Page 22

Layla

Literally saved by the bell.

I can’t decide if I’m happy or upset that Teagan has no recollection of telling me he loves me. I’m not even sure if I should tell him what he said. Shouldn’t the first time those words are uttered be memorable for all parties? Will he feel obligated to keep saying it if he didn’t actually mean to tell me?

Do I love him?

Maybe…yes…I don’t know .

I always hoped that when I found the right person, professing our love would come organically. There would be a defining moment or event that lead us to confessing our mutual feelings for one another. It would be romantic and emotional. Followed by passionate love-making.

God, I sound pathetic. That’s books and movies, not the real world. The real world is your boyfriend of only a handful of months getting drunk off his ass, slurring that he loves you as his buddy helps you haul him into an Uber.

I could tell him what he said and have a super awkward conversation that would lead to him telling me he loves me because he feels obligated to or telling me that he doesn’t love me. Both options are shit.

For now, I put those thoughts away, padding down the hallway to the front door. When I pull it open, I’m stunned to find my oldest brother, Marcos, standing there with a duffel bag at his feet and a grin on his face.

“?Qué tal, Layla! ?Qué pasa?”

“?Marcos! ?Qué estás haciendo aquí?”

I don’t give him the chance to answer before flinging myself at him and wrapping my arms around his neck.

My brother is the spitting image of my father. Tall, muscular, dark brown eyes, and a mop of black curls on his head. His complexion is darker, not surprising considering he plays soccer professionally for Juárez. I haven’t seen him in over a year and am surprised at how much I’ve missed him. My eyes sting with tears as I pull back to look at him. He seems to be in good health, but he looks tired, and the mischievous sparkle I’m used to seeing in his eyes isn’t there.

“Güey, what’s wrong?”

I watch as Marcos plasters on a fake grin. “What? Can’t a guy visit his sister?”

“Don’t be stupid,” I admonish him. “Of course you can. It’s just that a guy would usually inform his sister ahead of time so she could be prepared.”

“I’m easy. Why would you need to be prepared?”

“Who was at the door, Lovely?” Teagan’s voice travels from the bedroom. Marcos and I both jerk our heads in that direction as my gorgeous boyfriend drifts down the hall, wearing nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs.

God, he looks good enough to eat, even hungover. He’s rubbing his hand over his hair when he stops short, eyes going wide before narrowing at my brother, whose arms are still around me.

“Hullo there. Who the feck are you?”

Marcos, sensing an opportunity to fuck with me, pulls me closer, placing a smacking kiss on my cheek. “Clearly you didn’t tell him about me. What am I going to do with you, preciosa ?”

“Cerdo. I hate you,” I seethe, untangling myself to step toward Teag. He winds a possessive arm around my waist as I lay a hand on his chest. “This is my oldest brother, Marcos. He’s an idiot.”

Teagan lets loose a relieved breath and then extends his hand. “Sorry, mate. I’m Teagan O’Brien, the boyfriend.”

Marcos grips the outstretched hand, muscles flexing as he squeezes harder than necessary. “Marcos Diaz. Nice to meet you. Especially since she failed to tell me she had a boyfriend.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m surprised Mami didn’t tell you.”

“Oh, she did. But you didn’t .”

“Really, Marcos?” I give him a scathing look. “How many of your girlfriends have you called to tell me about, hmmm? Pretty sure I meet a new one every Christmas.”

“None of mine have ever been serious enough to move in with me though,” he says, looking pointedly at Teagan.

“No, mate, we’re not…” he tries to interject.

“No. No, no, no, no, no, no,” I spit out rapidly, shoving my finger into Marcos’ chest. “You do not get to show up on my doorstep, unannounced mind you, and start throwing around judgments and demanding answers.”

Before my brother can argue, I turn back to Teagan. “And you’re not helping matters by standing here in just your underwear. Go put on some clothes while I deal with this.”

