I passed through Stetbourg, which wasn’t often while I was racing.
But now my first season with Vortex was finished, and I finally had time to move into the apartment I’d bought with sponsorship money.
“I bet,” I said. “Ethan’s no closer to giving Russell a win than he was two years ago.”
“I’m sorry things turned out the way they did,” Dawson said.
It wasn’t about Ethan. It was about Russell’s ultimatum—and me breaking up with Kaia.
I tossed back my drink and set the glass on the coffee table, the only piece of furniture I’d managed to assemble. “Don’t be. We were never going to be a happy family.”
“Maybe not. But he didn’t have to do that either.”
“Seriously, it’s fine.” I’d spent enough hours unpacking that shit with the therapist Rys recommended.
I didn’t want to waste the little time I had with Dawson on talking about the people who didn’t deserve it.
Russell wasn’t going to change, and my relationship with my mother had always been complicated—with or without her new husband’s influence.
We’d spoken maybe a handful of times this season. She was busy enjoying married life with Russell, and when she did call, it was out of obligation, not because she wanted to know how I was doing.
“By the way,” I said, “my friend Rys and his buddy Elio will be in Emerport next weekend. Rys invited me to a new club’s opening. Thought I’d see if you and Ale wanted to come.”
“Sure,” Ale said. “I need a break.”
Dawson rubbed the back of his neck. “I’d love to, but I’m traveling. Need a change of scenery.”
“Traveling where?”
Ale’s phone buzzed. He pressed it to his ear, mouthed sponsor, and stepped out.
I checked my watch, and my heart jumped. Fuck. I had to hurry if I wanted to give Alba the books.
“I need to head out,” I told Dawson. “Want me to drop you somewhere? You can tell me about your trip on the way.”
I’d bought a car too—I couldn’t keep borrowing Ale’s, even if I still used my bike most days.
“No worries,” Dawson said. “We’ll talk later.”
***
Alba and I met at the park downtown. I handed her the package, and she pressed it to her chest with a sigh. “This needs to stop.”
Something in her eyes made me tense. “What do you mean?”
“I mean”—she groaned—“we’ve got a whole bookcase just for the ones you’ve given her. Only she doesn’t know they’re from you. She thinks they’re from me, so she goes out of her way to be extra sweet—buying me coffee and stuff she can’t really afford.”
“Can’t afford it?” Kaia had started college this fall after a year volunteering in South America. Her father was footing the bill, at least for now. If we got back together and he refused, I’d cover her expenses myself. Russell had nothing left to hold over me.
Alba gave me a look like I was missing the point. “It’s been two years. How long are you going to keep this up?”
“This is the last one,” I said. “The last one you’ll give her, anyway. The next comes from me. I’m going to talk to her.”
I was done waiting. Done living without her.
Alba blew out a breath. “Finally. I just hope it’s not too late.”
She’d chosen to help me when she could’ve said no, and I was grateful, but irritation still flared. “Late? Why?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head. “I told you I’d give her the books, not tell you things she wouldn’t want you to know.”
“Whatever. I’ll ask her myself. Is she home?”
Alba’s gaze slid to a couple wrangling three tiny dogs, her teeth worrying her bottom lip.
“That’s not a hard question,” I said. “Either she is or she isn’t.”
“She isn’t. Don’t you think you should prepare her or something?”
I could take her somewhere beautiful, plan something special—but right now I just needed to see her. Needed her to give me a chance to explain.
“I don’t think I can waste more time. When will she be back?”
“I don’t know.” Alba shoved the package into her oversized purse.
“Can you text her? Please?”
She zipped the bag. “It’s none of your business, but fine. She has a coffee date with someone from her old high school. I’m not spoiling it for her. You can wait.”
A date. A fucking date. There was only one guy it could be. My fists clenched, jaw locking tight. If that bastard Kyle was still around—
“Whoa.” Alba’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t even think about it. You can’t expect her to wait forever. Don’t look so pissed, and don’t ruin this for her.”
“Don’t ruin what, exactly? A date with an asshole she doesn’t even care about?”
Alba snorted. “How would you know after two years apart, Asher?”
I didn’t. I just prayed the same love that nearly destroyed me—but also kept me breathing—still lived in Kaia’s heart.
“What coffee shop?” I asked.
Alba scoffed. “Like I’d tell you. If you know her as well as you say, figure it out. I’ve gotta go.”
Kaia and I had only been to Emerport together once—not enough to know her favorite spots.
I thought of places Ale had mentioned. If Kyle wanted to impress her, he’d take her somewhere by the beach. She loved the beach.
I’d start there.