Redeemed (Dirty Air #4)(94)

I walk to the back platform. My eyes drop to my prosthetic leg, and a rush of emotion hits me. But it’s not the usual negative thoughts. I’m not concerned with how Chloe views me because of my leg. I’m not worried about showing this part of myself and bracing for disgust.

I’m not worried. Period. End of story. But rather, I’m proud. The idea hits me out of nowhere, and I stumble. Proud?

I straighten my spine. Yes, proud. This is me, and this is the person Chloe has always accepted. Hell, this is the person I accept. None of it would’ve been possible to begin with without Chloe. Because of her and my push toward rejoining F1, I can finally embrace some confidence.

Chloe’s head pops up from under the surface. Beads of water drip down her face, coating her lashes and cheeks, dripping into her smile lines. “Do you always check yourself out this much? I know you’re sexy and all, but narcissism is only endearing to a certain extent.”

I snort. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously funny.”

There goes that weird feeling in my chest again. The guilt from her situation sits heavy inside of me, eating away at my good mood.

I shake my head. Stop it.

I take a breath and jump into the water, splashing water all over Chloe. Her laugh is the last thing I hear before I sink beneath the surface.

She jumps on my back the moment I pop back up. I hold on to her and spin us around in circles, choosing to enjoy today. I’ll worry about tomorrow once it gets here because there’s nothing I can do about it now.

Some things are out of my control, and like Chloe says, it is what it is.





41





Chloe





I wake up ready to take on the day. After spending yesterday with Santiago, I reminded myself that people take time to warm up. Santiago is the perfect example of that. A few short months ago, he wouldn’t let me see his stump, let alone go on the boat with him. But yesterday, he let loose in the broad daylight and had fun with me. He was in full-on prosthetic mode and he didn’t even so much as flinch at his leg.

I won’t lie, a few tears of joy left my eyes. But it was a beautiful sight, with him not hiding his true self from me.

Santiago’s big accomplishment reminded me how Matteo needs time too. How people need to process their feelings. I did tell Matteo I was his daughter after all, and it’s not exactly something that can be easily digested after one day. So, I lowered my expectations after rethinking my situation.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?” Santiago paces the front entryway of his house.

I double-knot the laces on my sneaker. “No. I appreciate the offer, but I think Matteo might do better if it’s just me. You can be kind of distracting, no offense.”

He doesn’t laugh at my joke. “But I can be in another room. You know, just in case you need me like the other day.”

The memory of Santiago helping me during my breakdown makes my smile wobble.

I take a deep breath, pushing back my worry. “You live next door. If anything goes wrong, I can walk here in under a minute. I promise if I need you, I’ll call you.”

He runs a hand through his hair, forcing the strands to stand in different directions. “You’ll come back the moment things don’t feel right, won’t you?”

“If things don’t feel right.” Why is he so nervous? I’m not even that nervous, and I’m the one about to talk to Matteo after how everything went between us.

“Right. If.” His voice lacks his usual confidence.

“Hey.” I walk up to him and wrap my arms around his waist, forcing him to stop his pacing. “You don’t have to be afraid. I accepted that this isn’t going to be an easy process, and that’s that.”

His body tenses. “What do you mean?”

“I get that Matteo needs to warm up to the idea of me. It’s not like he had any time to prepare for this like I did.”

“Right,” he whispers.

“Yes. It’s okay if he freaks out once or twice. I would if I were in his position. It’s to be expected.”

“Nothing about this is expected,” he grumbles under his breath.

I laugh. “I’ll be back soon! Relax.” I let go of him and walk toward the front door.

“Chloe,” he calls out.

I grip the handle and look over my shoulder. “Yeah?”

“No matter what he says, remember that I care about you, okay? You’ll always have a place here with me, and nothing he says will change that.”

A warmth spreads through my chest as his words sink in. The sweetness Santiago shares with me is something I could definitely get used to. It’s something I want to get used to, and that’s a first for me. I crave the kind of stability he can offer me. I crave him, period.

I grin at him. “I like this version of you.”

“And what version is that?”

“The one I’m falling in love with.” I slip out of the house, leaving a slack-jawed Santiago behind me.





Matteo opens his gate the moment I press the buzzer. I powerwalk up the driveway and knock on his front door. The stucco walls reflect a well-loved house, weathered after years of lakeside winds.

Matteo opens the door. His eyes slowly move from the ground up to my face. “Hi, Chloe. It’s nice to see you.”