Breaking Down (The Breaking Series Book 4)

by Juliana Haygert

  After making sure he was okay and settled in bed, I went to Gabi’s room. She was already in her pajamas—a loose shirt and mini shorts that showed way too much of her toned legs.

  Suddenly, the room felt too warm.

  “Everything okay?” Gabi asked as she slipped into her bed.

  I sat down on my makeshift bed on the floor. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but I wouldn’t want to sleep here for another week, or more.

  I let out a sigh. “Yeah, I think so.” I opened my mouth to tell her how much I hated leaving my father at the hospital, but closed it again. I knew it was best for him there. I couldn’t take care of him properly here.

  Without asking, I scooted closer to the door and turned the lights off. I slipped into bed but didn’t close my eyes. There was too much on my mind for comfort.

  “I can hear your breathing,” Gabi said, her voice low. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  No, I wasn’t sure. “How about those interview questions?” I asked, changing subjects. Working on those would definitely distract me. “Do you know those by heart, or do you need the lights?”

  “Hm, I don’t know them all by heart, but I do know there are a lot of questions about our childhood and growing up.” She paused. “Like, what do you remember when you were a child? Where did you go to school? What was the name of your best friend? Things like that.”

  That was easy. I told her about my school, about my friends, about loving horses, about starting vet school, and about meeting Garrett. I also told her about how I had to drop school to work and pay the bills, which brought my mood down again.

  But then Gabi told me about her tight family, polo, her family’s ranch, the horses, the thousands of tournaments, the trips … Her life looked divine, directly from a movie. There had to be something wrong with her family. Such perfection wasn’t true.

  “Tell me something bad about your family,” I prodded. Seriously, if there was nothing, I would go nuts right here, right now.

  But then she told me a few things. About Leo’s past with alcohol and his rehab time. About coming to the United States, and the mess with Hannah’s ex-boyfriend, who had actually killed her grandmother, her horse, tried to kill her father, and more. About Ricardo’s ex-girlfriend who sold the story of Leo’s past to a reporter because Eric had assured her they would all go back to Brazil after that. How Ricardo hadn't dated since that betrayal. Then, she told me about Bia. I knew Bia had met Garrett in Colorado, but I had no idea she had walked away from their perfect family because of the pressure she felt at being a Fernandes. Next was Guilherme and Hilary’s story with their own complications before they finally became a couple.

  “And then there’s Pedro,” she said. “We thought he had met his soulmate when he started dating Iris, but a couple of months ago, she disappeared from our lives, and Pedro refuses to tell us what happened.”

  I stared at the darkness around me. Why was it a little satisfying to know they weren’t that perfect after all? Though, of course I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, not even them.

  I cleared my throat. “What else? The questions, I mean. What else should we know for the interview?”

  “Hm, let me think.” She clicked her tongue. “Oh, about our parents. Did you get along with your parents? Did they get along with each other?”

  Shit.

  That topic had the same effect as talking about her family. It took my mind off my father’s illness, but it went directly to another dark place. Though, this one used to make me mad when I was younger. Now it made me sad. “I don’t know much about my mother. All I know is that she upped and left when I was four years old, and that now she’s married and has more kids.”

  Gabi was quiet for a long time. “You never talked to her?”

  “Nope.” I sighed. “In all these years, I only saw her once from a distance, and she was with her two boys and one girl.”

  “Droga. I’m sorry I brought it up.”

  I shrugged, though she couldn’t see it in the dark. “It’s okay. I guess you would have found out someday, somehow.” I pulled the thin blanket I had set beside me up to my chest. “Tell me about yours.”

  “My what? My mother?”

  “Yes.”

  “Bom … I don’t know. I never had any problems with her, I guess. She was always there for me, and pushed me to be better, to do better. The only problem I have with my parents is polo.” She paused. “And now you.”

  I chuckled. “Right. Me.”

  “Speaking of which,” she continued, serious. “We should go to Brazil.”

