Jugador: The Mendoza Family, page 26
Eric scanned the remaining people. Yovani was standing over to the side pointing to himself, being a joker, but Eric called out his name. Yovani jumped around and loped up like he was the heavyweight champ pumping his arms and stepping into the ring.
“Adrian,” Oscar called out, and this guy made a point to smirk, take off his expensive tailored blazer and fold it ever-so-carefully over the back of a chair, slowly remove his watch and lay it gently on the patio table, and kick off his thousand dollar Italian shoes. Oh, and then he had to tug off his tie and place it neatly beside his watch.
“Jesus Christ, do you need a fucking butler to help you get ready for a game of flag football?” Vince growled in impatience.
“Vicente!” Tía Esmeralda called him out as she sat on the patio chair with his daughter. To my shock, Vince actually looked embarrassed for the first time in his life. “Sorry, Tía.”
Eric glanced between the two remaining ones, Lily and Dani, who were both smiling and teasing back and forth like teenagers. I knew how close they were. “I pick…” he began as he stroked his chin with a devilish grin. “Lily!”
“Whatever,” Dani answered lightheartedly.
“It’s okay, baby, you got this,” Vince called out like he was her personal positivity meme as she walked over to Oscar’s team. Since when did that unemotional robot act like a high school cheerleader? It took me a second to realize I would’ve done the same thing, but I had my girl on my squad, so no complaints. On instinct, I pulled her close as we huddled together; we had the ball first.
This was my natural habitat, and I took over assuming I’d be the quarterback. “Okay. We’re going to run a two-wide crossover.”
Everyone except Vince didn’t have puzzled eyes. “In layman’s terms and quit mauling my sister,” he warned.
I shook my head but relaxed my tight hold on her. “Vince line up on the left side, and Eric on the right.” I directed Eric to the exact spot. “You’ll both run a few steps and cross over in the middle. Got it? Yovani line up beside Eric and run straight down the field to the fence.”
“And me?” Lily raised her chocolate, sweet eyes up at me, making me never want to deny her anything.
“You’re my center. Remember, baby? I need my most trusted person in the world snapping me the ball.”
She nodded like she could take on the world for me, and damn, I believed her. She stepped over and crouched down in position, just like I’d taught her. I licked my lips like a hungry wolf wanting to carry my spoils away to savor it. I moved in right behind her, feeling myself harden. I leaned over and whispered in her ear, “When you hike me the ball, take off down the yard, okay?”
She nodded as her breath caught.
“And look for the ball.” I squeezed her hip in reassurance as I straightened up.
“Asshole,” I heard Vince grumble as he glared at me. It takes an asshole to know one.
I refocused and called out the old signal from high school. “Blue eighty-eight. Blue eighty-eight. Hut. Hut.”
Lily placed the ball in my hand perfectly. I wasn’t lying when I said we practiced this exchange. Vince and Eric took off down the lawn and crossed over, but they were both covered by Emilio and Adrian. Oscar was screening Yovani. Lily was trucking down the yard like a trooper and looked back at me. I let the ball go, hoping my baby girl had the hands to catch it. And, holy sheeiiitt, she did. TOUCHDOWN!
“Yeah!” I shouted, fist pumping into the air as if we’d scored in the last seconds of the Super Bowl. Lily was jumping around doing some awkward taunting and tried to spike the ball, which didn’t pan out for her. She didn’t care. I didn’t either. I jogged up to her as she began her little salsa moves, shaking that fine ass, and I lifted her high above me as she squealed. “Damn girl, you make me proud.” I kissed her long and hard, not giving a shit who saw or cared. I’d fight these fuckers again if they had a problem.
“That’s enough.” Vince sounded like a lion about to attack, clamping my shoulder none too gently. “You’re really pushing my buttons, Cruz.” I slowly, deliberately slid Lily down my body, debating whether or not to release her. In the end, I did only because the other family members were watching, too, and Vince seemed like he might bust a blood vessel in his head. I needed to mend fences, not bowl them over like an out-of-control semi-truck.
Lily shot her eyes at Vince. “Don’t even get me started on the PDA that I’d seen one too many times between you and Dani.”
