Page 28

Chapter 28

Bones

A s my first paycheck hit my bank account, giving me more funds than necessary to merely keep the lights on, I knew exactly what I wanted to do first. Since I couldn’t yet afford to pay for any decent treatment for my father—a problem for which I still hadn’t managed to work out a solution—I wanted to do something else for him. Since he was having his first good day in a long time, the timing was right.

“Come on, Dad,” I said, extending my hand out to him. “We’re going to go out for the day.”

“We are?” he asked in surprise. “Where are we going?”

“Well, first I thought that you might like to see Smiley’s . Lotto is there working on logistics for Heathens Hollow, and I’m sure he’d love to see you there, too.” I grinned, knowing how much he liked boxing and everything associated with it. When I was growing up, he’d always had a fight on the TV, and we used to spend hours chatting about different fighters, which had caused my interest to grow even more. “See where I’m training these days, and afterward I’ll take you out for steak.” Sure, it might not be the fanciest, or most expensive restaurant around, but it was my dad’s favorite, so I was more than happy to treat him to something special.

“That sounds great.” Dad smiled happily. “Thank you.”

As we drove along, he started talking about his favorite fights from the past, ones that happened before I got involved in the scene, and I saw that spark of the old him returning—the one I’d known so well before he got sick. I hated that he was so ill. I hated that it felt like no matter how hard I tried, I was losing him anyway. It was damn near killing me, but I really didn’t want that to be today’s focus. I didn’t want to think about anything that had been happening with the decline in his health. I just wanted to concentrate on making him happy.

I smiled to myself as I listened to him talk about growing up in Mexico and how learning to fight in the streets had been a real art. It had been a rite of passage, and cage fighting reminded him of the days of old. He missed Mexico. Hearing about his childhood and tying it to a sport I loved, made me proud. Fighting connected us in ways that most couldn’t understand.

“Well, here we are,” I said, as we pulled up outside the gym. “Let’s go inside.”

As we walked through the hallways, with me showing Dad some of the titles Smiley’s had won before I joined the gym, I soon heard the voices of Teo and a new member who recently joined the gym as they approached us. Seeing Teo or anyone no longer filled me with the anxiety that it once did. Most of the other fighters and I now had a quiet respect for one another. For the most part, all the beef was gone. I was proving myself with my hard work and obvious show of dedication.

After a brief introduction to my dad, I asked the guys if Frankie was around because I was really not in the mood for his pompous attitude right now—with my dad witnessing it. I hated that Frankie was so difficult to read. You never knew where you stood with him either.

“Nah, no Frankie. Ari and Lotto are in the office, though.”

At first, my head snapped toward Teo, wondering if he was saying that in a suggestive way, telling me that he knew something. But there was a complete blankness to his expression. He was just telling me like it was, and there was no hidden meaning in his words.

“Okay, guys, see you later,” I said with a nod, tugging my dad away from them both.

“Ari?” Dad asked with his damn laser sharp focus. “Can I meet her?”

I sighed with a half-smile, really wanting to say no—mostly because I didn’t want to complicate things further, but I couldn’t turn down my dad. Not when he was looking at me so expectantly. “Fine,” I said. “But let’s make it quick. I’m sure she’s busy working.”

My heart pounded wildly as we headed toward her office. I was acutely aware that this was the first time we’d be in any kind of personal space together since we all had the exclusive talk, and I was worried of how we’d act around one another. I had seen her since, but it had always been when I was training. I wasn’t purposely avoiding her. I was not actively going out of my way not to see her. It was just the way it happened. I supposed that because we had all agreed to just see how it played out, it was difficult to know where we stood.

I tapped lightly on her door, hoping that she wouldn’t be mad about me disturbing her day unannounced with a surprise visit from my father, although, realistically, I already knew she wasn’t like that and would be polite and welcoming even if I escorted the Devil himself inside.

“Come in,” she called out in a smiling voice, already causing my insides to cool and calm. I didn’t know why I always got myself so nervous around her, when I was aware that she had such a calming effect on me. “Oh, hi there, Bones.” She grinned widely as I entered. “You just missed Lotto.”

“Hi, Ari.” I gestured toward my dad, instantly knowing he was going to love her. “This is my dad, Cisco.”

“Oh, hi, Cisco.” She jumped up and extended her hand out to him. “It’s so lovely to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Only good things, I hope.” He grinned at her, his eyes shining. I could see it in his gaze already. He was falling for her, hoping she was the one for me. He was probably damn well already picturing our wedding, naming our children. “So, tell me more about where you think my boy is going with all this hard work he’s been putting in. I’ve been watching closely, and I see huge improvement on what he even had in his prime. What do you think?”

