Page 51 of Too Fast To Fall
“Romantic love?”
“Different kinds of love. Love is like air. It’s around us. It’sinus. And either we tap into it with another person or an animal or a song or a piece of art or something we feel drawn to,or we don’t.”
“Or a dog. Don’t forget dogs.”
“Of course, dogs. That goes without saying. Also, cats, rabbits, other rodents. All pets. And then of course there are wildanimals.”
Emilio laughed. “Right.”
“I’m just saying it’s a connection. A connection that’s not always easy to explain. So, when people go around slapping labelson it, like romantic love, I don’t really buy it. I think love is love. It grows. And sometimes it shrinks. Sometimes it goesaway completely. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t there. And it doesn’t mean we won’t find it again.”
Emilio wasn’t sure he remembered how to breathe. Her words tumbled around in his head, and at least a few of them worked theirway into his heart. Piper was a treasure. “How’d you get to be so smart?”
“Public school? Amazing parents? That’s all it is. And books. I do love to read.”
Emilio’s abuela stepped into the doorway at the back of the house with a massive platter of food. “It’s time to eat.”
Emilio rushed over. “Let me help.”
The three of them sat down to eat while Gus circled the table like an adorable shark at feeding time, trying to ascertainwhere he might get the most food. His grandmother said a blessing, then opened a bottle of red wine and had Emilio fill theglasses. They began the meal with pan con tomate, featuring the crusty grilled bread. His grandmother rubbed it with a cutclove of garlic and fresh tomato, then finished with olive oil and salt. So simple and always one of Emilio’s favorites. Thesecond course was the grilled eggplant, served with a tangy fresh herb-and-lemon vinaigrette. Then came seafood paella, followedby roast pork. Piper raved about every bite, as did Emilio. How could they not? His grandmother’s cooking was better thananything he’d ever had in a restaurant, and he’d dined all over the world. His grandmother snuck bites of food to Gus underthe table. Emilio decided against saying something. It was better to let Gus have his perfect day.
“How do you eat all this and not immediately slip into a coma?” Piper slumped back in her chair.
“Ah. You will need a siesta,” Ximena answered. “Or an espresso. Either works.”
Emilio rubbed his belly as pure satisfaction washed over him. It was more than happiness; it was contentment, a feeling hehadn’t experienced in so long he’d forgotten how magnificent it could be. There he was, shaded from the Spanish sun by a beautifulold tree, with the breeze lazing over his skin, and his beloved dog, drunk off pork, curled up at his feet. Two incrediblewomen sat opposite him at this table his grandfather had built with his own two hands. Emilio had known and loved one of thesewomen for his entire life. The other had magically walked into his world when he was as low as could be. He couldn’t helpbut notice that every day since then had been better. Today was as close as it might ever get to perfection. And he wantedto hold on to it forever.
Twelve
Piper did eventually give in to a siesta, and Gus joined her, but Emilio stayed downstairs for some quality time with hisgrandmother. Not that he didn’t want to sneak upstairs and give in to a few carnal instincts with Piper. He did. But Piperhad been clear she didn’t like the idea, and he was going to abide by that.
“Are you feeling better about your season after Imola?” His grandmother wrote down the score for the most recent hand of theircard game. She was currently kicking his ass at gin rummy.
“You watched?” He shuffled the cards and dealt them.
She pursed her lips as she arranged her hand. “You know I never watch it live. I make sure you are okay, and then I watchthe race. It makes me too nervous.”
He found it charming, but he also didn’t want her to worry about him so much. “F1 is much safer now. The last death of a driverwas over ten years ago.”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s stillpossible. That makes me sick to my stomach.”
“I’m sorry.” Emilio hardly ever thought about it. He was too busy chasing faster lap times and podiums to worry about thedanger.
“You risk your life every time you get in the car.” She put a card facedown on the discard pile. “Gin.” She laid out her handon the table.
“I risked my life asking you to play this game.”
Gus galloped into the kitchen, followed by Piper at a more leisurely pace.
“You’re up,” Emilio said, unable not to notice how adorable Piper looked. He’d experienced her well-rested face that morningwhen he’d rolled over to see her lying next to him, looking truly angelic. “Just in time. You can save me from the familycard shark.”
His grandmother turned to Piper. “It’s years of playing. Nothing a little practice can’t do.” She showed Gus some affectionwith a scratch behind his ears. “Now, who’s ready to open a bottle of wine? My grandson is only here until early tomorrow.I want to squeeze every moment of fun out of this visit.”
One bottle of wine in the kitchen led to a second out on the patio, with the sun dipping down to the horizon and conversationflowing. Emilio found a great deal of amusement in watching Piper and his grandmother fall into sync as each new glass ofwine made it a little easier.
“Emilio told me you like to bake,” his grandmother said.
Emilio was simply watching. Taking it all in. He’d switched to water. He needed to stay hydrated for the race weekend ahead.
