Page 101 of Hearts on Ice
“Sí.” Yeah. The answer settled in my chest like it fit there. “And he’s good for me.”
“Then take care of it without hiding yourself. There are ways.”
I huffed out a laugh. “Give me the playbook.”
“Don’t invent fights before they start. When it’s time to speak, you speak. Direct.”
“Sí, capitán,” I said, and he snorted.
“You’re the captain in the crease, not me. His eyes softened. “You love him.” It wasn’t a question.
Love. The word hung there. I didn’t chase it away because I’d known I was in love with Drew for a while now; I was just waiting for the perfect time to tell him. But it just dawned on methat there wasn’t a perfect time to tell someone three precious words
“Yeah,” I said. “I do.”
“Good.” Manu looked at me hard, big brother in full. “Then love him smart. But don’t love him quiet. Quiet love is for people hiding from themselves.”
“I’m not hiding,” I said, more defensive than I meant to be. “I’m trying not to blow up his life. Mine too.”
“You can be careful,” he said, “and still screw things up because of fear.” His mouth tipped wry. “Ask me how I know.”
“You don’t have to—”
“Claro que sí.” Of course I do. “I thought I could outrun my mistakes. You remember how that ended.” Deportation isn’t a word you throw around at breakfast. He didn’t. He never needed to. “When you let fear make your choices, you only find out what fear wants. Not what you want.”
I braced my elbows on my knees and let my head hang between them. “If he loses his job because of me—”
“Stop.” The word was gentle. “If he loses his job because ofyou, that’s because the people around him choose cowardice”
He’d always been like this—hard truth wrapped in warmth. “What do I do?”
He tilted his head. “What you always do. Play the next shot in front of you. You can’t win a series in one save.”
“We already lost the series,” I muttered.
My brother chuckled at that. “You’re such a little smart mouth. What I meant is relax Breathe. Sit in the sun. Let the light touch you. It helps.
“You’re getting sentimental,” I said, but my voice was quieter around the edges
“Sabiduría,” he corrected, smug. Wisdom. “Te quiero, Miguelito.”
“Yo más,” I said, the old call-and-response making something uncoil in my chest.
“If you need anything, tell me.”
“I will.”
We hung up, and the line went quiet.
I switched over to the text I got from Drew and readGoodone more time like it could tell me what to do next. It didn’t, but Manu’s voice hung around long enough to steady the ground under my feet.
Careful, not quiet. Whatever was going to happen was already on its way. I could meet it standing up.
I crossed the room and pulled the curtains wide. The sun’s rays came in. I stood in it and let the light touch me.
Chapter 37
Drew
