Page 60 of Entangled With You

“Oh, Cata. Hi. Thank you so much for taking my call,” she has the nerve to say, and I decide not to waste time with pleasantries.

“I’m not sure what your motive for calling me is, but I hope from now on, you can make your colleagues proud and actually add something of value to your profession. Be thankful you get a chance to right your wrongs. Stefa would never get a chance to play soccer again. Her family will never see her again. And even though I’m not going to be in Buenos Aires for much longer, I’ll make sure to keep tabs on you. The last thing we need is more deaths because of your thirst for money.” I say my peace without taking a breath, and the line goes silent. I guess she wasn’t expecting me to be so sour, but she lives in delulu-land. I don’t even care what she had to say, so I hand the phone to my mom to hang up.

Everyone in the room is silent, clearly taken aback by the strength in my words. I look at Mati whose face looks murderous. I’m sure he’s as enraged as I am about all this. I extend my hand to him, and he immediately takes it. I know what I have to do—for Stefa.

“Could you please help me collect all the pictures and documents Oscar, the PI, had gathered, and send them anonymously to the detective who was assigned to the case? One we know isn’t involved with the mafia?” I ask, trying to even my breathing. It’s time for Romina to pay for her involvement in this tragedy.

“Of course, mi ángel. I’ll get on it as soon as I leave here,” Mati says as he squeezes my hand gently. I feel a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Thanks to this incredible man, I get to breathe a little easier. But with each breath, more tears well up in my eyes.

“Cattleya, look at me. I know you’re still very upset about the call you just took, but let’s try to focus on you and your recovery. You’re going to be in both physical and trauma therapy. You’ll meet with a psychologist daily until they clear you, too. You need to be strong to face all this, but you won’t face it alone. You know we’ve got your back, hijita,” my mom says, and I wince, tired of hearing everything that has already been planned for me. It’s like I no longer control my life.

“But can I do all that at home? When can we leave? I don’t want to be here anymore.” Tears start running down my face, and my sister who hasn’t said a word until now breaks down, crying next to me.

“I’m so fucking sorry this happened to you, Cata. You deserve the world, not this kind of crap.” Franco tries to comfort her, squeezing her shoulder, and she leans back on him.

“I promise you I’ll do everything in my power to take you home sooner rather than later, but you need to understand that this isn’t just a small injury. We cannot risk you in an airplane for an eight-hour flight if your body isn’t ready,” Dad says. Tears keep running freely as Mati holds my hand.

“You keep saying you want to leave, but please promise me you’ll let me go with you. Tinta and I need you.” His voice breaks and my tears flow faster.

“Okay, I think Matías and Cata need a few moments alone. We’ll be in the waiting room if you need us.” Mom leans down to give me a kiss, and quickly wipes the tears off my face. I smile at her and give everyone a little wave as they empty the room.

“Matías, you know I love you. That hasn’t changed, but you need to understand I can’t ask you to go with me and leave Argentina behind. I’m not sure if I ever want to come back. I know I haven’t even started my healing process, but as far as I’m concerned. I don’t want to play here anymore. I don’t even know if I’m going to be able to play again.” Mati holds my hand with both of his and his warmth seeps through my skin, warming me from the inside. I’ll always want Mati in my corner.

“Cattleya, wherever you go, I go. Our souls are entangled for eternity,” he says, oozing sincerity.

And although I believe him, I need to ask, “We’ve only been dating for two months, Mati. Most of the time, we were hiding because we weren’t supposed to be together. Look at us now: I won’t be able to play for an entire year, and you don’t have a job. Is this how we want to start the rest of our lives?”

“Absolutely,” Mati immediately replies, with no hesitation. I laugh a little, but the pain makes me reconsider my laughter.

“Okay, bae. Let’s do it. There’s no one else in this world I’d go through hell with than you.”

Mati closes the distance between us and whispers against my lips, “I love you for this life and all the rest.” Then he kisses me tenderly, savoring this moment. He slowly shows me how much I mean to him.

“I’m so thankful you fucked me before the game. I’m not sure when we will be cleared for that sort of activity, and given that we like it rough, I’m not sure how long it’ll be,” I say, and Mati barks out a laugh. It’s so good to hear him laugh this freely.

“Oh, mi ángel. There are many ways we can still have fun. The only thing you need to worry about right now is healing and getting better. Let me take care of the rest.” He gives me a wicked grin, and I just know that he means every single word he just said. I couldn’t be in more capable hands. I hope I can laugh again like he just did at some point in life. Right now, I’m still too sad and too conflicted about everything that went down after one of the happiest moments of my life.

“Hey, where did your mind go?” Mati asks quietly like he’s trying not to startle me.

I try to muster a smile, but I know it doesn’t reach my eyes.

“I know all this is hard to comprehend but at the end of the day, we’ve still got each other, and we’ll get through it. With lots of love, ice cream, and cuddles from a furball that’s anxiously waiting for you to get back home.”

This time my smile is brighter. I know Mati will help me get back on my feet. With his love and his care, I’ll come back stronger than before.

Chapter 29

Matías Moreno

One Year Later

We just landed at Barajas airport, and a freezing wind greets us as soon as we get off the airplane. Since the attack in Buenos Aires, we’ve been flying private. I think at this point, it’d be best if Samuel buys a jet for the family to fly safely.

Cattleya was able to leave the hospital in Buenos Aires a month after she was shot. Thankfully, the bullet didn’t compromise any arteries, but the femur and some nerves were pretty wrecked. It took Cattleya long hours of physical therapy before she was able to walk, and even longer to run again.

It’s been a very challenging year for her physically, but especially mentally. She had nightmares for months, waking up screaming and punching anything and everything that was near her. I think being shot was hard for her, but losing Stefa was the hardest pill to swallow. She blamed herself for not being able to save her friend.

Seeing mi ángel so broken was the last push I needed to deal with my demons for good and be her rock during those agonizing hours. You never know how strong you can be until being a tough motherfucker is the only option left. Dr. Sosa helped me navigate this new reality via virtual appointments.

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