He rolled his tongue with a glare. Adrian chuckled and slapped him on the back. “Can’t argue with that, huh?”
When daylight turned to dusk, Esmeralda, who was sitting on the patio with Emilio’s youngest in her arms and Vince’s daughter leaning on her leg, called out, “It’s getting dark.”
“All right, Ma,” Adrian replied, holding up his index finger as their team broke huddle. “One more play, okay?” He lined up off to the right, and Vince mirrored him. Those two had been jawing the whole game.
“Mama’s boy,” Vince taunted.
Adrian smirked as he lunged in position with fingers clenching at his side ready to take off. “I’ll show you who’s a boy when I school your ass, primo.”
I fisted my mouth watching Mr. Conservative Suit Guy talking shit like he was all that. He actually was pretty good—even in his dress pants and socks. I’m surprised he hadn’t slipped yet in the grass and busted his ass. His once crisp shirt was now wrinkled and half untucked over his pants.
We were up by one touchdown. Emilio was playing quarterback for their team. He called the play, and everyone took off. I covered Oscar, while Lily chased Dani, and Eric was on Sofí. Yovani counted off the seconds until he could rush his brother.
Adrian did a fake-juke swim move on Vince and glided past him as Emilio sailed the ball through the air, landing in his cousin’s arms. Well, hell. Everyone on Emilio’s team was bouncing around celebrating as he scored. Esmeralda beamed with pride, cheered, “Good job, mi hijo!”
“What happened, son?” Adrian spread his arms wide, holding the ball in his right hand as he got in Vince’s face. You could tell Vince was pissed but held it in taking the taunting like a man because he did get smoked.
Emilio and Yovani were doubled over laughing like crazy. Finally, Emilio stood up as he wiped his eyes in mirth. “Damn, hermano, he beat your ass in Armani.”
“Callate pendejo,” Vince growled under his breath and stiff-armed Emilio out of the way which only made the laughing commence again. If I didn’t know this before, this family was very competitive and had a twisted sense of humor, but as close-knit as any group of people I’d ever seen.
“Baby, it’s okay.” Dani was there to console him, and his sour face turned sweet real quick as she wrapped her hands around his neck. He dove in, devouring her mouth like they wouldn’t see each other for seven years.
“Seriously?” Lily interjected, but I could tell she was fighting a smile.
Adrian stepped up to me and flicked his wrist as the ball landed in my hands. “I forgot to tell you earlier, but congrats, man, so you’ll be going back to New York soon.”
Record scratch! Lily’s eyes popped up. “What?”
“Yeah, saw it on SportsCenter earlier today.” Adrian glanced between us, probably seeing my tense expression and Lily’s deer in headlights look. I was still dealing with this shit and didn’t want to discuss it today being a holiday knowing how excited she was to spend Thanksgiving with her family. Fuck! I thought I could keep this under wraps for a few days at least. I forgot how quickly information leaked in the media.
“Yeah, I’m supposed to report back on Saturday,” I responded flatly.
Lily stood quietly beside me and tried to school her features since we’d drawn everyone’s attention. She pasted a happy face and said tightly, “Isn’t it great? I’m so proud of him. He’s worked so hard to get back in the game.” She kept up a brave front, and I clenched the football tighter, willing myself not to pull her to me because at the moment, she’d probably knee me in the balls. Lily had taken up for me again, knowing I held this information from her. I was the lowest of the low, and I deserved to have someone smash my ankle all over.
Marco
“I was going to tell you.” I pulled my Rover out onto the street.
She folded her hands in her lap, wringing her fingers. “When?”
“Tonight. When we were alone.”
Lily turned away from me and stared out the passenger window. The downtown city lights flashed before us as we breezed down the highway. “When did you find out?”
I sighed and clenched the steering wheel tighter. “Yesterday morning.”
“I see.” Her voice was whisper-quiet while her mannerisms negated what she really felt. She was hurt, and I’d promised never to intentionally hurt her again.
“I’m sorry.”
She eventually shrugged and leaned her head against the passenger window. “It’s fine.”
