“My reason to live.”
She nudged the photo back to me. “What happened?”
“Her father found out.” I ran my thumb over the edge of the picture. “Said he’d cut her off if I didn’t leave. So I did. I couldn’t let her lose her shot at college. Russell’s toxic. He treats her like shit. She needs school to build a future away from him.”
Grandma scoffed. “Why would it bother him that you two are together?”
I pocketed the photo. Looking at her hurt too much. Memories were all I had, and they weren’t enough.
“Guess because he knew he’d marry my mother eventually, and it didn’t look good. It killed me to leave, but Kaia loved me enough she would’ve chosen me no matter what.”
Memories of our last kiss surged, tearing open the hole in my chest wider.
“Did you tell her the truth?”
I shook my head. “She wouldn’t take his money then. Wouldn’t study. I just said I had to move away because Ale couldn’t find me a team.”
Grandma folded and unfolded the corner of a napkin. “So, what now?”
“I don’t know.” I took a long swallow of sangria. “I came here because I’m so fucking lost, and I don’t know what to do.”
She reached across the table and patted my hand. “You came to the right place. But you’ve always kept things to yourself. Your father was the same. I know you don’t want to worry the people who love you, but weworry anyway. You haven’t been yourself for months. Dawson noticed. So did Ale.”
“And they told you?”
“Not like I gave them a choice.”
I tipped my head back at the cloudless sky. “I hoped being here would help.”
“But you can’t run from yourself.” Her smile turned sad. “If changing places doesn’t fix it, maybe it’s not the place that needs changing. Kaia needs school, something of her own. But if you love each other, no one can take that from you.”
I brushed crumbs off the table with my fingertips. “They already did.”
“Nonsense.” She flicked her hand. “Once she’s older, in college, no one can tell her who to love. You don’t need permission to do what’s right for you.”
If only it were that easy. “And what future would I give her? I don’t even have a team.”
“Asher, mi niño, that girl didn’t fall in love with the future. She fell in love withyou. What makes you think you’re supposed to have it all figured out at twenty-two? Besides, didn’t you say she has dreams, too? You can build anything together.”
She slid the plate of ham and cheese toward me. “Eat. You can’t survive on water and angst.”
“Water and angst?” A laugh slipped out before I could stop it.
Grandma refilled her glass with sangria. “By the way, she’s gorgeous. You make a beautiful couple.”
I popped a slice of ham into my mouth. “I told her we’d have beautiful kids.”
“Before or after you took her to bed?”
“During, I think.”
She swatted me, rolling her eyes. “A true Williams.”
I raised my hands. “No. Don’t go there. I don’t want to know.”
Her smile faded. “Jokes aside, I meant it. You’re welcome here. This is your home. But if these walls don’t heal you, don’t be afraid to admit you need help.”
I nodded. Too much to process, too little energy to think.