  I became serious. She had talked about this before we had moved in together. “Oh-kay.”

  “I’m serious,” she said. “I think it’s better if we go and appease them there, then to have them come here to harass us.”

  I wanted to tell her that I wouldn’t be going to Brazil, but that wouldn’t be fair. After all she had done for my father these past few days, it was only right if I repaid the favor.

  Shit. “All right, we can go. Just tell me what I need to do.”

  “All we need to do is choose a day and buy the plane tickets.”

  29

  Gabi

  Tyler had said he was okay with going to Brazil, but I thought he would delay it as much as he could. He surprised me by saying we could go as soon as I wanted—or found available tickets. So, I purchased two first class tickets to Brazil for the weekend. Meanwhile, I visited Branca at Hannah’s ranch. She was still scared and having some tantrums whenever a loud sound came near her. But Hannah assured me she was being well taken care of, and I believed her.

  I had also visited Charlie at the hospital twice. When Tyler found out, he had asked me why.

  “Because I want to,” I told him, deadpan. And it was true. I had been home sulking about my failed polo dream, so why not go visit his father who was lonely at the hospital? Besides, he was sweet to me.

  Then, it was time to go to Brazil. Gui insisted on taking us to the airport—Tyler and me both. This way, Tyler wouldn’t need to leave his truck at the airport and pay the outrageous fees. My brother’s words, not mine.

  At first, Tyler refused, but then he relented.

  Gui and Hilary drove us to the airport, and as I expected, the entire gang was there, waiting for us at the check-in area. I couldn’t help the wide smile and the sense of love that filled my chest as I looked at each one of them. Bia, Garrett, Leo, Hannah, Ri, and Pedro.

  “They always come when you leave?” Tyler asked as we loaded our bags on the conveyor belt that would take them away to the airplane.

  “Yes, but usually I stay away for a few months. I don’t know why they are here if they know I’ll be back next week.”

  “Hm,” was all he said before taking our tickets from the attendant and reading through them.

  I turned to my family. “You guys know I’ll be back in five days, right?”

  “Bem, sim …” Leo started.

  I put a hand on my waist and narrowed my eyes at him. “Spill.”

  He looked at Hannah and she rolled her eyes. “The guys have sort of … like a bet. Gui and Ri think your father will freak out.”

  “What does that mean?” I asked.

  “That he’ll send Tyler back and make you stay there,” Ri explained.

  I chuckled. “As if he could stop me.”

  “That’s what I said,” Leo said, his voice loud and proud.

  I shook my head. “You guys are unbelievable.”

  “In any case,” Hil started. “We came because we love you and we wanted to say goodbye and have a great trip, doesn’t matter if it’s only five months, five days, or five hours.”

  I smiled at her. “Thanks.”

  My brother embraced me. “I hope pai surprises me,” he whispered in my ear. Me too. “See you in a few days.”

  I kissed his cheek. “Tchau.”

  Tyler and I joined the long security line while my family stood at a distance, waving every few seconds and
yelling, “we love you,” “come back soon,” “good luck,” and “have a safe flight,” in Portuguese.

  It made me smile.

  Beside me, Tyler shook his head.

  “What?”

  He glanced at me. “Your family.”

  “What about it?”

  He shook his head once again. “Nothing.”

  “Oh no. Don’t start talking about my family, then stop. Just spill.”

  “They are so fucking tight.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “They seem to always be together and in each other’s business. It would drive me crazy.”

  “You mean, it will drive you crazy, because, you know, we’ll continue going to my brother’s apartment and to my uncle’s and aunt’s ranch, and more.”

  He groaned. “God, I hope they leave me alone.”

  I frowned at him. “As far as I recall, the last couple of times we’ve been with them, you had a good time.”

  One corner of his lips tugged up. “I wouldn’t say good time. But, yeah, it wasn’t that bad.”

