CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Asher
Three knocks rattled the door, yanking me awake. Dread clamped my chest—Kaia was in my arms, and if one of our parents stood outside, there’d be no way to explain her presence in my bed.
“Ash?”
Javi. Relief surged. I pressed a quick kiss to the top of Kaia’s head before slipping free of the covers.
When I cracked the door, Javi gave me a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his neck. “Mierda, I’m sorry. Didn’t think you had company.”
I glanced over my shoulder at Kaia. We’d stayed up talking, and I hadn’t had the heart to send her away—even with the risk. Selfish, maybe, but I slept better beside her.
“It’s fine,” I said. “What’s up?”
“Want to go for a run?”
“Sure.” I stifled a yawn. “Give me a few minutes.”
He nodded. “I’ll be downstairs.”
I shut the door and returned to bed. Kaia stirred. I brushed a kiss over her forehead.
“Peque,” I whispered. “I’m going for a run with Javi.”
She blinked, yawning. “Okay. I’ll head to my room. Just give me a second.”
Once she left, I tugged on a black shirt and sneakers and joined Javi in the foyer. Outside in the driveway, he stretched, rolling his neck. “Was Kaia okay last night? She looked pretty sad at the gala.”
“I think so.” I jogged alongside him. “Thanks for keeping that asshole Ethan away. I owe you one.”
Javi’s breath steamed as he chuckled. “You don’t owe me shit. She didn’t look thrilled about dancing with him anyway. I just read the room.”
She should’ve been dancing with me. My pulse kicked at the memory of her in that red dress. Helplessness gnawed—anger too—at the circumstances that forced us apart. What if she got tired of hiding?
“So, what’s the plan?” Javi asked as we rounded the corner. “Kaia coming to Ale’s too?”
Ale had suggested celebrating Javi’s contract with Sport Union Madrid at his place. I liked it—privacy, and Kaia wouldn’t feel left out.
“Yeah. She might need to lie to Russell, though. I doubt he’ll let her come.”
“You should be more careful.” Javi shot me a look before refocusing on the sidewalk. “I see how you look at her. If I notice, others might too.”
“I’m fucking done with this.” Frustration burned through me, and I quickened my pace, forcing Javi to push harder. My lungs seared, muscles screaming, but it felt better than exploding—better than telling Russell to go fuck himself or asking Kaia to run away to Spain with me.
“I don’t blame you,” Javi said, panting now. “Honestly, if I were you, I’d sign with another team just to cut Russell out. Then he couldn’t touch your career.”
I’d be lying if I said the thought hadn’t crossed my mind. But leaving Kaia? My chest tightened at the idea. The logical voice in my head whispered it would happen someday anyway. Dad had started with Forward Racing, then moved on. I would too.
But not yet. Not now. Kaia wouldn’t be in high school forever. We still had time.
“I won’t let him mess with anything,” I told Javi as we turned the corner. “I’ve got it. Don’t worry.”
***
We were only supposed to have drinks at Ale’s, but he surprised Dawson, Kaia, Javi, and me with homemade dinner.
Kaia moaned around a forkful of his signature seafood paella, eyes fluttering shut.
