Page 1 of Resilient Love

PROLOGUE ONE

The car doorslams behind me as I bound to the door following Dad. His brows are pinched, but otherwise, nothing seems amiss. I've done my best to ignore the unfamiliar feeling niggling into my stomach ever sinceMamanand Rachelle missed our call last night after the game, but with everything going on at home, they were probably just tired.

“I can't wait to show Rach the size of this trophy!” I say, excitement and pride whirling through me as I hold up the giant hunk of metal.

“YourMamanand Rachelle are going to bethrilled, mon petit chou.”

The door unlocks with asnick,and Dad pushes it open. I bulldoze inside, shouting, “Mom! Rach!On est à la maison.”

When they don't answer, that feeling burrows deeper, anxiety climbing up my throat.

I look at Dad, his shoulders tense, spine rigid, and his usual relaxed demeanour is nowhere to be found.

“They're probably still sleeping. Maybe they stayed up watching movies.” I nod, but his words don't set me at ease. They would have answered the phone when we called if they were awake last night.

My heart pounds a little harder with each passing second, and the air is thinner and harder to breathe. I move through the house, footsteps quieter now, trying to hold it together. The stillness settles around me like a suffocating fog, and I swallow against the lump rising in my throat.

I swing our bedroom door open and find both of our beds untouched. My heart hammers against the walls of my ribcage, threatening to fly out of my chest. I push past Dad, sprinting to my parents’ room. He yells something behind me, but I can barely hear him over the sound of my heartbeats growing louder in my ears, his words hitting me too late. I push the door open, and time stops.

Nothing makes sense anymore. My stomach free falls to my toes and I crumple to the floor, my knees smacking against the hardwood—I don’t feel the pain, my entire being giving way to numbness.

We were too late.

PROLOGUE TWO

“Come onnn, Carlito,”I beg my brother, all but getting on my knees. I’m filled with restless energy, the need to do something reckless taking over, causing me to pace. “This is what we’ve been waiting for all these years.Thisis our big moment! Tomorrow, we get on a flight out of here and start living our dreams.”

“Si, hermano.And I don’t want todiebefore I get to live out those dreams, so my answer isno,” he says with a huff. “And you do realise thatIam the older brother? Stop calling me Carlito, and respect your elders.” He scoffs.

“You’re seven centimetres shorter than I am; therefore, you areCarlito. And I do respect my elders! Just this once,viví unpoco!” I’m flat-out begging now, and if I’m being honest, it’s a little embarrassing. I promised Carlos and our parents that I’d give up seeking adrenaline rushes once we move to Embershire and start playing football at the college level, but that’s not until tomorrow and I intend to use every second of my freedom.

“Iamliving, Rafa. Cut it out.” He swats me away, rolling his eyes as he stomps toward the living room.

“I swear, this is the last thing on my list! After this, I promise not to do any more thrill-seeking. I’ll give you anything you want, Carlos.Pleasedo this for me.”

“Will you shut up if I agree?” he asks, his voice gruff as he throws his hands up in defeated annoyance.

“Yes!”

“Thenfine, let’s go before I change my mind.”

If I’d have known how this night would end, I’d have never pressured him to take the leap with me.

Fútbol. Uni. All of our shared dreams.Washed away with any semblance of my will to live.

CHAPTER ONE

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19

I tearthrough the locker room, fists balled as I make my way to Coach’s office. Yanking the door open, it slams against the wall at my entrance. Coach leans back in his chair, his head supported by his forearms, as he eyes me with a smug smirk stretched across his lips.

"What the fuck is this about?" I challenge.

"Whateverare you talking about?" he asks, his tone dripping in sarcasm.

"You know good and well what I'm referring to."

At that, he sits up in his chair, wiping the smirk clean from his face. He levels me with a flat expression before saying, "You want my job when I retire. Do this for me, and it's yours."

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