  I shook my head. I hoped he was joking about my family, because his previous statement didn’t sit well with me. I respected Tyler’s opinion. It seemed he wasn’t a fan of a close family, but he didn’t have to groan and complain about mine to my face. They were the most important thing in my life. It was them, with polo in a close second place. Without my family, I didn’t know who I truly was. I was a part of them, and they were a part of me. That would never change.

  Not sure what to say, I chose to stay quiet.

  And, despite our new agreement to be friends, that was how we remained for the next twenty-six hours—always side by side, but only talking to each other when necessary.

  That all changed the moment we picked up our bags in the airport in Porto Alegre.

  “We’re here,” I said, my back to the big glass wall separating the travelers from the people waiting outside. “My parents are probably somewhere behind that glass wall, watching us right now.” I looked up at Tyler. “They will pay attention to how we act around each other, and if we want our plan to work, they have to believe we’re in love.”

  A knot appeared on his forehead, but he nodded. “Just for five days, right?”

  Hopefully, only for five days. “Right.”

  “Okay, then.” He let out a long breath. “We start the show right now.”

  I gasped as Tyler stepped into my personal space, wrapped an arm around my shoulders, and pulled me to him. My face smacked into his chest, and my stunned hands landed on his hips. I pulled them back quickly. He leaned down and kissed my forehead, before turning to the cart with our bags.

  “That was …” I whispered, not sure what to say next.

  I didn’t think Tyler heard me because he smiled at me, a forced one, and said, “Lead the way.”

  I forced a smile too, but as soon as we started walking toward the exit doors, I caught sight of my parents and my smile turned into a real one. My steps sped up, and soon I was out the door and in my mother’s arms.

  “Gabi! It’s so good to see you,” she said, hugging me tight. “I missed you, querida.”

  “I missed you too, mãe.” Then Dad was prying Mom from me only to replace her and squeeze me tight. I chuckled. “You want to break me?”

  “Is it working?” Dad asked, laughing.

  “He increased the weights of his workout a few days ago,” my mom said, sounding not too amused. “Now he thinks he can do anything.”

  We laughed, but then both of them stiffened, their gaze falling behind me.

  Clearing my throat, I stepped back, coming to stand beside Tyler. “Mãe, pai, this is Tyler. Tyler, this is Regina, my mom, and Luis Carlos, my father.”

  “Hello, Mr. Fernandes.” He shook my father’s hand, and then turned to my mother. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Fernandes.”

  “Hello, Tyler,” my mother said, her tone a little wary.

  My father frowned. “So you’re Tyler.”

  “Pai …” I groaned.

  “Yes, sir, I’m Tyler Reid.”

  My father hesitated. “Nice to meet you too.”

  I let out a relieved breath. “All right. Can we go now? I really want a shower, some food, and a nap. Not necessarily in that order.”

  My mother chuckled. “Of course.” She took my hand in hers and pulled me toward the parking garage. “Maria is cooking your favorite.”

  Hm, my mouth watered. Right now, I was kind of glad I was home.

  30

  Tyler

  Porto Alegre was a big, chaotic city with too many cars and crazy motorcycle drivers. I was shocked to see the men, usually without a helmet, zipping between the cars.

  On the ride out of the city, Regina—I started calling her Mrs. Fernandes, but she explained no one called each other by the last name here, unless it was friends using it as a nickname instead—told me they had a house in the city, but they spent ninety-nine percent of their time at their ranch about ninety minutes away.

  I couldn’t help but look around as the city was left behind. The road was narrow and only one lane in each direction for most of the drive. Sometimes, there wasn’t even a shoulder lane. What were we supposed to do in case of emergency? Pull over in the grass? In the hill right off the road?

  We passed three or four other smaller towns, and finally, the urban setting was replaced by farms with green lawns and plantations. Lots of cows and horses and sheep too.

  Luis Carlos turned his big truck into a neatly paved road flanked by neatly cut grass and neatly shaped bushes and tall trees. Halfway down the road, a big wrought-iron gate with a fancy metal F stood between two tall stone pillars. Luis Carlos pressed the remote on his truck’s dashboard and the gates opened.

