True to his self-absorbed nature, Russell turned it into a team event celebrating his achievements as club owner. He wanted his family there. I hadn’t planned on going—but if Kaia wanted to, I would.
“If you want to go,” I said.
“I want to go with you. As a couple. I won’t hide. He blackmailed you into leaving me, knowing how much it’d hurt, and I’m done bending over backward to avoid disappointing him. If he wants a relationship with me, he’ll have to accept that you and I are together.”
There was nothing I wanted more. We deserved to be at every event openly, side by side.
“We’ll go,” I said. “I’m done hiding too, peque.”
***
After dinner, we sprawled on the couch. Kaia rested her head on my chest while I traced lazy circles on her back.
“Spend the night,” I whispered. “I’ll take you home in the morning.”
“I’ll have to go. The cramps are getting worse.”
“Want me to run to the store? Pads, painkillers—whatever you need.”
She kissed the center of my chest. “I’ll stay next time, okay?”
“Fine.” I threaded my fingers into her hair, massaging her scalp. “But maybe you’ll change your mind. You could fall asleep like this.”
A grin tugged at her mouth. “You seem a bit needy.”
“I’m very needy. We still have a lot to talk about.”
“Anything else my father did?”
So much had happened while we were apart. She’d told me about volunteering, but I wanted everything.
“Not really,” I said. “My mother and I barely speak.”
Her soft exhale brushed my neck. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. She had more than enough chances to fix things but chose not to. My therapist helped me deal.”
She tilted her chin up, eyebrows raised. “Therapist?”
I hummed, brushing my thumb along her neck. “I went to Spain after your graduation. Realized I needed help while I was there. I had…too much fucking anger inside me. I didn’t want to race like that. Or live like that. Rys recommended a guy he’d been seeing. I like him.”
“I’m glad,” Kaia whispered. “I have a therapist too. I didn’t think it would work after the disaster with the one my father chose, but Marta’s helped me a lot. Still does.”
I kissed her forehead. “Isn’t it ironic? They screw up, and we’re the ones in therapy.”
“I’d rather seek help than ruin my life and lose the last of my self-esteem. Wait…you said you went to Spain after my graduation. I thought you traveled after the wedding.”
“No. I went to see you.”
I’d never planned to admit it, but what harm was there now?
Kaia shook her head. “You should’ve approached me, Ash. But I get it. I went to your first race in Argentina. You wouldn’t have recognized me—I wore a blond wig. I loved seeing you race. You looked happy.”
My eyes burned. She’d been supporting me even then.
“I might’ve looked it, but I wasn’t.” The words scraped out. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you, wondering if you’d ever forgive me. But I was still convinced I had to wait so Russell would pay for your degree. I couldn’t risk it.”
“We wouldn’t have been able to do much anyway. You were traveling the world, winning. I’m so proud of you. I’m sure your dad is, too.”