While they fell into a conversation about fighting and even boxing in general, as well as my chances at becoming their headliner, I sat back in the seat, smiling while I watched them both. This was the sort of thing I’d always wanted in my life—a strong family around me. I had only ever really had my adoptive father and then eventually Lotto, and because of that, I wanted more for myself. I wanted a wife who loved my dad, kids running around the place, noise, chaos, and fun. Lotto had to be worked in there as well, which really made for a complicated mess. But with Ari, it seemed less difficult. Even doable. Much as I had tried not to think too much about that picture of perfection for a long time, it was floating back to the surface right now, with Ari at the front and center of that vision.

“Well, we better get going.” My dad’s words snapped me back into the present by adding, “My son is taking me out for dinner. Not going to miss a chance at a juicy steak. But it was lovely to meet you.”

“I hope that we see you around the gym or at a fight again sometime soon,” Ari said brightly. “In fact, here are a couple of tickets for tomorrow’s fight. It’s a small venue but will help get more cage time for Bones. It would be wonderful if you could come. You can sit up front with me.”

“Thank you!” Dad’s eyes shone with happiness. “That’s fantastic. I will see you tomorrow for sure! It’s about time I see my son fight in person. It’s been a long time.”

When we got to the steakhouse, and after I had ordered the biggest steak and the best whiskey from the menu, Dad delved into the speech I’d known he’d been holding in all day.

“Thank you for today,” he said, raising his glass to me. “I really appreciate it. You’ve always been a good son. You’ve always been there for me. I also had a really great day today.”

“I had a great time, too,” I said, wanting the focus off me for now. I didn’t do all of this for recognition.

“That Ari though…” He smiled at me. “She’s something else. I can see why you like her. Lotto seems to be smitten with her as well.” When I didn’t say anything, he continued. “So what’s going on with all of you? I could sense the fireworks in the room, and you weren’t even talking. And I also know how important Lotto is to you.”

“Okay,” I admitted, nodding along. He wasn’t going to let this drop, so I might as well tell him all now. “I like her. I like her a lot, and honestly, I feel like something could happen between us if we allowed it. But it’s complicated for sure. There’s Lotto, and there is also another man by the name of Frankie. So yeah… it’s hard to explain.”

“Four?” Dad asked, visibly bewildered regardless of how open-minded a man he was.

“Yeah… it’s a lot. And besides, I’m getting ahead of myself. We all have a lot on our plates. I have training. I need to dedicate a whole lot of time to that. Plus, I need to be around for you, too.”

“Oh, bullshit,” Dad snapped. “Don’t use me as an excuse. That’s not fair. I don’t need you around all the time. Especially not now that I have the nurses on call.” He examined me closely for a moment, seeming to see all the things I was trying desperately to keep hidden. “You need to stop treating me as a child. You need to stop using me as a reason not to go out there and to live your life. That isn’t what I want. Not at all. You’ve missed out on so much as it is. You’ve held yourself back for far too long because of one mistake. This really is your chance to go out there and to get what you want. I urge you to take it with both hands. It may not be conventional.” He chuckled. “Not at all. But if you are happy, then make it happen. Make it happen.”

He broke off panting, staring at me, as if willing me to understand, which made me try to see things from his point of view. Maybe he was right. Maybe this was what I should be doing. Maybe it was time to stop dipping my toe in the water and to fling myself into the ocean headfirst.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” Dad said, starting to stand up. “You have a think about what I just said.”

I stood up, ready to help him, but I instantly noticed a blankness spread across his face. He went pale and his eyes rolled toward the back of his head, causing my heart to stop completely.

“Dad… are you okay?” I grabbed hold of him, but it quickly became obvious that he was slipping toward the ground, passing out. “Fuck. Someone call an ambulance,” I yelled. “My dad needs help. Someone help me please!”

I slumped down to the floor, holding my dad’s body closely to mine as he trembled in my arms. This couldn’t be happening. This couldn’t be happening! What the hell was I supposed to do now? This was too soon. I hadn’t had the chance to pay for any more treatment yet. He couldn’t die. No, no…

“The ambulance is coming,” the waitress reassured me. “Is there anything I can do? Does your dad need water or anything?”

“I… I don’t know…” I admitted, praying to God that help arrived soon enough.

“Okay,” she stepped back cautiously. “I’ll get you a glass anyway. Maybe a cool rag.”

My heart was breaking. My world was falling apart. I’d hoped I would have longer to fix this, but I could see now that the cancer was back with full force. It was eating Dad alive, and it sure as hell didn’t intend to wait for me to earn enough cash to try to fix it.

The paramedics arrived, and Dad was pulled from me. Watching them carry him on a stretcher sent everything freefalling too quickly for me to keep track of anything.

This couldn’t be it. It just couldn’t. I was not ready.