I blinked slowly, grasping to control the heavy pounding in my chest. I could take Lily’s honest words and her feisty temper, but she sat there with both defeat and indifference. I couldn’t stand to see her like this. Especially remembering how happy we’d been under an hour ago. This had been one of the best holidays of my life, seeing how a real family spent time together. To come this far and fuck it up like this when I’d been surrounded in a cocoon of euphoria? Why didn’t you just tell her?
As soon as I pulled in my driveway and put the car in park, she methodically opened the passenger door and walked calmly to her car. “Where are you going?”
“Home.”
I strode over as she was reaching for her door and covered her hand. “Don’t leave.”
“I’m tired.” She kept her head down, staring at the ground.
“Don’t lie, Lily. You’re upset.”
“You withhold something important like that from me, and I’m the liar? What else are you keeping from me?”
“Nothing and you know it.” I fisted the back of my neck. “You knew I was close to being back. You knew this day was coming. It came sooner than expected, but this was the ultimate goal, so why are you acting surprised?”
She whipped around. “You didn’t tell me. I thought I’d be the first person you’d confide in. Instead, I have to hear it from my cousin who saw it on TV? Apparently, half the world knew this information before I did.”
“I was going to tell you, so what difference does it make?”
Her jaw dropped as she stared at me in disbelief. “Wow. I guess if you don’t see how I could be upset, then what’s the point?”
Dammit. “Look, I’m sorry. I should’ve told you. Try to see it from my point of view. Did it ever occur to you that I’m having mixed feelings about this situation? Do I want to play? Hell, yeah. I’m cautious because I’m walking back into an environment where I don’t feel like it’s my team anymore. There’s no guarantee I’m going to get my position back. I’m coming to terms with this, too.”
“I do understand. I know it has killed you watching your team have success behind another quarterback. When you hurt, it hurts me too. Believe me.” She touched my chest gently. “You can’t share parts of yourself only when you feel it’s convenient for you and expect me to roll with it. You said you wanted everything from me, and I stand here giving you my heart and soul. Always have. But it works both ways.”
“Lily, I’m trying, really trying here. I love you.”
“I know you do.” She leaned up and brushed my lips with hers. “Good night, Marco.”
What. The. Fuck. “After what I just said, you’re still leaving?”
“I’m going home for the night. I need time to process, and you do too.” She smiled wryly. “I know you are, but there’s still a piece of you that you’re keeping all to yourself, and like you, I want your everything.”
I stood with my mind jumbled as Lily sighed heavily and opened the driver’s side door. I wanted to stop her, but my feet stayed stuck to the ground. What was so complicated about this? Yeah, it was hard to let go and give up everything about myself. I’d apologized and told her I loved her. Wasn’t that enough?
Around noon the next day, I left the training facility. My final practice in town before I flew to New York tomorrow morning. My footwork was on point, and everything seemed to be falling in place as far as my physical recovery and muscle memory. I was still mulling over my conversation with Lily. What she’d said. How I’d hurt her. Didn’t she know I was doing my best?
I was deep in my thoughts as I stared at the ground walking to my car.
“Marco,” I heard a feminine voice call out behind me, causing a creepy chill to crawl up my spine. No. Not now. I paused, willing myself not to turn around, contemplating moving straight ahead and getting in my car. “I need to talk to you. It’s urgent,” she said.
“I’m sure it must be very important. I must say, you’re on your A game with your stalking skills, Mother.”
The tappity-tap of shoes grew near until my mom was standing beside me. The sickening sweet, overpowering smell of her perfume almost made my nose burn and stomach turn. “Well, I’ve tried to call, and you won’t answer.”
“Did it ever dawn on you that I don’t ever want to talk to you? Did you not get the hint when I changed my number?” Jesus, this woman.
“All I ever wanted was a relationship with you.”
I laughed cruelly. “Yeah, and every message ended with a threat if I didn’t give you money. For the life of me, I don’t know why you needed it? Refresh my memory, how many times have you been married?” I knew of at least three husbands that I had a private investigator dig up when she started calling me on a weekly basis. My father could blame himself for their marriage, but he was always delusional when it came to her. I sure as hell hoped he realized it now. Shit, it’d only been over twenty years since she’d been around.
