Chapter 85
Alfie tried to keep an eye on Rhys during practice, but it wasn’t easy. He was avoiding Alfie, but around everyone else, he donned his good humor, like a mask.
Even now Rhys disappeared into the video room with Nik and a couple of the other players.
He could go with them, study highlights of the pitcher they’d face.
Instead, Alfie found an empty room, that some of the guys used for meditation or to get a short nap before a game.
He took a deep breath before pulling his phone out.
“Alfredo? Mijo. Why are you calling us? Should you not be getting ready for your game?”
“We just finished practice, Mami.” He tried not to get choked up by the worry on her face.
Maybe he shouldn’t have done a video call for this, but his family followed as many of the sports blogs as they could, and if that pendejo sent those pictures—and what else would he be planning to do with them?
— he didn’t want them to be blindsided. “Still a couple hours until the game starts.”
“Oh.” Some, but not all, of the worry wiped off her face. “Why are you calling? You usually wait until after a game. Or your day off. You did not call yesterday, and we saw you won. That was great, Alfredo. We wanted to congratulate you.”
His chest pinched. He hadn’t called because he’d been so distracted with Rhys and Mel. He hadn’t even thought about it. “I’m sorry, Mami.”
She laughed lightly. “You are the only one who expects you to call all the time. We want you to enjoy your life, mijo.”
“Is papi there?” He had a couple hours before the start of the game, but he wanted to get this over with.
“No.” That worry crept its way back into her eyes. “What is the matter, Alfredo?”
“I wanted to let you know…you might be seeing some pictures of me.”
She let out another laugh. His mother had always been quick to laugh. “Well, of course. We always search for pictures of you when you play.”
“No, Mami,” he said. “I don’t mean from the game. Someone got a picture of me earlier. With Rhys.”
She let out a huff. “I do not see why this would come as a surprise, either. You two are always together. Although your sister said… Alfredo, what is the matter?”
He took his fingers away from his eyes and looked back at his mother’s face on his screen. “I was about to kiss him, Mami. We were leaving a house together this morning, and I was about to kiss him.”
She stared at him for a long moment, and a grin broke across her face. “Finalmente!”
He rubbed his thumb over his forehead. “What is that supposed to mean? You are not upset?”
“Why would I be upset my son will finally let himself be happy?”
He stared back at her, as several thoughts came together into one he didn’t realize had been eating away at him all this time. “I am the oldest son. I am supposed to provide and carry on the family line.”
He could see her shoulders move and had a clear image of her putting her hands on her hips, though he couldn’t see that much of her on the phone screen. She started lecturing him in Spanish.
“Whoever told you that was your responsibility? It was definitely not me or your father. We have told you that you do not need to send so much money home. We can take care of ourselves. And our family line is strong. It does not have to carry the Campos name to be part of our family. Who…” Her cheeks puffed out, and he imagined steam actually coming out of her ears.
“You picked up a lot more than the language lessons from those missionaries, didn’t you?
Even when you fell in love with one of their boys. ”
He flinched. “I didn’t think you knew about that.”
“You were fifteen, Alfredo. Not nearly as stealthy as you seemed to think.”
He could feel his face warm. “You never said anything.”
“We thought you would speak to us when you were ready. Then, you moved up there. We’ve always seen the way you look at Rhys. We have only ever wanted you to be happy. For you to find your way in this life. If that is with Rhys, then we are happy for you.”
He thought of how to tell her about Mel, because he was sure that would come out and be twisted, but that part wasn’t really his to tell.
“Thank you, Mami.”
She scoffed. “Go out there and play your best. We are already proud of you, Alfredo.”
As he hung up the phone, he wondered if Rhys ever had anyone tell him that. Or if everyone in his life had been like that pendejo, telling him he was worthless.
Alfie would have to show him what a lie that was. If Rhys would let him.