At least they had stopped threatening to come here and drag me back by my hair. “Bom, I don’t plan on arguing with them.”
“That’s a good plan.”
I tilted my head at him. “Thank you.”
“I’m not done.”
“Oh?”
He fished keys from the pocket of his jeans. “This is for you.” He grabbed my hand and placed the keys in my open palm. “I know you probably can’t buy a car in your name right now, because of all the visa restrictions, so I thought I would give one to you.” He ran a hand through his hair. “As an apology present.”
I stared at the keys, then at him, then back at the keys. “You didn’t have to …”
“I know.” He shrugged. “I wanted to. Once you can have it in your name, I’ll transfer it to you.”
From the logo on the keys, I knew it was one from their sponsor, Jeep. “Which model is it?”
He laughed. “It’s parked beside mine in the underground garage. You’ll see when you leave.”
I gaped at him. “No fair.”
Turning, he winked at me. “Of course it’s fair.” He shuffled his weight. “I also transferred the money back to your account this afternoon.”
I gaped at him. “Gui, you shouldn’t—”
“Yes, I should. No matter what I said. We already established I was being a major jerk. The fact is that money came from gifts, and gifts aren’t made to be taken back.”
“But …”
He shook his head. “No buts. That money is yours. I know you don’t need it, but I want you to have it.” He stared at me. “Okay?”
I wanted to argue about it, but knew he wouldn’t relent, so I nodded. “Deal.”
He dipped his chin once, then he walked away and into the apartment.
I stared at the car keys, wanting to ditch the dinner to go check on my new car. That had been so sweet of him. I hoped now he would stop being an ass to Tyler. Not that the two of them would ever be best friends, but Gui could at least treat Tyler like a cool acquaintance.
“Hey.”
I snapped my head to the sliding doors. “Oi,” I said to Tyler. He stood at the door, one of his arms folded behind him.
“Hilary said dinner is ready.”
I nodded. “Thanks. I’ll be right there.”
A small frown marred his forehead as he took three steps out in the balcony. “So … what was that about you playing polo?”
I let a defensive wall fall over me. “I play polo. So?”
He shrugged. “I found it a little odd, I guess. Not that I haven't seen women playing before, but I don’t think I've ever met a girl who played.”
I nodded. “Not many people do.”
“And you want to put your own team together?”
I sighed. I didn’t owe him any explanation, especially not after the snappy, jerky way he had been acting, but since he had brought it up, this was a good time to be clear about that. The more he knew about it, the better it would be. For the green card interview purposes, of course.
“I’ve been playing since I was little, and if it depended on me, I would have started playing it professionally years ago. But polo isn’t a common sport in Brazil. It’s exactly the opposite, so even the men’s division is, let’s say, lacking. That’s why the guys came to live here. Because they were too good for Brazil, and to compete with better teams, they had to spend the entire year traveling. Tired of that, they got a deal with the club here. They still travel, of course, but now it’s easier to play the tournaments in the U.S.”
“And you?”
“I couldn’t even put a team together in Brazil. My best friend, Priscila, played with me, but it was a pain in the ass to get the girls together to train. Not to mention to convince the clubs to let us play in tournaments. None of them accepted women’s teams. And that’s one of the two main reasons I wanted to move here.”
He nodded. “To be with your family and to play polo.”
“Sim. Women’s polo isn’t great here either, but it’s much better than in Brazil.”
“That’s … cool, I guess.”
I felt a smile spreading over my lips. “It’s what I love. Truly, truly love.”
One corner of his lips tugged up. “I can see that.” He gestured to my face. “You’re glowing, just speaking about it.”
My cheeks heated up and I could bet I was turning red. “Bom, there’s nothing I can do about that.”
He let out a low chuckle. “It’s cool.” Then, his grin faded. “I’m sorry I was a little cold today. Again.” He shook his head. “It seems I’m always apologizing for my behavior. I don’t have any excuses other than I had a crappy afternoon, and I let my mood get the better of me. So … I’m sorry.”
“I get it. I mean, everyone has a bad day here and there, right?” I frowned. “Just … try not to be a jerk to me all the time. I understand this isn’t the ideal situation. For you or me. But I gotta live with you for the next two years. I might murder you if you keep acting like a jerk.”
The lopsided grin was back. “I’ll try.”
Silence fell over us while we stared at each other.
“Hey, aren’t you two coming?” Hil asked from the balcony’s door.
“Hm, sim,” I answered, glancing at her. While staring at Tyler, while thinking about his cocky smile and his handsome eyes, I had forgotten about dinner. “We’re coming.”
Hil disappeared inside the apartment.
Tyler offered me his hand. “Come on. Let’s put on a show.”
I slipped my hand into his and let him take me into the apartment.
The club wasn’t too full at nine in the morning on a Tuesday, which was great. I wasn’t in the mood to greet someone every three steps I took.
