Page 20 of Against The Boards

“You like your life in Philly?” he asked.

“Well, yeah, but—”

“Then there’s no reason for you to upend your career. Especially if a pretty lady’s living with you now.”

I narrowed my eyes. “How do you know she’s pretty?”

He smiled at me. “Your sister showed me her picture.”

“Abuelo, it’s never gonna be like that between us. We don’t get along.”

“You need someone to challenge you. From what you’ve told me over the years, I don’t think she hates you either. I think you’re both pretending.”

“No, we’re not,” I argued.

He raised an eyebrow at me. “Go back home, woo your lady, and don’t even think about dropping your entire life for me. We know you feel guilty not being here, but you do enough already.”

“I want you to be proud of me. I want to be a good man, like you, not like my asshole dad.”

He made a face at the mention of my father. “I wish your mother would divorce him.”

“She made her choice when she kicked Liliana out,” I argued.

He nodded in agreement. “You’re not like him; you’re a good man. You bought this house, paid off Liliana’s loans, gave Sal money for his bar, and you have a college fund for the twins.”

I did all that stuff because that’s what you did for your family. Abuelo had instilled that in me growing up. My sister and her wife weren’t happy with me when I told them I wanted to start the college fund. They both prided themselves on being independent women who could provide for their children, but college was expensive, and I made a lot of money playing hockey.

“I’m proud of you, Michael. More than you could ever know. But you don’t need to sacrifice your happiness because you think I need you right here. Don’t ask for a trade, okay?”

I hung my head but nodded.

The old man was stubborn, but I loved him. I couldn’t make that promise; my family was too important to me. I was still going to ask my agent if a trade with Boston was a possibility. Even if my grandparents didn’t like it.

“And besides, maybe you could finally settle down and give us more grandkids.”

“Abuelo!”

Chapter Seven

ROXANNE

I wasn’t sure how to deal with Benny kissing me last night. Did we pretend it never happened? Should we have a conversation about it? After he left me horny and unsatisfied on the kitchen counter, I took a shower, hoping to forget. I wasn’t that surprised when I got out and discovered he had disappeared.

He wasn’t home when I left for work this morning, either, so I pushed all my thoughts about our kiss to the back of my mind and focused on my work.

I was knee-deep in spreadsheets and having what I called ‘sad desk salad’ when Quinn knocked on my open office door.

“Hey. Oh no, are you having sad desk salad lunch?” she asked with a smile.

I laughed. “Girl, you know it.”

“Oh, honey! Please don’t be like me; you gotta get out at lunch. Yesterday was the first time I’ve left for lunch in months.”

“I’m trying to get up to speed on everything.”

She sat down across from my desk. “The group of us usually do happy hour after work on Thursdays. Would you like to join tonight?”

“Sure!” I responded a little too quickly. “I’m new to the city, and I haven’t made many connections yet.”