Breaking Fences (The Breaking Series) (31 page)

He scoffed. “No serious relationships for me anymore. Right now, I’m Gui’s clubbing partner.”

I frowned. “Please, tell me you didn’t become a manwhore?”

“That would be going too far.” He looked away. I thought about how to make him keep talking, because he looked like he needed it more than I did, but he raised his hand and motioned for the waitress to refill our drinks. Then he turned to me, his face impassive. “Now it’s your turn. Going to tell me what’s bothering you?”

“Do I have to?”

“Not really. Is it that bad?”

I laughed but it was missing humor. “I don’t know. Honestly, it’s kinda hard to judge anything lately. It seems that being a Brazilian girl is causing me problems. There’s this girl who likes this guy, but they broke up some time ago. The guy hit on me, she got mad, and started spreading lies about me, using my citizenship as an excuse. You know, because all Brazilian girls are sluts.”

He tsked. “That’s ridiculous.”

“You’re telling me? But it only gets worse. Now, each time I do something that remotely reminds her of someone who likes going out or who likes guys—” I widened my eyes. Come on! I did like guys! “—she adds more details to her lies.”

“You shouldn’t have to put up with it. What did you do?”

“Um, I dumped coffee on her head, and punched her face.”

He almost spit out his drink. “Ha, I would have loved to have seen that. Did you break her nose?” I nodded. “Nice. I mean, not nice. But yeah, nice.”

“Yeah, but none of that helped my case. It only made her hate me more and spread more lies.”

“Well, I never saw Beatriz Fernandes cower because of lies.”

Me neither, and that was what bothered me. Why the hell did I care what they thought of me? Being here, it was easy to tell myself I wouldn’t let that happen anymore. That I would lift my chin and confront them headfirst. That feeling was bound to die once I was back there though. I knew that. I would be alone, in a strange place that didn’t feel like home, and the old Bia would slip away from my grasp again. It wasn’t easy to keep my head high in a place I didn’t feel welcome.

I opened my mouth, about to tell him all of that, when a guy stepped behind us. “Hey, the Montenegro crew and—” His dark brown eyes looked at Hannah then me. “—their cheerleaders.”

“Evening, Malcolm,” Ricardo said, turning to shake the guy’s hand.

Everyone chipped in, greeting Malcolm. I couldn’t help but notice he looked like my brothers and cousin. Not his physical appearance—his eyes were dark, his skin fair, and his hair black—but the way he posed himself, and his Tommy Hilfiger cowboy attire.

Guilherme leaned closer and whispered, “He joined the club two months ago, with the Knight House.”

Since Eric had been locked up after trying to kill Hannah and Leo, the club had been after a replacement for him. They had been on the fourth guy before I left. Apparently, this was the fifth.

Leo cleared his throat. “Malcolm, this is Bia, my twin sister.”

Malcolm smiled at me, offering me his hand. “Sister, uh?” I slipped my hand in his and he shook it, maintaining a firm grip. “I’m relieved. The last thing these guys need is another cheerleader.”

“Hey!” Hannah called out. “Who are you calling a cheerleader?”

I smiled at him. “Just because I’m their sister, it doesn’t mean I’m not a cheerleader. I’m just not—” I scrunched my nose. “—that kind of cheerleader.”

The shine in his dark eyes shifted. “That’s good enough for me.”

Pedro spoke up. “Do you want to join us for a drink, Malcolm?”

“Unfortunately, I have to pass.” He gestured to a table on the other side of the restaurant. “I’m here with my team and we’ve been discussing game play.” He turned his wide smile to me. “Nice to meet you, Bia. I hope to see you at the club.”

I was going to tell him that wouldn’t happen since I moved away, but for some reason, decided it wasn’t worth it. Why did I have to tell him that? I would be back here in about three weeks for winter break.

“Nice to meet you too,” I said simply.

He said good night to the others and walked away.

