Chapter 33 #2
I look down at her, taking in the sight of her.
Her brunette hair, streaked with gray now, falls just past her shoulders.
Her skin’s a little softer, not as tight as I remember, but she still has that undeniable glow.
She’s always been petite, and that’s part of what makes her so damn adorable.
The way she looks at me, the way she hugs me, it’s like I’ve never been away.
“I’ve missed you too,” I say, my voice thick with the emotion I wasn’t expecting to feel.
Maria pulls away, but not before giving my face one more gentle touch. I’m about to turn to Greg and John, but before I can, John steps in, slapping me on the back.
“You need to stop growing,” he says with a grin, looking up at me with mock disapproval.
I laugh, stepping back to face him. “You need to stop shrinking. Man, what happened to you?” I retort, raising an eyebrow.
John laughs too, the sound deep and genuine.
It’s always been easy with him. Greg and John, they know how to take a joke.
Like Maria, they’ve always been that way—big hearts, thick skin.
The years have started to show, though. John’s balding now, his hairline receding a little more every year.
He’s wearing glasses now too, something I can’t quite picture from the old days when he was always so active, working every damn hour he could.
“You know I missed ya too, right, boy?” John pulls me in for a hug, his arms strong but soft, like the years have made him slower but no less caring.
“Yeah, so have I, Pops,” I say, squeezing him back, feeling that familiar warmth flood me.
Just as we step back, Riley comes running up to me, her little arms wrapping around my leg. I smile, ruffling her hair gently. “Hey, kiddo, having fun?”
“Lots of fun, I ate a whole cotton candy to myself!” she says, her eyes wide with excitement, her smile so big it practically lights up her whole face. Must be the sugar rush.
John and Maria look down at her, then glance back at me, the soft expressions on their faces giving away the warmth they’re already feeling.
“And who’s this little sweetheart?” Maria asks, her voice soft and filled with that maternal affection she always carries.
Riley turns around, standing proudly with her hands on her hips.
“I’m Riley. My mommy is friends with Miles,” she says, as if it’s the most important thing to share.
As Riley finishes speaking, Vivian steps forward, catching her hand with a gentle squeeze.
“Sorry about that,” she says, her voice apologetic and warm as she tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, a small smile playing on her lips.
John and Maria exchange a quick glance, and I can tell they’re both sizing up the situation—evaluating how things are going, how Vivian fits in with the family. Then their eyes shift back to me, and I rub the back of my neck, suddenly feeling the weight of their attention.
“Vivian, this is John and Maria, Greg’s parents,” I say, introducing them with a slight nod, trying to keep things light.
Vivian smiles at them, her charm effortlessly shining through as she extends her hand. “Nice to meet you both, I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Maria’s smile softens, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she shakes Vivian’s hand. “Nice to meet you too, lovely,” she says, her tone warm, genuine.
“Likewise,” John adds, giving me a sideways glance, that playful glint still in his eye. His voice is gruff but welcoming as he shakes her hand, but he’s clearly watching me, trying to figure out exactly how this is all going to play out.
I smile, feeling a little more at ease with every passing second.
“Well, we’d better take our seats. See you around,” Vivian says with a smile, waving at us as she walks hand in hand with Riley toward their table.
John and Maria exchange a look before turning back to me, their expressions expectant, as if they’re waiting for me to fill in the blanks.
“I’ll explain soon,” I say, giving them a small, reassuring smile before I head toward the bottom of the stage, feeling the weight of their curious eyes on me.
Everyone takes their seats, apart from me, as the charity organizer gets up on stage and begins to speak, his voice carrying across the venue.
“All right, everyone! Thank you all for being here today!” His enthusiasm fills the room, but I find myself zoning out for a moment, my eyes scanning the crowd, landing on Vivian’s table.
Riley catches my gaze and waves excitedly, her face lighting up. She whispers something to Vivian, and I see Vivian’s lips curl into a smile, a soft laugh escaping her.
The sound makes me smile too—one of those pure, effortless moments that feels so right.
“Give it up for Miles Sanchez!” the organizer says, gesturing toward me, and the crowd erupts into cheers, whistles, and clapping.
I take a deep breath, walk up to the stage, and wave to the crowd, letting the energy of the moment settle into my bones.
