Our friends whoop and holler around us.
This woman knows me so well. Loves me in a way I never knew could be possible with a past like mine.
The only reason I peel myself off her is because we are in the presence of nosy mothers and a child. I’d love to send everyone packing, but that would mean all of Daisy’s efforts would be in vain. So instead, I place one more chaste kiss on her lips and straighten. “Does that mean that there’s Dominican cake somewhere in this house?” I rub my hands together deviously.
Daisy rolls her eyes. “Of course there is. What kind of heathen do you think I am?”
I love her fucking snark. Not too long ago she would have shied away from this fun and sassy side of herself. But knowing she’s comfortable enough to push back has me grinning, and I don’t even try to stop myself from hauling her back into my arms for another kiss, this one much more salacious.
“Best.”Kiss. “Birthday.”Kiss. “Ever.”Kiss.
“Ew, can’t you guys at least wait until we’re all gone and talking about you behind your backs before you start mauling each other’s faces again?” Val says as she walks toward the kitchen counter.
Halfway there, she stops short, face going unnaturally pale.
A crashing noise comes from the kitchen. The coffee mug is no longer in Ace’s hand but in shattered pieces on the floor by his feet. His jeans and Timberland boots are splattered, but he doesn’t seem to notice as his shocked eyes remain fixed on my sister.
I’m about to ask what the fuck is going on when Ace speaks up first. “Val-Valentina? Um, wow.” He clears his throat, running a hand down his face before he points it at her. “It’s nice to see you. You haven’t changed at all. I-I mean y-you look, uh. You look well.”
Questions arise quicker than I can keep track. He knows my sister? Why the hell is he acting this way? He’s never been tongue-tied by a woman, and trust me, I’ve seen him with many.
And my sister and I verbally spar like it’s our day job, but it’s always in good fun, even when she’s running me up a wall.
So when the icy tone drips from her lips, I’m instantly on high alert. “And you look like you haven’t changed a bit either…” She looks down at the broken pieces of ceramic by his feet. “Leaving a mess wherever you go.”
His face falls, confusion marring his features until they turn tight.
Val looks our way. “Hey, Daisy, I got everything you need. Keep the chocolate. I’m sure you’ll love it.” Her eyes meet mine. “Happy birthday, bro. Sorry I can’t—.”
“Bro? Coach is yourbrother?” Ace asks, dumbfounded for some reason I’m not privy to.
“Sorry I can’t stay,” Val continues, ignoring his comment. “Let’s grab lunch this week and I’ll make it up to you.”
“What the hell is going—” I start before Ace interrupts.
He chuckles darkly. “Guess some things never change. Care to tell us where you’re running off to now, or you just gonna keep me in the dark again?”
Again?
Val’s mouth opens, a retort at the ready, when she suddenly looks like she’s at a loss for words.
The moms quietly approach Ace with a broom and pan in hand. Their appearance seems to break whatever trance he and my sister were in, because he jumps into action, taking the broom from their hands and sweeping up the mess himself while one of the moms uses a large dish rag to wipe the spilled coffee from the lower cabinets and the floor.
And when Ace looks back up, his face falls again.
Because Valentina is gone.
forty-two
Things were tense atpractice today, and everyone could tell.
Middlebrooks is usually the one you can count on to chat up the guys and keep them distracted from the grueling drills I send their way.
But he was radio silent, following my orders to a T while barely glancing in my direction.
I tried getting to the bottom of it with Val when we went out for lunch the day after my party, but she shut me down before we had our waters placed on the table. Told me to respect her privacy and to not go digging up her past.
Which means Ace is a part of the past. And now I’m trying to figure out how to be a respectful brother while also wondering if I’m going to have a problem with Middlebrooks from here on out.
