Page 23

SIXTEEN

ALEJANDRA

You’re crazy, Ale.

Certifiably. But honestly, I’ll live with the insanity if it means I get to spend every day with him and Zoe for the rest of my life.

When Gage brought me Zoe before he left, I couldn’t help but fall even more for him.

What I overheard on the baby monitor and the look on his face as he handed her to me, watching me cradle her to my chest, stole my heart.

Everything is moving so fast and I need to slow down for just a second to figure things out.

For my brother and sister, because it’s not like I can just abandon my responsibility towards them because I’m trying to live for me, too.

I don’t expect Gage to keep paying me if we’re in a relationship, so I’m going to have to figure out a way to make some money while caring for Zoe.

Time to call my Tia to check in and give her a heads up, to let her know things might be changing until I get the money situation figured out.

This should go well.

The video call rings as I wait for her to pick up. Zoe coos next to me on the bed, looking up at me while I hum to her. The video picks up and while the connection is grainy, I can hear everything perfectly well.

“ ?Pedro! ?Juanita! Tu hermana está en el video. ”

Appearing next to my Tia are my sister and brother, smiles plastered on their faces as they wave. “Hi guys! How is everything?”

“It’s good.” My sister gives me a fake smile and I already know I’m about to get sandbagged. Tia sits there with her lips pursed and she has this hard stare pointed directly at me.

“ Díselo, Pedro.” My Tia nudges him, and I watch my brother’s shoulders drop.

“ Tia needs you to come back for my graduation in May. I already have a job lined up but they said I can’t stay a month past graduation. I’m gonna need your help in getting a place, but after that, I’ll be good on my own.” This would happen.

Shit! I don’t know how I’ll be able to swing this with Zoe. Gage could have to leave for deployment at a moment's notice, especially if he gets cleared at his check-up next week. I feel the pressure building in my chest as I try to come up with a way to tell them this might not be possible.

“ Tia , I don’t know if that’s going to be a possibility. Things are... esta complicado ahorita. I’d have to bring my... the little girl I care for. I don’t know how I would work that out.” I bite my lip and while my siblings don’t seem fazed, my Tia looks livid.

“ Alejandra, los acogí porque no podían venir a Estados Unidos contigo. Asumí la carga. Tienes una obligación con ellos. Tienes suerte de que los tomé. ”

I would give anything to not feel hopeless right now. The deep-seated guilt that blooms in my chest knowing that I don’t have the ability to come and get them and provide for them here breaks my heart.

The door downstairs opens and I hear Gage setting his keys down on the mail table. I don’t want to be having this conversation with my Tia when he comes in. That would be awkward and mean I would have to explain why I’m in my boss's bed with his daughter. My daughter.

“Tia, I’ll have to call you back; I need to get back to Zoe.” Before I can say goodbye to Pedro and Juanita, she shoos them away, and I swallow hard from the look she gives me.

“Ale, I’m back.” Gage pushes the door open and sees that I’m on the phone. “Oh, shit. Sorry. Here, let me take Zoe so you can talk.” He crosses the room, and the whole time my Tia narrows her eyes at me as I sit still.

Please don’t say anything. Please don’t give her a reason to...

“Baby girl and I will start getting lunch put together; we’ll see you downstairs, Hermosa.”

Fuck.

When Gage closes the door behind him, I part my lips to speak but nothing comes out. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. The only thing I can think of to explain is to tell the truth. I’m a grown woman and I deserve to be happy.

I deserve this.

“ Supongo que esa es una manera de asegurarte de que tengas trabajo. Quieres ganar tu dinero como una puta, Alejandra? Eso es asunto tuyo. Pero si tu no te aseguras que tus hermanos esten bien, yo ya no voy a cuidar de ellos. Tu padre, habra sido mi hermano, pero no es mi trabajo criar a sus hijos. ”

“ Tía, me preocupo por él y su hija. No sólo me acuesto con él. ” How dare she call me a whore. All I’ve ever done is give her everything she’s ever asked of me. This is what I get.

“ Lo que tú digas. Entonces te está utilizando y eres demasiado estúpida para darte cuenta, Alejandra. Los hombres sólo toman, así que no esperes que él te ame. ”

“I’m not stupid.” I whisper, feeling the tears fall.