During the dinner at my brother’s apartment on Saturday, I thought Tyler and I had made a breakthrough in our relationship. I thought we would finally find a common ground. Even when Bia started pushing everyone to go clubbing, and one by one, they accepted it, I thought Tyler would say yes. But then he came up with a lie of having to work early Sunday morning, so we left right after that. And since then, we had barely spoken to each other. In fact, I had barely seen him the last two days. Sunday, he was buried in his bedroom for a long time, then he spent a couple of hours out in the evening. And Monday, he left for work early and came back super late. He ate a quick snack for dinner and went to bed.
And this morning, I saw as he left for work, again way too early.
I sighed, pushing thoughts of Tyler back.
I knew the guys would be getting ready for practice at the main field, so before doing what I had come here to do, I went to say hi.
Ri was the first one who saw me approaching. “Look who is here!”
The other guys and tio João Pedro turned and waved at me.
“What are you doing here?” my brother asked.
I halted beside them. “Came to talk to Mr. Helms, the polo director. My first step to try and get a women’s team running.”
“Oh, so that’s your plan,” Ri said, nodding. “I like it.”
“If you need someone to vouch for you, I’m here,” tio João Pedro said as he tapped on his iPad.
“That’s great, thank you.” A little more hope snaked into my chest. “I’ll let you know if I need any help.”
“Did you bring your gear?” Leo asked as he zipped up his boots. Usually, they started practice with stretches then a cardio workout of sorts for an hour before playing, but once a week, they only stretched and did a few exercises, which took no more than twenty minutes, then played the rest of their allotted time.
“It’s in my car.”
“After your talk, you should come practice with us,” Pedro said. He looked a little better than the last times I had seen him. I guess polo would do that to him. To all of us.
I smiled. “I’ll see how the conversation goes and how my mood is after that, but I’ll certainly come back here, even if it’s just to say tchau.”
&nb
sp; Gui put on his helmet and offered me one of his teasing grins. “What? Are you afraid of getting your ass kicked?”
I snorted. “As if! You all know if I had been born a guy, I would be on that team instead of you.”
Leo, Ri, and Pedro uttered “ooooh” while tio João Pedro chuckled.
“Is that a challenge?” Gui asked, standing tall in front of me.
Because of his height, I had to look up at him. So, I stepped on a bench and looked down at him. “Name the place and time.”
“All right, you two,” tio João Pedro called out, hiding a smile. “We can settle that next time Gabi joins us for practice. For now, guys, on the field.”
They said tchau to me as they went get their horses, then tio João Pedro turned to me. “Good luck in there.”
“Obrigada,” I whispered.
He nodded then followed the guys.
I watched as the guys jogged across the field to where their horses were secured, tio João Pedro on their heels, and sucked in a deep breath. Droga, how I wanted to be them, to do what they did, to jog across the field with my own team, my own girls.
I took another long breath, then left the field and walked into the club’s administration building.
I stopped by the main reception.
“Good morning,” a woman wearing a nice suit said. “How can I help you?”
“Hi.” I placed my hands on the tall counter between us. “I’m here to talk with Mr. Helms.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“Hm, no. I called last week and he was out of town. I was told to come by sometime this week. So, here I am.”
“Oh-kay.” The receptionist glanced at a computer screen. “I’m looking here at his schedule and it seems Mr. Helms isn’t coming to the club today.”
My shoulders deflated. “Oh.”
“Do you want to schedule an appointment with him?”
Did I have another option? “That would be great.”
She clicked on the computer mouse a couple of times, and then finally looked up at me. “The first time I have available is on April twentieth.”
My jaw hit the floor. “But … that’s over a month away.”
“Yes, Mr. Helms is very busy.”
Merda. What now? I had no choice here. “Okay, put me down for any time on April twentieth, then.”
She glanced at the screen again. “Does ten thirty sound good?”
I groaned. “Yes.”
“And do you want to leave a little note saying what this is about?”
“Hm, sure. I’m the sister of Guilherme Fernandes from the Montenegro team, and I have some business I’d like to discuss with Mr. Helms.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Business.”
“Yes.” I paused, not sure if I should proceed or not, but what did I have to lose? “I want to talk to him about a women’s team.”
The receptionist gaped at me. “A women’s team?”
“Yes. For polo.”
“Oh-kay.” She typed a quick note on her computer, and then smiled back at me. “All set. We’ll see you then.”
“Great.”
With my tail between my legs, I walked out of the administration building, feeling down. Damn it.
Maybe playing polo with the guys would lift my spirits, or maybe it would only bring me down more. As much as I loved playing with them, it was a constant reminder that they were living their dreams, while I sat on the bleachers and watched.
I was happy for them and wished them all the best. That they kept winning tournaments, making lots of money, and that they took the first four spots in the world ranking. But I wanted that for me too. Maybe not the money part, since I didn’t need money, but the realization of waking up every day knowing I would get up and do what I loved the most. That … that was what I wanted.
Avoiding the main field, I walked around the building, taking the longer side path, just so the guys wouldn’t see me as I dragged my feet back to my car. The last thing I wanted right now was them all over me, trying to comfort me. I would be fine. I just needed a moment to myself.
I slid inside my car and my phone beeped. I picked it up and gaped at the screen.