I’m no stranger to being in front of people, but there’s something different about this.
I grab the mic, my fingers brushing the cool metal, and I look out at everyone.
There’s a flicker of nervousness, but I push it down.
“Evening, everyone! It’s good to be here today,” I begin, my voice steady, but there’s a hint of something softer in it.
“Now, this isn’t bull riding, so I may be rusty on my feet,” I joke, the laughter from the crowd quick and light, easing some of the tension in my chest. “But I’ll give it my best, and let’s make sure everyone has a great time!
” I say, trying to keep the mood light, but the crowd’s energy gives me a little more courage.
I glance over at Vivian’s table, catching her gaze for just a moment.
Her smile is warm, and I feel something stir inside me, making it hard to focus.
She’s been a constant lately, a quiet strength I didn’t know I needed.
But it’s not just her presence here that’s making this harder—it’s what I’m about to say.
I clear my throat, glancing back at the crowd.
This is why I’m here, why I agreed to this.
“I just want to take a moment to talk about why we’re all here today.
The charity we’re supporting are for children in foster homes, kids who don’t have the same opportunities or resources that a lot of us do.
We’re here to raise money for better furniture, games, and just the things that make a home feel like… a home.”
I pause, looking down at the crowd, the weight of what I’m about to say settling over me. I wasn’t planning on sharing this today, but somehow, I feel like it’s necessary.
It’s time.
“I know what it’s like to grow up without all that,” I continue, my voice quieter now, the words coming out slower, more deliberate. “I lived in a foster home myself, and I know firsthand how hard it is when you don’t feel like you belong. That’s why this cause means so much to me.”
I look at Maria, John, and Greg; reality hitting me again that if it weren’t for them, who knows where or how I would have ended up today. I probably wouldn’t even be me.
“Luckily, I was taken in by people I’m proud and endlessly grateful to call family.
They took me in without second thought, when I didn’t even know what love was supposed to feel like.
They stood by me, taught me kindness instead of fear, and never once made me feel like I was too broken to belong. ”
The room falls quiet, the shift in tone palpable. I can feel the eyes of the crowd on me, but I don’t pull away. I don’t hide. It’s strange, being so open, but at the same time, it feels like a release, like I’ve been carrying this weight for too long.
Maria is wiping her tears with a tissue as John rubs her arm and Greg raises his beer bottle at me from across the room.
“I’ve never really talked about it before, but I guess now’s as good a time as any,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel.
“I’m here today because I know what their lives look like.
I’ve lived it. I know what it’s like to go to bed wondering if anyone would notice if you were gone, to crave stability and never find it. ”
A breath catches in my throat, but I push through.
“I want to make it a little easier for them—to be the person I once needed. Because sometimes all it takes is one person to show you that your life doesn’t have to stay the way it is.
That there is still hope for better days, even after everything. ”
I glance over at Vivian again, and this time I don’t look away.
Her eyes are shining, the soft glow of tears visible in the way she’s looking at me.
It’s like she sees the vulnerability I’ve never shown anyone else.
I take a deep breath, pushing through the moment, but the weight of her gaze makes me feel… seen.
I swallow hard, trying to push past the lump in my throat. “So, let’s make sure these kids get the help they need. Let’s make sure they get the chance to feel like they’re worth something…because they are.”
The crowd remains quiet for a beat, then begins to applaud loudly, cheering and whistling. I let myself feel it. I let myself feel proud, not only because of what we’re doing here today, but of the fact that I’ve finally said it out loud.
I take another breath, clearing the emotion from my voice as I look around at everyone.
I spot John and Maria standing close together, their arms around each other as Maria gently wipes away the tears that are now streaming down her face.
The tenderness between them is undeniable, a quiet display of love and support. A little farther ahead, I see Mindy and Greg sitting side by side, he’s whistling while Mindy is cheering.
“Now, let’s dance!” I step back, the music starting to swell in the background, and I hold out my hand toward the dance floor, letting the crowd erupt into cheers again.
The mood shifts, the energy lightening as the music picks up.
And as I look at Vivian, I see her smile—soft, proud, and full of something I can’t quite put into words.
In this moment, I know that sharing my story was the right thing to do.