I park beside the house, head up to the house, and knock. A few moments later, he opens the door.
“Hi,Papa.”
“Gabe.” His brow furrows. “What are you doing here? You should be at home resting.”
I loosen my jaw, which has tightened in anticipation of the upcoming conversation. “There’s something we’ve got to talk about.”
“Oh?” He stands aside and lets me in. Sure enough, in the living room there’s an image of me frozen on the TV screen. He sits, and gestures for me to do the same. I’m full of restless energy and would rather pace, but I know it will make him more comfortable so I join him.
“Sydney and I had a falling out over the DeSilva fight.”
“I noticed she wasn’t there.”
I nod. “Her cousin was getting married. I’d said I’d be there.”
“Ah.” He winces. “Women don’t take it well when you let them down.”
“I know.” I swallow, terrified of what I’m about to say even though I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it’s the right thing to do. “She hasn’t been talking to me, and now I’ve got to do something and I’m afraid I’ll disappointyou.”
His expression flickers, and I think he sees what’s coming.
“I need Sydney to know she means more to me than any fight, and in order to prove that, it might mean missing the event tonight.”
An invisible shadow descends on him. “Why tonight? Why can’t it be another fight? We’ve worked so hard for this,mijo. It’s your dream.”
“No,” I say gently. “It’s yours. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to be the Ruby Knuckles champion—it’d be an honor—but it’s not my dream. I’ve been wrapped up in competing and proving myself and making you proud for so long that I lost sight of what really matters to me. It’s her, and I’m not going to lose her.”
Dad gapes, and there’s sadness in his eyes. Shock, too. I wish I could erase it. Wish I’d figured out how the hell I felt before being forced into this position, but the situation sucks and I’m doing the best I can with it.
“But you love MMA,” he argues. “You want to be the best.”
“I do love it,” I agree. “As far as careers go, it’s the only one I want. I belong in a ring. But I need Sydney.” Desperate for him to understand, I add, “Don’t you need Mama like that? If you’d had to choose, wouldn’t you have chosen her?”
Slowly, he nods. His skin is unusually pale, and he mops a hand down his face, groaning. “What a goddamned mess.”
“I’m sorry.” I really am.
Rubbing his temples, he raises his gaze back to mine. “You’re right. Valentina is my everything. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for that woman.” He pinches the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, and sighs. “I guess you’d better go get your girl.”
I break into a grin. “Thanks,Papa.”
I was going to do it regardless, but his approval, even if it’s reluctant, means a lot.
“Te quiero, mijo. I love you, and you’re my son first and foremost.” He folds me into a hug and slaps me on the back. “Now, get the hell going.”
As I make for the exit, he calls, “Andtryto be there. For me.”
“I will,Papa. Bye.”
It’s a short trip to Sydney’s apartment building. As I carry my bag upstairs and head for her apartment, nerves riot in my belly, and they have nothing to do with Dad or the Ruby Knuckles. Right now, Sydney matters more to me than whatever kudos, money, or approval I’ll get for taking out Leo.
When I reach her door, I knock, praying she’s home and not at work. There’s no response, but after a few moments of straining my ears, I hear a faint rustle on the other side, as if she’s peeking through the peephole.
“I know you’re there,” I say, with more confidence than I feel. “Please let me in.” She doesn’t respond, but a brief scuffle indicates I’m right. Knocking again, I call, “I owe you an apology, and we need to have a conversation.”
Silence.
With a sigh, I sink to the floor, my back against the door, and make myself comfortable. I’m not going to let myself in when she doesn’t want me there because that’s a surefire way to push her even further away. “If you’re going to be that way then I suppose I’ll just have to sit here all day and wait you out.”