Leo stared at me. “What was that?”

“What was what?” I feigned innocence.

“Malcolm looked interested in you,” Pedro said.

“And you seemed interested in him,” Ricardo added.

“Oh, grow up, guys. Can’t I flirt a little?”

“No,” all four of them said together.

See? That was why I left. I loved them so freaking much, but they suffocated me. I was twenty-two years old, and they still acted as if I was fifteen and just now starting to go out and discovering how men can be jerks. Spare me.

“Thank goodness you aren’t in Colorado with me,” I muttered, lifting my glass to my lips.

Leo’s jaw clenched. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Hannah placed a gentle hand on his arm. “Leo, don’t. We’re here to have a good time.”

Ricardo slapped his hand on the table. “Hannah is right. How about we play a game. Whoever says something depressing or upsetting has to take a shot of tequila. Except for Leo. I’ll make him drink Dr. Pepper, which he hates.”

Ugh, he knew we all didn’t like tequila, but it should be fun to see where this went.

“I’m in,” I said, determined to resume the good time with my family. “But can we order dessert along with it?”

Ricardo winked. “You read my mind.”

***

Saturday went by too fast. I slept in and woke up to find Ri, Pedro, and Gui helping Hannah and Leo in the kitchen. Hilary arrived right before Hannah served us another Brazilian dish for lunch.

I couldn’t help but stare at Hannah’s sister. At eighteen, the blonde with green eyes was too beautiful for her own good. I hadn’t really known her before Leo and Hannah got together, but rumor had it, she had been a spoiled brat with a loud mouth that rivaled mine. Well, old Bia’s mouth. But the incident with Eric changed her. I got to know her as our families grew close, and she was a quiet, timid girl, who seemed in excruciating pain whenever she was alone with one of the guys. She went to a therapist who specialized in sexual assault victims twice a week, and apparently, she was doing better.

Hilary smiled at my brothers’ and cousin’s jokes, but she never laughed. When we sat in the living room to watch a movie, she took the farthest armchair and turned it in diagonal, so half of its back was turned to the rest of us.

After the movie, we all rushed to the stable. Hilary followed us there and even patted Belle, but not being a big fan of horses, she left before we were done tacking the horses.

Gui watched as she walked out of the stable. “So young and pretty, and so damaged,” he whispered.

I nodded. Poor girl. I prayed she got better and moved past the events that haunted her life.

We rode around Hannah’s estate most of the afternoon, and only stopped because I had to get ready for my flight.

Before I took a shower, the guys headed to the airport to meet me there. When I stepped out of the bathroom with my hair dripping wet, I yelped and almost slipped on the hardwood floor.

“Wow,” my mother said with her sweet voice. She was seated at the edge of the bed. “I know I’m getting old, but I’m not that bad, am I?”

Right. The woman didn’t look a day over thirty-five, and her oldest son was twenty-six. Everyone said she could be our sister, which made her glad, of course.

I tightened the towel around me. “
Mãe
, what are you doing here?”

“I came to wish you a good trip.”

“Is
pai
here?”

She shook her head. “He’s still upset. But he wasn’t going to keep me from seeing you. In fact, he seemed relieved I insisted on coming.”

Why would he? He didn’t really care about anything I did, thought, or believed in. Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration, but I was upset too.

“I appreciate it.” I grabbed my clothes from beside her and rushed to the bathroom. “
Um minuto
.”

I quickly shoved on my jeans and sweater, and wrapped a towel around my head, before joining my mother in the guest bedroom. It felt awkward to have her here, watching me and not having much to talk about.

“So,” I started, sitting down beside her. “How is everything around here?”

“The same. Practice, tournaments, horses. Dealing with issues from the farm in Brazil.” She watched me as I put on my socks and cowboy boots. “Bia, I want to apologize for your father. He has a short temper, like you, and you two against each other is almost worse than when Leo was …” She sighed. “I don’t like seeing you both like this, but I also know none of you will give in.”

