“It is,” I promise. “And we are.”
He kisses the top of my head. “Yes, we are.”
34
Luca
Turns out, Alejandro was right. This is the most successful summer camp I’ve ever hosted.
For starters, my head is in the right place. The motorcycle accident shifted my perspective on life, cementing my love for coaching and mentoring. I know how lucky I am to have created a career centered around the sport that I love. I’m even luckier to channel my passion for fútbol into new career possibilities once I hang up my boots.
I also love running the camp with Carla. The inclusion of girls has strengthened the quality of the program and added a new dimension to the training. Carla’s stepped into her role effortlessly, guiding, mentoring, and building up the campers to level up their play and personal growth.
As we close out our final day of camp, I laugh as the girls teach her a TikTok dance on the pitch. The boys join in and it turns into something else entirely. Choreography meets flash mob.
Sitting on the sidelines, the camp staff, coaches, trainers, and I watch the antics with amusement. I bite into my lemon gelato, waiting for the kids to realize there is gelato waiting for them, and tilt my head toward our chef, Davide. “What do you think about this summer’s camp?”
“This was the best one yet,” he shares, grabbing a gelato from the station he set up. “When reviews from this summer are shared, when the campers tell their friends, I think we’ll have a big influx of new campers next summer.”
I nod. “Hope so.”
Beside me on the bench, Carla’s cell phone buzzes with an incoming call. I don’t recognize the number and I don’t want to interrupt her. But when the phone buzzes a second time, Davide looks at me.
“Could be important,” he murmurs.
“Yeah,” I agree, picking up Carla’s phone and waving it at her. “Hey, ragazzi!” I call out to the campers. “Come have some gelato.” At the mention of gelato, the kids race forward and Davide hops up, ready to man his station. “Carla, your phone.”
She walks toward me, her smile wide, her face open. I love how happy she is here, in Tuscany, with me. We’ve come a long way since that night in Chicago and now, I can’t imagine my life without Carla in it. I want to build a future with her, create a family, and continue to support each other’s goals and dreams.
As she approaches, her phone buzzes again. I toss it to her and she catches it easily, answering. “¿Hola?” Her eyebrows pull together before a smile cuts her face. Then, she’s grinning and nodding. “Sí, claro. Gracias. Muchísimas gracias.”
I stare at Carla, holding my breath. Praying and hoping and waiting. And when she turns toward me, she throws her arms in the air and rushes me.
I stand, ready to scoop her up on the left side of my body since my right arm is still pinned by the sling. “You did it?” I whisper.
“I made the team! Alicante Atléticas offered me a position. I start preseason in a week!” she gushes. Happy tears track her cheeks and I lean forward to kiss her hard.
“Brava, amore.” Well done, my love. “Alicante Atléticas is lucky to have a talent like you.”
Carla shakes her head, beaming at me. “Can you believe it?”
“Of course. This was always meant to be.”
She laces her fingers with mine, pressing our palms together. “Like us?”
I chuckle and dip my head to kiss her again. “Exactly like us.”
“Oh, God. Get a room!” one of the campers calls out.
I hear Davide crack up. A few of the boys whistle loudly.
But I’m too wrapped up in Carla to pay them attention. I tug her closer once more and kiss her deeply.
The kids make kissing sounds behind us and a moment later, a cooler of ice-cold water soaks my back.
“Argh!” I holler, jumping back from Carla.
The campers laugh hysterically. “We got you, Coach!”
