Page 106 of The Crush
“Okay, here we go,” I mutter, looking over as Aarón also notices the oncoming reunion. He stands, stuffing his hands in his pockets and wisely hanging back while I intercept.
“Everything’s okay,” I tell Daniel as I move directly into his path. “I’m fine.”
He slows when he reaches me, cupping my face in his hand and looking me over.
“It’s okay,” I say again quickly. “We’ve been talking. It’s fine. He’s not planning to kidnap me or anything.”
“He wouldn’t make it to the road if he tried,” Daniel mutters, still staring daggers at Aarón as he holds me against his side.
“I’m not looking to start anything,” my brother confirms as he slowly approaches. “I only came to apologize to Isa. And to help.”
“Great,” Daniel responds coolly. “Call ahead next time, and I’ll make sure to be here to welcome you.”
Aarón gives Daniel a short nod, accepting his dismissal before he starts walking back toward his truck, almost there when he pulls up short and turns.
“I’m sorry for how I acted with you, too, Danny,” he says, once he’s a few feet away. “For the way I’ve been since you got home.”
“Really?” Despite his icy tone, I can tell Daniel is as genuinely surprised by this exchange as I am. “Just since then?”
Aarón forces out his reply through gritted teeth. “No, I suppose not.”
My brother moves to go, and Daniel looks down at me, giving me a questioning look.
“I don’t think it’s a trick,” I whisper. “Extra hands would be nice… Have a good amount to catch up on.”
Daniel groans, eyes closing briefly before he calls after my brother. When Aarón turns to face him again, Daniel’s hand is already outstretched, an unexpected offering that Aarón only cautiously accepts. He doesn’t even say anything when Daniel grips hard enough to make him wince.
“That was nice of you,” I murmur to Daniel a few moments later, walking into the barn as Aarón unloads his horse and tacks up.
Daniel shrugs. “If I punch him in the faceeverytime I see him, he’ll get used to it. Need to keep him on his toes.”
“Therehe is,” I say with a laugh. “You know, I still can’t decide who has the better right hook? You or Tadeo.”
He stops in his tracks. “What?”
“Your dad?” I start to explain, realizing Tadeo must not have told him. “He punched my father yesterday. In the face.”
Daniel looks stricken, gaze immediately snapping to where his dad is already standing on the other end of the barn with Gabe and Eli. “He punched your father in the face?”
“Yes.”
“And Imissedit?”
I laugh again. “You see? You take off on your own, you miss things.”
“I guess.” He returns his attention to me, grinning. “Better not do it again then.”
I beam back at him, reaching up on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “You wouldn’t make it to the road if you tried.”
Eighty-Five
Daniel
The Rivera invasion lasts through dinner, all of them clearly committed to closing ranks right up until they pass the guard back over to Isabel and my dad for the night. I don’t mind too much, don’t mind their voices drowning out any remaining doubt until it’s finally quiet.
I tell Isabel then that I need to go just one more time. And when I’m back in my truck, I plot a course I already know, find myself taking a route I haven’t taken in years but remember all the same.
Come, aventurero, I’ll race you.
