Page 61 of The Long Game

A lighthearted laughter rolled off his tongue. “Please, Robbie is all right.” He released my hand and slipped his gloves back on. “It’s nice to finally be able to put a face to the name everyone in town is chattering about. I would have loved to introduce myself during the goat happy hour but there was an emergency at the cow barn.”

María tugged at my hand, and I looked down at her. “Carmen hasn’t been eating. I think she’s sad because Sebastian went missing weeks ago.”

“Carmen the… cow?” I ventured. “And Sebastian the…”

“The rooster,” María offered. “Sebastian Stan, Miss Josie named him. It was my birthday present.”

“That would be them.” Robbie chuckled. “María likes for all the animals we have to be named. But Carmen’s stomach is all right now. Nothing to worry about.”

Tony approached us shyly before I could ask any further questions. His face was still red, and his eyes were cast down. “All the planks are out of the truck. Can I run to Josie’s for a minute?”

His dad clicked his tongue. “Fine,” he relented. And the teen didn’t waste time turning around. “But take your sister with you,” Robbie added, bringing the teenager to a stop. “And be back in five. Tops. We’ve got work to do.”

Tony shook his head, but he stretched an arm, sticking his hand out.

María shot running in her brother’s direction, latching on to the outstretched limb. “I’ll bring you a brownie, Miss Adalyn,” she called over her shoulder. “You, too, Dad!”

Robbie laughed, but called back,“Gracias, bichito.”

The Spanish words echoed in my mind. A part of me felt encouraged to exploit that connection. We had something in common, after all. A language. Maybe a culture, too. I’d know if I asked.That was what my mother would do. But I… I didn’t know how. My mind blanked in situations like these. What if the man talked to me in Spanish and discovered that mine wasn’t very good? What if he expected me to be something I wasn’t and then turned out to be disappointed? He seemed to like me just fine for now.

My gaze roamed around, desperately searching for something to say, and coming to a stop when I spotted a Miami Flames hoodie thrown over a toolbox.

“Are you a fan?” I asked, nodding at it.

“Tony is,” he admitted, a slow smile parting his face. “The boy’s crazy about soccer. Watches everything and anything he finds on TV, or his phone.” A shake of his head. “I’m not one for sports, honestly, but their mother was. He, uh…” His smile fell. “He took after her in that way. María does, too, I guess.”

Was. Their mother was.

I wracked my head again to say something appropriate and not bring this conversation to an awkward halt. “I work for the Miami Flames,” I rushed out. “I know Miami is not exactly around the corner, but I could get you tickets to a game. You guys could make a trip out of it. Miami will be a good break from the cold by the time the Flames make it to playoffs. If they ever do, that is. We’re not having the best season.”

The cheery, kind man fell strangely silent.

“I’m the head of communications of the team,” I felt the need to explain. “Well, I… was. I’m on a temporary leave—break. I’m on a break.” Robbie frowned and I shifted my feet. “That sounds like I was fired, but I wasn’t. I can get the three of you good tickets, I promise. My father is the owner. He, uh—” I swallowed, and God, I didn’t even know why I was rambling to this man. “Andrew Underwood. I’m his daughter. So, even if I’m technically on a break I’m still able to get tickets for, er, people. Yes.”

Robbie’s expression closed off. He even took a step back. “But your name,” he said. “It’s Reyes. I didn’t think—” He stopped himself.

I… I didn’t understand what I’d said to possibly offend him.Was he realizing that I was the crazy woman from the video the whole town was talking about? “I use my mother’s last name.” I clasped my hands so I wouldn’t fidget. “And I promise, the kids are safe with me. That—”

“Thanks for the offer, miss,” he interjected. “But I’m afraid I can’t accept the tickets. We’ve already taken more charity than I’m comfortable with.”

Charity.

The term seemed to hit me harder than it should have. Perhaps because I’d accused Cameron of the same thing. Robbie’s and my reactions weren’t that far off. So I shouldn’t be all that hurt. Only I’d tried to be nice. This was María’s dad, and I’d wanted to do something for him and his kids. It wouldn’t hurt to have someone besides Josie on my side. I couldn’t understand how it had backfired so miserably.

“Is there a problem?” a deep, accented voice said behind me.

Something happened in my body then, something that felt a lot like relief. Relief at Cameron Caldani being there. Here. It didn’t make sense.

Robbie’s eyes locked on a point over my head. He opened his mouth.

“Everything’s fine,” I interjected. “I was pestering Mr. Vasquez and not letting him do his work. Now that I think of it, I never arranged for the repairs of the shed. Did Josie call you? It was my mess to clean, and I’d like to take care of it. So who should I see about the cost?”

“It’s all taken care of, miss,” Robbie answered.

So we really were back to themiss. “But—”

“It doesn’t matter,” Cameron interrupted. He came to my side and took a good look at me. His expression changed. Something flashed behind his eyes. Concern? “Now, where’s that binder with your detailed fifteen-step plan to make my life all the more complicated? I’d like to go home.”

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