“I’ve never been able to find a good man. I must have a broken picker.” Her plastic face looked almost comical as it took a real effort to draw up a convincing frown.
“Yeah, that’s the reason. Keep telling yourself that shit. Maybe if you click your heels three times you can find the prince of your dreams. Or a fool who wants to be king, but either way, I don’t give a fuck.”
“Marco, how dare you speak to me that way. I’m still your mother.”
Anger rolled through me like never before. I’d never wanted to leash my violence on a woman, but this soulless bitch tested my morality. Doing something I’d swore I’d never do, I took the bait and got in her face. “You lost that right when you left me high and dry. You burned your goddamn get out of jail free card when you didn’t try to contact me for years. And, you fucking destroyed any chance of being anyone to me when you started extorting money from me.”
Her lips lifted in an evil twist. “Are you threatening me?” She had her phone out aimed at me, and suddenly her face scrunched up in agony, and her voice rose with fake tears. “All I ever wanted was to have a relationship with you, but I’m afraid of you, baby. I’ve always been concerned with your violent behavior. Please don’t strike me again.”
Un-fucking-believable. I stepped back, revulsion and hatred was what this person brought out in me. It was a feeling I hadn’t had in a while. Being around this poisonous environment made me want to revert back to the shut-off asshole I was who would never allow anyone to see inside. She’d constantly threatened to go to the press and talk about how I was a violent and abusive son and had even spliced together doctored videos of me, and I’d always acquiesced because I could afford her price, and I never wanted to air out my personal business with her in public—especially considering my father’s history and what happened. I just pasted on my game face and moved on. Never sharing my feelings or truths.
It was then it dawned on me what Lily was trying to say. She’d always shared everything with me and had always been there when I needed her. Regardless of whether I deserved her or not. It was at that moment, I realized I didn’t have to negotiate with or appease this horrible person who’d given birth to me nor keep secrets ever again. I just didn’t give a shit anymore. If I lost Lily over my own stupid bullshit and overworked drama, then I’d lose everything. Ever since I was old enough to understand what my mother did, I’d always rifled through a cycle of pain, hate, detachment, and jealousy. Now, as I watched her with her phone still pointed at me like she was going to catch some video gold, I only felt pity. “I have to go. I hope Mario’s doing well. If he wants a signed jersey, tell him I can send him one.” I worried about my half-brother’s well-being after seeing what fucking crazy looked like.
As I turned, I saw her lower her phone. When I gripped the handle of my car door, she clasped her hands on my forearm. Desperation was written all over her face as she threatened, “If you walk away, I’ll go to the press. I’ll ruin your image, Marco, I swear I will. Just give me fifty thousand, and we’ll call it even.”
I stared despondently down at her fingers, digging into my skin like falcon’s talons. I didn’t flinch. I’d been immune to her brand of pain for years, but there’d always been a small part of me that hoped one day she’d realize I was worthy of her love. I said with a peacefulness I’d never had before around her, “You know, Ma, all I ever wanted was your love. I would’ve given you anything in the world if you’d ever at least acted like you cared.” I shook my head. “You do what you have to do, but I’m done with this. But know if you come after me, I’ll sue your ass for slander and defamation of character so fast you’ll wish you’d never fucked with me. Just try me. Goodbye.” Her hands dropped from my arm as I slid into my Rover, not giving two thoughts about her anymore. The only thing on my mind was getting my girl and making things right between us.
Lily
I was sitting in my apartment staring at my laptop going over sales reports, but then somehow I was sidetracked looking up every sports article online I could find on Marco and what the reports said about the doctor clearing him to play. Then, somehow, I ended up scrolling through his images on Google. There were a million of them—photos on the field, interviews, magazine ads, on the red carpet at the ESPYs and other social events, photos out in public, walking out of the airport, leaving a restaurant, or out for a morning run. I studied each picture like an obsessed fan reading his facial expressions, wanting to know what he was holding back.
