Page 109 of Through the Water

“Ladies, I play—baseball.” She snorted suddenly, which only served to make her laugh harder. “I’m Killian Reed.”

“Stop,” I said, fighting a smile of my own. “That’s a terrible impression. Unless you think I sound like Batman, which, I don’t.”

After dabbing the corners of her eyes with the napkin, she grinned up at me. “I needed that. Thank you.”

“Anytime,” I deadpanned, but I wasn’t lying. If it meant hearing Ari laugh like that, I’d let her make jokes at my expense for the rest of our lives.

Fuck, what happened to baby steps?

I glanced up when I saw Yuri, the owner of Papi’s, approaching our table. “Hey, hey! You didn’t say you were coming by tonight. I would have gotten you a better table, where no one would bother you.”

No one ever approached me for autographs here. That, along with the fantastic food, were the two reasons I kept coming back.

“And this is exactly why I don’t tell you when I’m stopping by,” I joked, before gesturing to Ari. “Yuri, this is my girlfriend, Ari. Ari, this is Yuri. He’s the owner of Papi’s.”

He bowed his head, taking her hand in his. “Cariño, it’s a pleasure to meet you. This guy never brings anyone here. I was beginning to take it personally.”

Two bright spots of color lit up Ari’s cheeks, and I wondered whether it was due to Yuri’s term of endearment, or mine.

“It’s nice to meet you,” she beamed, before tilting her head toward me. “So, how long have you two known each other?”

Yuri pressed a kiss to her knuckle before returning her hand to mine. “Killian and I met, what was it—five years ago?”

My smile slipped. “Sounds about right. Listen, we need to get going. Could I get the check?”

He let out a booming laugh and shook his head. “It’s on the house, you know this.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but he’d already turned his attention back to Ari.

“I met Killian when my son was in the hospital—”

“Yuri,” I said in a strangled voice. “We don’t—”

He held up a finger. “Shhh… let me tell it my way. So, my son was in the hospital, and he decides to write a letter to his favorite rookie baseball player. Now, I didn’t think anything would come of it, but then this guy shows up to the hospital the very next weekend bearing gifts.”

“Really?” Ari’s eyes widened. “Killian, that’s so sweet.”

“He’s exaggerating,” I grumbled.

Yuri cocked his head to the side, with another loud chuckle. “You’re still hellbent on keeping this a secret, aren’t you? Fine. I’ll just say this—my son’s room was packed with Houston Hurricanes gear thanks to someone whose name I can’t mention.”

“How is your son now?” Ari asked, caressing my skin with her thumb. I took the opportunity to appreciate her beauty. And I wasn’t referring to her appearance, although I’d been captivated by that part of her too.

She was perfect.

“Just turned sixteen, doesn’t want to do anything but sleep or play video games,” Yuri complained to her. “But healthy as a damn horse. Eats like one too!”

After refusing to take my money yet again, claiming my presence alone was good enough for his business, Yuri excused himself back to the kitchen. Being the stubborn individual that I was, I left more than enough cash to cover our tab.

Ari held my gaze. “So, where to next, superstar?”

“You’re not ready to call it a night?”

“Hmm… let me think.” She tapped a finger against her chin, her mouth curving into a smile. “Nope. Wherever you go, I go. Well, at least until eleven o’clock. I need to be back at True North by then.”

I pursed my lips in mock deliberation before nodding. “Alright, slugger. There’s this band playing next door—”

“Yes,” she interjected. “My answer is yes.”

Tsega’s warning came back to me as I led Ari to the door, but the tightening in my chest as she looked up at me with a hopeful grin made it clear it was too late.

Ari’s roots ran deep, and I couldn’t lose her without destroying myself.

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