Mateus: Oi
I sighed. What could he want now? To insult me more?
Me: Oi
Mateus: How are you?
Me: I’m good.
I saw he was typing something else, but I asked before he could enter his message:
Me: What do you want?
Mateus: I wanted to apologize for the other day.
A pause.
Mateus: I was jealous and upset and I drank too much and I said things I shouldn’t have and I behaved like a complete jerk. I’m sorry.
That was unexpected.
Me: It’s okay. I mean, it wasn’t okay, but you’re forgiven.
Mateus: So … how is the new life treating you?
I stared at the screen. What did he want? Why was he contacting me again? If he wanted to apologize, he had done that, I had forgiven him. Now, could we move on?
However, after our many years together and our mostly amicable break up, I thought he deserved some consideration. Besides, I was not a bitch. Quite the contrary. I was too nice and usually got into trouble because of it.
Me: Everything is fine. I like it here.
Mateus: I know you like it there. You were always talking about the United States, ever since your brother and cousins started playing there.
True. I would have done anything to come have fun with them and Bia.
Mateus: But I want to know if you’re happy.
Was I happy? I guess I was, though my happiness wasn’t complete yet.
Me: I am.
Mateus: That was a short answer.
What else did he want me to say?
Me: Mateus, not that I mind talking to you, but … seriously, what do you want?
A pause.
Mateus: I miss you. I really, really miss you. And, after finding out you’re engaged … I always knew I still had feelings for you, but I hadn’t realized how strong they were until you were snatched from me. Until you were promised to someone else.
I swallowed hard.
Me: I don’t know what to say to that.
Mateus: Well, you could say you realize you still love me too and that you’ll break up with that guy and come back to Brasil to be with me.
I didn’t answer because there was nothing to say about that.
Mateus: I was joking. Sorta.
Me: I have some things to do now.
Mateus: Okay.
Me: Tchau, Mateus. Take care.
Mateus: Tchau.
I put my phone down and stared at the trees lining the parking lot at the club, but I wasn’t really seeing them. What the hell had that been? I just hoped Mateus figured out whatever his problem was and moved on, because him hanging on to me because I had someone else—even if fake—wasn’t cool.
I let out a sigh, and forced all thoughts of Mateus out of my mind.
The guys invited me to go to a horse sale with them on Friday. Since I didn’t have anything better to do, I went with them. Tio João Pedro drove us to a ranch in Nevada—six hours away—in his Grand Cherokee. I guess with our big family, the third row came in handy.
Ri sat in the passenger seat, Leo and Gui sat in the middle row, and Pedro sat in the back with me.
Criado em Galpão blasted from the speakers—a tradicionalista song from Rio Grande do Sul, our home state—and the chimarrão was being passed around.
At some point, I leaned into Pedro and rested my head on his shoulders. I had woken up at four in the morning to be ready when they came to pick me up at four thirty. The unusual early morning was catching up to me.
I closed my eyes, hoping to nap, but my traitorous mind drifted to Tyler instead. In the seven days we had been living together, he had been gone most of the days. And nights. Since he went back to work on Monday, he left around seven thirty, and came back around nine, if not l
ater. Then, when he finally got back, he shoved something down his throat, took a shower, and went to bed.
Perhaps this was better than the awkward moments, or the jerky reactions, but so far, I felt like I was living with a ghost.
“How is Tyler?” Pedro asked, catching me by surprise.
I opened my eyes. “Good. I invited him to come, but he has to work.” That was another lie. Tyler knew I was going to the sale, but I hadn’t invited him.
I felt his head moving against mine as he nodded. “We train hard, but we’re blessed we can set our own hours.”
“Sim, you guys are.” In more than just being able to determine their schedules and take impromptu trips to horse sales on Fridays.
“You’ll get there too, I know.”
I sighed. Good thing he knew it because I wasn't as sure anymore. “I’m not so sure.”
He chuckled. “Gabi, you’ve been here for what, two weeks? That’s nothing. These things don’t happen that fast. It might be months before you see any progress. Be patient.”
“My lack of patience is one of my many flaws.”
He mocked gasped at me. “You? Flaws? No! I thought you were perfect.”
I punched him in the gut and he let out a half-howl, half-chuckle. “I have many flaws. I can even name a few of them. For example, my lack of patience, my curiosity, my inability to be really rude and say no to people, and my belief that love solves everything.” Pedro quieted down. I pulled back and looked at him. “Want to talk about it?”
He shook his head. “Not really.” I thought he wouldn’t say anything, but he surprised me. “I haven’t talked to her since we broke up.”
Over a month ago. Poor Pedro. “I’m sorry …”
He shrugged. “It’s okay …” He forced a smile. “And how are you and the engaged life?”
I rolled my eyes. Engaged. Right. If only they knew … However, I had to sell the product. They thought we had gotten engaged and moved in together and were having the time of our lives. “It’s good. Great even. It’s been easier to get used to living with someone than I thought it would be, but at the same time, sometimes I’m surprised by the fact that I am living with someone else other than my parents or you guys.”
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