  I had never seen a ranch like this one.

  The exterior of the house was brown bricks with brown wood accent. The windows were tall and wide, with brown shutters that actually opened and closed. As we parked and I gawked at the impressive house, Gabi told me it was made of brick, even the interior walls. There was no drywall here or wood framing. All the wood I saw was just decorative.

  The front doors opened to a big living room, and beyond it, I saw the dining room.

  “I know it’s a little late for lunch, but I thought you two would be hungry.” Regina showed us to the long wooden dining table. “Please, sit down.”

  Luis Carlos took the head of the table. Regina sat on his right, Gabi sat on his left, and I sat beside her.

  “So, how was the trip?” Regina asked.

  So far, Luis Carlos had spoken only a handful of times, but every time, his voice had been tight. However, besides the time on the road, his eyes never stirred away from me. He regarded me with hard eyes and furrowed brows.

  “It was long, as it always is,” Gabi answered. “I barely slept during the overnight flight, so I’m really tired.”

  Her mother nodded. “You never sleep during the flights.”

  “It’s just so uncomfortable.” Gabi glanced at me. “Didn’t you think, Tyler?”

  “Yeah, yeah,” I said quickly. “Small space, the seat doesn’t recline much …”

  Then a small woman with her short hair pulled tight behind her head and black pants and white shirt entered the dining room, bringing a tray with drinks.

  “Gabriela,” the woman exclaimed, her tone content as she set the things on the table. “Que bom te ver, guria!”

  Gabi stood and embraced the woman. “Tu também, Maria. Tudo bem por aqui?”

  I was lost as the two exchanged a few sentences in Portuguese. Until Gabi pointed at me. “Este é Tyler. Tyler—” She turned to me. “—this is Maria. She has been working for my family since I was a little girl.”

  “Hi, Maria,” I said. “Pleasure to meet you.”

  Gabi translated and then said to me, “She said you too.”

  Maria nodded at me, and then said something else to Regina before leaving the room.

  “All right, dig in,” Reg
ina announced.

  I glanced at the pots and bowls in front of us. There was rice, black beans—which were fine—some weird green potato looking thing, some odd flour, and an alien-looking meat.

  Gabi smiled at me. “I know it looks strange, but here. This—” She pointed to the green thing. “It’s sweet potato. Our sweet potatoes here are green, not orange. But it’s just as good. This is farofa, which is seasoned flour we eat with meat. And I know the steak looks weird with the bone in the middle, but it’s actually juicy and tender. Brazilian steak cuts are different from Americans’. Try it. I promise you’ll like it.”

  Well, she had handed me a few things before that looked odd and I ended up liking it. Besides, I was starving. I was sure I would eat almost anything that was placed in front of me.

  Sure enough, I did like the green sweet potato, the farofa over the rice, the spicy black beans, and the alien steak.

  “Glad you like it,” Regina said, smiling.

  “It’s great. Thank you.” I took another forkful. It was fucking three in the afternoon. I shouldn’t eat too much, but it was just too good.

  Gabi lifted her napkin to her mouth and Regina’s eyes went wide. “That’s … Gabriela, is that the ring?”

  Oh, shit. I knew this subject was coming, I just hoped there would be an easier way to bring it up.

  Gabi paled and glanced at me. “Sim, it’s my engagement ring.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

  Luis Carlos’ face turned red. “Excuse me if that’s too hard to take in.”

  “What he means …” Regina put a hand over Luis Carlos’ tense arm. “You two caught us by surprise.”

  “I told you almost a month ago.”

  Regina nodded. “It was a big surprise, querida. We’ll need more time to get used to it.”

  “I don’t get it,” Luis Carlos hissed. “Why? Why would you get engaged so fast?”

  Gabi lifted her chin. “Hm, I’m pretty sure you know the answer to why two people get engaged.”