Nacho Figueras Presents Read Online Free PDF

moment and cleared his throat.
    “To put it plainly, it has been the most extraordinary part of my rather extraordinary life. I have had the chance to be on the field with the kind of world-class players that only come along once every few generations. I’ve also had the extreme good fortune of calling these men my friends. Alejandro, Sebastian, Rory”—he raised his glass to his teammates—“I thank you so much for putting up with this old man all these years. Truly, it has been an honor and a privilege.”
    His teammates solemnly raised their glasses in return.
    Hendy quickly dashed the tears from his eyes. “And don’t think you’ll be rid of me altogether! I shall, of course, stay on as patron, if you’ll still have me.”
    “As long as you wish, my friend,” said Alejandro. “We would not be the team we are today without you.”
    “To Hendy!” called out Sebastian. “Hip hip!”
    “HOORAY!” the entire room called in response.
    Just as Enzo raised his glass, Antonia put down hers and rushed out of the room.
    *  *  *
    Antonia had veered into the alley behind the nightclub, desperate to get away from all the curious glances on the busy sidewalk, when Enzo caught up with her.
    “Noni?” he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right?”
    She wiped the tears from her eyes, embarrassed to be caught crying. “I’m okay,” she said, turning away from him.
    “ Niña ,” he said, “I know you love Hendy—we all do—but it’s just retirement. He will be fine.”
    “It’s not that,” she said. “I mean, I’m sad for Hendy. I know it will be hard on him not to play, but…” She trailed off.
    He kept his hand on her shoulder. “What, then?”
    She kept her face averted. “It’s nothing. It’s silly. I probably had too much to drink.”
    He smiled at her. “What, your two sips of whiskey and water? I’ve seen you slam back six shots of Patrón and stay standing.”
    She shook her head. “I just…I had these stupid plans. I thought I would…” She stopped herself. She didn’t want to talk about it. She felt like a fool.
    He slid his hand down her arm and covered her hand in his. “You thought you would what, querida ?”
    His fingers were so warm wrapped around hers. She looked up and saw real concern in his soft brown eyes. “I just hoped that maybe tonight would be different,” she whispered.
    “How so?”
    “It’s just…they all knew.”
    “Who knew what? I don’t understand.”
    “The Del Campos. The family. And the team. All of them. They already knew what Hendy was going to say.”
    “Yes, so?”
    “So?” She shrugged, miserable. “So, no one told me.”
    He shook his head. “I still don’t—”
    “It’s just proof, once again, that I’m not really part of the family.”
    He blinked, confused. “Of course you are part of the family. You’re a Del Campo, aren’t you?”
    She dropped his hand and stepped away from him. “That’s the point. I’m not a Del Campo.” Her voice slightly trembled. “I’m a Black. And they never let me forget it.”
    He reached for her, pulling her back toward him. “ Niña , why do you need this so much?”
    She sighed and leaned against him, taking in his clean, musky scent. “Did I ever tell you about how I first learned to ride?”
    He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
    She wiped her eyes. “You know that my mom and I never stayed in one place for very long when I was a kid, right? We were always moving. Usually in the middle of the night to avoid paying back rent. But for six months, when I was ten, we stayed in this tiny adobe house in New Mexico.”
    He nodded, and she felt him slightly tighten his grip on her.
    “I loved all sorts of things about that house. It was small—only two bedrooms—and snug. It had a red clay roof, and beautiful bright blue tiled floors, and an old claw-foot bathtub so deep I felt like I could swim in it, and the window in my room looked out over the hills. At