“It’s not just that,
mãe
.”

She raised her arm. “Let me finish. Deep down, I believe your father is proud of you, for going after your dreams, for following your heart, but he’ll never admit that. I know you must be hurting from the argument on Thursday, but I hope when you come back for winter break, you will be calmer and I hope you’re able to see the situation more clearly. You’re the only girl among three boys. Make that four since Guilherme is practically a son to us and a brother to you. And you
are
the youngest.”

“Leo and I were b—”

“I know, only two minutes apart. I was there, you know?” She smiled and I rolled my eyes. “The fact is, even if Leo was a little younger than you, there are still three older boys before you. You’re your father’s only daughter, and he still sees you as his little girl.”

“I’m twenty-two!”

“He’ll feel that way even when you’re fifty.”

The same thing Leo said a few months ago. That wasn’t helping. “I can’t do whatever he wants me to,
mãe.
I need to have my own life. Hell, I’m way past that. Here, most young people leave their parents’ house when they are eighteen to go to college.”

She nodded. “I know, but you have to remember he didn’t grow up here and he won’t change now. You also didn’t grow up here, but you’re young and I understand your necessity to adapt and feel a part of this country. But your father won’t change,
querida
. He’s too old for that.”

He wasn’t that old, but I got what she was saying. “I know.” I sighed. “I’ll try to come back for winter break calmer and with an open mind, but don’t expect me to accept whatever he says or wants.”

“I’ll work on him. Hopefully, he’ll be better, more accepting when you’re home again.”

Home. My parents’ house was supposed to be home, but I hadn’t been there during this holiday.

A pang ran through my heart when I realized the saddest fact. Right now, no place felt like home.

Chapter Twenty-Six

I didn’t know what came over me, but a tear escaped and rolled down my cheeks when Leo, Hannah, Ri, Pedro, and Gui decided to give me a group hug. Why the hell did I want to leave again? Honestly, right now, I wasn’t sure. They were here, my parents were here—even if my father and I had our differences right now. He was still my father—and my horse was here. If I was so set on going to vet school, why didn’t I find one closer? If there wasn’t one in Santa Barbara, I could find one close enough to drive back every weekend. That would make me feel better, and more like myself. I could have my independence and still be a part of their lives.

During the flight, I sketched a plan. I would finish this semester the best I could, ignoring everyone but Phoebe. It was just three more weeks. I could go from class to my dorm and nowhere else for three weeks. Meanwhile, I would look for pre-vet courses around Santa Barbara and apply for a transfer. I hoped that I would be able to start spring semester at the new university and have a fresh start. Nobody would know who I was, and hopefully, I wouldn’t mistakenly upset a hormonal bitch who loved to spread lies and wreak havoc.

My heart tugged. I would miss Phoebe and Midnight Dream and Garrett. However, Phoebe had Kevin and her other friends. Midnight had Tom and Garrett, and some of the time, Delilah. And Garrett, well, Garrett was a grown man and could take care of himself. Besides, he made it clear that he didn’t want anything serious with me, so why should I care what he ended up doing? He had been okay so far. He would still be okay.

I arrived Saturday late at night and was immensely glad my roommate hadn’t made it back yet. I took advantage of Sunday to organize my stuff, making sure I had all my homework and essays and projects ready for the end of the semester, and looked for universities in and around Santa Barbara.

When Molly arrived Sunday night, already bitching, I missed my family even more. Perhaps Santa Barbara was my home now, even if I hadn’t realized it when I left for Colorado. Perhaps, if I got my own place in town, went to college there, and saw my family whenever I wanted, I would finally feel at home again.

With that positive thought in mind, I shut out Molly, and went to bed.

***

Finally, people seemed to start forgetting me after Thanksgiving break. Maybe they were still hungover from partying so much, or too excited about having only three more weeks of classes. Either way, I wasn’t complaining.