The Wall of Winnipeg and Me - Mariana Zapata Page 0,143

of nowhere with a recording device in hand. “You want to talk about this now?”

“Why not?” the man who lied only every blue moon asked with a hunch of his shoulders.

Seeing no one around, I shrugged under his wrist. “Because maybe you don’t want everyone to know?”

“I don’t care, Van. I’m always going to do what’s best for me. If anyone’s surprised by that, it’s their fault.”

The fact that I’d kept my plan to quit a secret for two months didn’t make me feel guilty. At all. I always knew Aiden of all people would understand what I’d done if he put some thought into it.

“You’re fine moving?” he asked.

“I knew what I was getting myself into with you, big guy. I’m not going to suddenly back out on you. You told me you weren’t totally happy here. This is your dream.” I knew his contract was almost over. I knew even after he signed with a team, there was always the chance he could be traded. I was prepared for that reality; I’d made sure of it. Sure there was Diana, but continents could separate my best friend and me, and we’d still find a way to talk every day. Distance wouldn’t do anything to our friendship. I’d survived not being her neighbor since I was fourteen. Plus, I was never moving back to El Paso. Ever.

On the other hand, my brother had his own life. We saw each other as much as we could, but with him in school and playing basketball, it wasn’t often enough. After his game in Denton, it would more than likely be another month or two until I saw him again.

I was okay with that because I knew he was fine. He was doing what he loved. It was with that thought, standing next to this man who clung onto his dream with every finger and toe, that I stopped walking. So did he.

Aiden’s expression was carefully muted, but I wanted to make sure he understood. “I can work anywhere, and anyway, I’m here for you, not the team. Do whatever you need to do.”

The expression on his face turned a little funny.

“We’ll figure it out, but don’t worry about me,” I tried my best to reassure him. I wasn’t sure why he thought I would change my mind or back out on him or do whatever it was that he thought I would. I’d thought about this long and hard before I’d agreed to marry him. An athletic career wasn’t a guaranteed thing even if he was in the best shape of his life.

Something so bright could be blown out in no time.

I smiled up at him and asked, “Are you hungry?” I blinked. “Stupid question. You’re always hungry. I’ll make something at the house.”

“You haven’t eaten?”

“I ate before I came to the game, but that was hours ago.”

“You need to make sure you’re eating enough with all the running,” he threw in, making me almost trip. “What did you do today?”

“Nothing. I stayed at home.”

“What about your friend you’re always talking to? She lives here, doesn’t she?”

“Diana? She went to her parents’ house yesterday.”

“In El Paso?”

“No. They moved to San Antonio a few years ago.”

“You didn’t want to go with her?”

“I’m not used to making a big stink about Thanksgiving. I’d rather get some work done and make some money.”

Was that a half smile that came over Aiden’s mouth? I’m pretty sure it was.

“I like Halloween and Christmas. That’s all,” I explained a little more in detail. Eyeing that fraction of a smile, I made myself ask the question I’d been thinking of the last few days since the nearby grocery store had begun carrying Christmas trees. “Hey, would it bother you if I put up a tree for the holidays?” And decorations, but I kept that to myself.

I had prepared myself for him to say no.

But he didn’t say no as he guided me through the parking lot toward his Range Rover, parked in the closest spot in the lot because he was one of the first people to get to the stadium. “If it makes you happy, it wouldn’t bother me.”

I snapped my head up to look at him. “Really?”

“Yeah.” He snuck me a glance. “Stop acting like you’re shocked. You really think I would tell you no?”

And suddenly, I felt like an asshole. “Maybe.”

Those brown eyes rolled. “I don’t care about Christmas, but if you want to do something, go for it. You don’t have to ask. It’s