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Chapter 20
Four Months Later
Spring
The water rolls down my face as the shower fills with steam. I don’t mind much that Chema never installed women’s locker rooms. There are so few of us, and if the men didn’t mind me here, then I had no complaints.
My parents never had to know.
I dress and try to try to rush past the front desk. My sister is expecting me for lunch, and I’m running late. I fail to sneak past Chema, though. He is at the front desk, wrapping up with a customer. He smiles as I try to dash past the desk.
“You did a great job today,” he says.
Pausing to say goodbye, I face him. “Stop lying,” I admonish.
“The best since you got back.”
My smile is weak, and Chema picks up on my defeatist attitude.
“It’s going to take a while, Valentina. We’ll get you there.”
“You know we won’t, right? This is it. This is as good I’ll ever be again.”
“It’s only been four months. Can you at least give it a little time before you throw in the towel?”
Nico comes up behind Chema and wraps his arms around Chema’s waist. “What’s this I hear about someone throwing in the towel?” He asks.
Chama pats him gently on the arms around his middle until Nico unravels his embrace and steps forward so we can both see him. He is wearing an athletic tank and shorts that complement Chema’s outfit. They are so cute I feel like punching them in the face.
“Valentina’s getting a little frustrated,” Chema explains.
“Oh, honey,” Nico says. “You don’t remember when you first started, but I do. You were way worse than this.”
I burst out laughing. Leave it to Nico to put things into perspective. I’ll always be grateful to him. He was more than generous sharing his partner while Chema was in Kansas City taking care of me. Nico managed the gym while Chema was away. I hope I can one day have what they have—that kind of supportive partner with complete trust.
At least, I hope I’ll have it again because I’m sure I got close to it once.
“Thanks, Nico,” I say. “I don’t know if that makes me feel worse or better.”
“Any time, honey.” He blows a kiss at me and kisses Chema for real before going off to teach a self-defense class.
Chema does his best to give me an empowering speech, and I try to hear it, but I think somewhere deep down, we are both aware I’m at the end of my professional fighting career. I know I’ll always be in this business. Maybe I’ll coach like Chema does or sponsor other fighters at some point, butmefighting, I know I’ll have to let go of that notion real soon—if I haven’t already.
“I’m going to see Pili,” I say to Chema.
“Say hi for me. Tell her we miss her.”
“I will. I have to swing by my place first, though, to pick up a present I ordered for her.”
“A special occasion?” Chema asks.
“I don’t need a special occasion to do something nice for her, especially after everything she has done—is doing—for me.”
“You’re late,”are Pilar’s first words when she opens the door. Her posture is impeccable, and her sensible, expensive outfit is well put together. Pilar is a mini version of our mother. I dealt with our Mom by avoiding her and leaving home as soon as I could, but Pilar tried, keeps trying, to earn her love by trying to mimic her. I don’t think she realizes she’s doing it, the mirroring effect, but it’s such a big part of her personality, I doubt she’ll ever be able to break it.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I was training.” I follow her into the living room, where she has laid out artful canapés and an icy pitcher she pours from into our glasses.
“How’s that going?”
