“By then he’d grown a few inches, became one of the hottest guys in our class, and he was the quarterback for our high school’s team.
“I knew I was bringing down the mood whenever I came around him and his friends from the team. Ultimately, I stopped hanging out with them. A few weeks later, he came to me and told me that my mood is always killing the vibe, basically.”
I’ll kill him.
I manage to keep that thought from spilling out but just barely.
“Do you know where he is now?”
The ice running through my tone must shock Alyssia, because she pulls her head back and stares as if assessing me.
“You’re not serious, are you?”
“I’m very serious but keep going.” I’ll get the fucker’s name later.
She lays her head down again. “He broke up with me. Two weeks later, my grandmother died and I shut the entire world out.”
“He was a son of a bitch.”
“He was young. A high schooler.”
“Baby, I’m going to need you not to defend the bastard that broke your heart while you were already dealing with the heartbreak of your parents and your grandmother. He was a piece of shit.”
Alyssia turns her face into the pillow to hide her grin.
“You’re mean when you want to be,” she finally says.
“Only to those who deserve it.” I lean in and kiss the tip of her nose. “Learned it from my family.”
“Did you get your love of sports from your dad?”
Pride swells my chest. I’m so damn happy she’ll get a chance to meet my parents in a couple of weeks. We’ve had video calls since she wanted to thank them for the baby stuff they sent home with me from my Miami race.
“I did, but while I always enjoyed watching football, I never wanted to play. I was drawn to motorsports. After he retired, my dad became a sports anchor and we would sometimes travel with him for work. We were exposed to all types of sports even though he broadcasted for football.”
When Alyssia shifts her head on the pillow, I think back to what her uncle said earlier tonight. An ache in my chest starts to form at the thought of causing her anymore pain.
But I know I can convince her that my sport isn’t nearly as dangerous as she might think it is.
“My mom is a financial advisor and educator. Though she’s beyond the point of needing to work, she loves taking on new clients or mentoring young women in the finance industry.”
“It’s beautiful when you find a career you’re passionate about.”
“Europe has great universities, or if there are any programs in the States your?—”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” She smiles, and my heart beats faster
I squeeze her hand again. “We have time.”
Her eyes lock on mine. Hope, fear, and hesitation all create a kaleidoscope of emotion in her gaze.
“You don’t have to decide anything now, but you’re not alone in any decision you make,” I assure her before bringing her hand to my lips, kissing her knuckles.
“You’re staying the night, right?” she asks after a few minutes of silence.
“The moment you open your eyes in the morning, you’ll see my face,” I reply.
The way the corners of her mouth lift as her eyelids grow heavier and heavier until they’re closed comes close to overwhelming me.