“Go easy on him, Lovely. He’s just looking out for you.” Teagan winks at me before sauntering back to the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

“So, an Irish guy?”

Rounding on Marcos, I jab my finger at him again. “Shut up, cabrón . You don’t get to ask any questions right now. Go sit down. I’ll make coffee then you can tell me why you’re really here.”

* * *

“So let me get this straight,” I say, scowling into my café de olla. “Because you’ve been drafted by the Charlotte Football Club and are now moving, she’s unwilling to attempt a long-distance relationship. Even though she says she loves you?”

After Teagan put on some clothes, I poured us all a cup of coffee before settling in to hear Marcos’ story. Teagan nestled into the corner of the couch, wrapping an arm around my shoulders when I joined him, while my brother stretched out in the armchair across from us. His legs are spread wide, head resting against the back of the chair.

“That sums it up,” he sighs. “I don’t know what to do. I’ve been playing for Juárez my entire career and the goal has always been to move up. CFC is sixth in the League. It would be huge for me.”

“Fair play, mate!” Teagan exclaims, raising his mug in salute. “That’s incredible!”

“Seriously, Marcos, that’s amazing. You should be so proud. And if she really loved you, she would be too.”

My brother has never been interested in someone enough to have this kind of reaction. He normally drops them once they start to get too clingy. The fact that he actually still wants this woman, even after her refusal to attempt to make a relationship work, speaks volumes.

Marcos sits up, resting his elbows on his knees and letting his hands hang before them. His eyes dart between me and Teagan. “What if you two were in this situation? What would you do?”

This gives me pause. What would I do? I try to put myself in my brother’s girlfriend’s shoes. Imagining Teagan telling me that he’s leaving and I won’t see him every day makes my heart hurt, but knowing that he’s finally achieved his dream would give me so much joy. Honestly, I’d probably find a way to go with him. I can get a job anywhere with my degree. But what happens if we break up and then I’m stuck in a city where I don’t know anyone?

Oh.

“Tonto,” I say gently. “She’s scared. I’d put money on the fact that what she really wants is to follow you wherever you’re going, but she is terrified that the relationship will end. She’ll be left alone in a place she’s not familiar with if that happens.”

“Why would the relationship end? I love her and want to be with her for the long haul,” he says defensively.

I quirk a brow at him. “The long haul for you is maybe six months. You don’t exactly have the best track record for long-term relationships. She’s cutting ties now, before things get too involved, so it’s less painful. She’s not going to make a huge move unless she is absolutely certain that you’re her endgame.”

My brother glares at me, so I glare right back. He may be older, but that doesn’t mean he’s the wisest.

“So you’re saying I should marry her?”

“Jesus, Marcos. No, I’m not telling you to marry her, but the only way she’s going to even consider staying together is if she feels secure enough with you.”

Teagan clears his throat. “Do you think she’d consider a long-distance trial period of sorts? Maybe give it a go and reevaluate every so often?”

Marcos tilts his head to the side, considering this option. “That’s not a bad idea.”

Nodding, I expand on Teagan’s idea. “You’re going to have to put in a lot of work for her though. Stay in contact with her as much as possible, provide proof that you aren’t fucking around on her. Make trips back to see her every chance you get…or fly her out to you.”

“That seems excessive,” he grumbles, refusing to meet my eyes.

“Hey,” I hold my hands up and shrug. “You’re the one that wants to figure out how to make it work with this chica, so that means you’ve gotta do the work. If you love her, it should be worth it.”

“When the hell did you turn into a relationship guru, Layla?”

“When you decided to drop in uninvited, burro . Which,” I state, pointing at him, “there’s no way you came all the way here just so you could get life advice from your sister.”

Laughing, he interlaces his fingers. “No, I’m actually meeting a new teammate and roomie. He lives here, but we got matched up to share a space when we’re not on the road. Someone named Rowan Gallagher. You know him?”

Teagan chuckles under his breath. “Yeah, mate. I know him.”