“What are the options then?”
“Option one, and the option that I would urge you to take, is that you get rid of him.Now.Go find a handful of sorority girls to help you forget about him if you have to and leave that part of you behind. It doesn’t exist. It never did. This is the option I want for you, Piña. It’s the option that leads to you getting all those awards you deserve. The ones that you got today while that jotito—”
“You call him that one more time and I’m bringing you to the ground,” I say, looking deep into his eyes and letting that anger fester just enough to be threatening. “I might only have one good arm right now, but I promise you that.”
He smirks as he lets out a laugh, shaking his head. “See, you’re already more concerned about him than about yourself. Off to a bad start, little bro.”
“I’mnotyour little bro.”
“We’ll see. Maybe you’ll realize I’m the one out of the two of us with your best interests at heart right now.”
“You don’t know shit about my heart.”
“You don’t want to protect him? Because I can tell you all the things I’ve heard the folks in our stands say about him. The things your teammates have said. You want this to get out and have all those fans you’re getting on social media, a whole community rooting for you, to turn on you? To tell him exactly what they think of him? Think of all the hate he’ll get because of you.”
The pain in my eyes is nearly unbearable now, as I try not to rage cry in front of this guy. My gut, my chest, everywhere hurts and I want so badly to believe he’s wrong, as much as I know there’s truth in every word.
“And you don’t want to protect yourself? Your own dream? You’re destined for greatness, Piña, but that door closes the second they know about him and you.”
Was this always going to be how it happened? Was Barrera always, in the end, going to show his true colors? He’s just someone who’s a punk. Who’s only ever looked out for himself.
Honestly, he always has been. I’ve just been trying to look the other way. Trying to give him a grace he’s never deserved. A respect that asks too much of me for nothing in return.
“Or, if you want to do this the hard way, option two is that you bench yourself. Right now. You get to keep him, fuck him all you want. But I’m not allowing any jotería on my team, so, if you go back and finish up in there, you aren’t on my squad. You won’t be seeing another minute of play time. And I’ll make sure whoever comes after me feels the same way. You’ll be just like that Florida boy who picked dick over football.
“There’s an option three, too. But it’s pretty painful. You can stand here, defend your honor, and tell me that you’re going to keep on not listening to me, doing this shit behind my back, or in front of my face, even, and I canmake surethat you never set foot on my pitch again. That you never set foot on any pitch that matters.”
I glance down and see his hands in tight fists at his sides, one a little red from putting a dent in our wall. And then, back up, see how he looks at my sling and bandages. He’s almost excited about the thought of having me here, injured and vulnerable. How easily he could turn this minor injury into an actual problem.
But then he takes a breath and forces some calm into his face.
“I’m reasonable, though, Piña. I want to resolve this like the smart men we are who love this game. I want to see you as captain of this team in a few years. As captain of a national team. Don’t ruin everything for one boy. Don’t make me ruin you. You’ve got to realize keeping Vale around—”
“Shut up,”I yell, wanting to force some menace in my voice. Wanting him to know that there is some small part of my brain that says I could still fight him. That it’d be worth whatever happens next. “I never want to hear his name come out of your mouth again. Ever. You don’t get that. You don’t get to act like you’re looking out for him. And, actually, stop thinking about him. This isn’t about him anymore. It’s about you and me.”
Another sigh, another pinche smile that says he knows he’s in control here. And a step closer, like a fucking wolf. Like my threats mean nothing to him.
“Then tell me. What are you doing?”
I’m not strong enough to keep the tear from escaping my eye, as much as I huff breaths through my nose, holding on to the little bit of composure I have left.
“I—I’ll take care of this.”
“And you mean it this time? You’re not going to make me look like a fool anymore? Because if you tell me one thing and I figure out that you’re still messing around with him—”
“Yeah,” I mutter. “I mean it.”
Barrera’s eyes are like a dog waiting to pounce, waiting to catch me in a lie.
“I’m done. You won.”
It’s almost cartoonish, his smile now. It gets bigger and more villainous when his hand lands on my hurt shoulder and I flinch. He’s soft with it, but he also squeezes just enough to see my face cringe from the building pain.
“Good. I’ll see you Monday, then. Theyouthat knows how important this game and the next couple of weeks are. How much of a future he’s got if he finally does as he’s told. And this never happened.”
I don’t look at him. I find a point on the floor near my feet and focus there. Even when, after he takes a couple steps toward the stairs, he stops and adds, “Too bad you couldn’t make it the whole game. You were named Conference Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year.”
There’s no pride in his voice. No excitement. It’s like he was holding those over me, wanting to know first that he’s got me locked up and going nowhere.