“ Especialmente un militar. él te usará y te dejará a un lado. O cuando esté peleando en otro país, encontrará una manera de satisfacer sus necesidades sin siquiera pensar en ti. ”

“He would never.”

I hear the door creak open and when I look over, Gage’s eyes meet mine, a concern that quickly shifts to anger. He crosses the room, grabbing the phone from me. “ No sé quién eres, pero si vuelves a hacer llorar a mi mujer, vamos a tener un problema. ”

Did this man just threaten my Tia? In Spanish?

“Alejandra, ?vas a dejar que este gringo le hable así a tu tía? ”

“While my Spanish may not be the best, I’m putting in the effort to learn for Ale. If you’re her aunt, then you would be a person I would think would try to keep her happy. I shouldn’t have to come up and find her crying on our bed. Ahora, ?cuál es el problema?”

He’s working on his Spanish for me? Why does that make my heart feel so full?

“She has an obligation to care for her siblings until they leave my home. Her brother is on his way out but her sister will still be in my care for three years. How is she to provide for her if she isn’t working?

Unless you’re going to pay her to warm your bed.

” She insulted me to the man that helps pay for my siblings' well-being.

“ Tia! ?Basta!” I reach for the phone in his hand and he holds up his finger to me.

I can't believe this is happening right now.

“Maybe we’ll come get her and she can live with us. Solves the problem for you. We’ll call you back. Right now, I’m going to make sure your niece is fed and cared for.”

And he hangs up on her.

“Gage,” I let out a breath and reached for my phone. “She’s just upset.”

“Does she always talk to you like that?” I can feel how upset he is, the muscles in his forearms flex as he clenches his fist at his thigh. “Like you're only good for money.”

“ No sé. ” That’s a lie. She’s always treated me according to how much money I give her for my siblings.

“If we’re going to make this work, we need to be honest with each other.

Even with shit like this. I’ll never lie to you and I want you to promise me the same.

I don’t care how much you want to protect me from something or if you don’t want me to stress.

I’m a big boy and can handle whatever you throw at me.

If I need to fly my ass down to Mexico to get your sister, I will.

For you. I’ll do it for you, Alejandra.”

“I’ll figure it out. My family problems are not your responsibility, Gage.” I pull the blanket back and start to get up.

“ Tus problemas son mis problemas. Porque soy tuyo y tú mía, Alejandra. What am I gonna have to do to make sure that sticks? You’re not doing it alone anymore.

Do I need to drag you to the courthouse and marry you today?

” He moves in front of me and boxes my legs between his thighs, his hand applying gentle pressure to the middle of my chest to push me back.

“Do I need to make you my wife for you to listen to me?”

“No, sir.” I moan into his mouth.

His lips come down on mine in a searing kiss while his hands roam up my exposed thighs, making me forget my train of thoughts. “If you keep up this ‘Sir’ business, I’ll show how much of a Sir I can be.”

“Is that a promise?” I sass back, and he pulls back, eyeing me.

“Watch it, pretty girl.” He wraps his hand around my throat, giving it a gentle but firm squeeze while his thumb drags my lower lip down.

“I’ve got a few more days until my appointment, and I’ve got lots of 550 cord in my storage room.

I could keep your perfect little ass tied up and just breed you over and over again. ”

I grab ahold of his wrist and stare into his eyes, knowing this feeling between us is going to make for a very interesting night. But we need to eat, and Zoe needs attention, among other household things. “Pause.”

“What’s wrong?” He immediately drops his hand. “Did I cross a line?”

“No… nothing like that. We need to eat, Gage. Zoe needs us.”

“She’s asleep in her swing. I fed her while you were up here. Lunch is probably cold now but I can reheat it.” He pulls himself up and offers me his hand, helping me up. I grab my sweats from the floor and pull them up.

“Mmm, I don’t know about those.” He grumbles, grabbing my hand and leading me toward the door.

“I can’t be pant-less all the time.” I roll my eyes, and his hand connects with my ass cheek as I step on the first stair.

“I beg to differ.”