2. Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Matías Moreno

M onday mornings are my favorites… said no one ever. Dragging my ass out of bed this morning was harder than usual. My morning routine includes checking Bleacher's Pulse , a women's soccer newspaper—among other sports outlets—right after I wake up. Seeing Cattleya in the breaking news section brought back a landslide of emotions I thought I had buried deep down. She has grown up to be a woman of staggering beauty, and the way she expresses herself when the media interviews her speaks volumes of her maturity and intelligence— I have unashamedly kept tabs on her. Sue me. If there's one thing I regret in this life is the way I left Playa Blanca four years ago.

Fuck, why did I have to be such a fuck up and leave the island without even saying goodbye?

Because you don't deserve her, you already took too much from her —the little voice in my head replies, sneering at me. Ugh, fuck this shit. Getting up from bed and doing a few jumping jacks, I try to shake Cattleya out of my head. But if there's something I've learned in these past four years since the night that changed my life, is that when it comes to a war between my brain and thoughts of Cattleya, the Queen of Orchids always wins.

What could have been if I wasn't an idiot? If I had pursued her all those years ago? If I hadn't left that island after the best sex of my life without even a glance back at her and had been man enough to face my fears? Now it looks like she's moving to Buenos Aires, a rising star in women's soccer. I never doubted her; I knew it was a matter of time before she was scouted by a big team. I thought I'd see her playing in Europe, maybe Spain or even England. But I guess she still has time for that, she's only twenty-two after all.

Before I can keep dwelling on the fact that the only mina that has made me feel something is moving to the city I live in, I put on sweatpants and a hoodie and go out for a run. Exercise has been my best remedy for when my mind is too loud and when my anxiety becomes overwhelming. I usually lift weights or use the treadmill in the gym of my apartment building, but today I need a change of scenery. The noise, the people, and the crisp bite of fall air hit my face like tiny needles as I run, making me feel something other than the longing I feel for her. I welcome the pain of the cold air filling my lungs, welcome the noise—it gives me something else to focus my mind on, something that doesn't have a perfect body, the most gorgeous face I've ever seen, and a pair of big brown eyes full of curiosity and wonder.

Anything to take my mind off thinking of her, mi ángel (my angel).

I make it to the office, at seven-thirty in the morning, a half hour before my usual arrival time, and my boss is already here bustling around.

"Matías. Good thing you came in early. I just got word that the Golden Warriors are going to open a bid to build a stadium for their women's team. If we manage to land it, it would be the biggest account this company has ever acquired." Fuck, did he just say the Golden Warriors? I guess facing Cattleya will be inevitable this time around.

"Oh, that's amazing, I'll be happy to start looking into material cost and all that, but nothing will be final until we have the architectural design." I make a mental note to start a list of materials needed and a backup list. One can never be too careful; I'd rather overdo it and have countless copies of the same lists saved on different drives than lose all the info I need to succeed on what probably will be the biggest job I'll work on. Dismissing me with a nod, Luciano goes back to whatever documents he was checking out when I came in. I make my way to my desk, and after firing up my computer, I shoot a quick text.

Matías

Boludo , you up?

My phone pings with a notification instantly.

Luca

I'm a businessman, of course, I'm up. What's up?

I chuckle at his response; sometimes, I forget we're all grown-ups with real jobs now. Luca and his wife, Karina, own a vineyard in Chile. Our college days are long gone.

Matías

My angel… remember her? She's moving to Argentina.

Luca

Yeah, I saw. I was wondering how you were feeling about that.

Matías

The only way I know how… I'm conflicted AF, but I think this time I can't avoid her. My company is going to bid to build a stadium for her team…

Luca

WOW dude, that's huge! You think Samuel has anything to do with it? I'd hate for people to doubt her talent…

I take a deep breath before replying because I know Luca has no ill intent, but it still pisses me off that people could think that her dad is buying her way into the Golden Warriors. The girl is a starter for both her current team and the Colombia national team. It shouldn't matter that her family is probably one of the richest families in the country. Yeah, I know how rich, talented people are perceived, especially when it's a woman. Does Taylor Swift ring a bell? Of course not! Everyone thinks like this, but the assholes who do are loud enough to cause chaos.

Matías

Nah, man, I think this is all her. And maybe the team is counting on Cattleya bringing a shit ton of revenue since they'll have the Colombian fans rooting for them now.

Luca

Look at you, man. Thinking like a true businessman. Money talks.

Luca

So what are you going to do when you see her?

Isn't that the million-dollar question. The thing is, I don't know. I want to apologize for being a dumbass all those years ago, for letting my mind tell me that it was my fault that Cattleya wasn't with her family when Sofi got kidnapped. But at the same time, who knows if she still remembers me? She's a famous soccer player; I'm sure she has a line of men waiting for her to notice them.

Ruffling my hair in frustration, I glance at my phone once more, trying to come up with a witty response, but instead, I see a notification from Bleacher's Pulse . When I click on it, it's a video of Cattleya being approached by the media at Ezeiza (Buenos Aires airport). I quickly check to see if any of my coworkers are around, but somehow, no one has arrived yet.

Increasing the volume, I pay close attention to everything she says. Her accent is thick and as hot as I remember. She greeted them with a bright smile on her pretty face, the dark circles under her eyes telling a different story. It surprises me since people usually sleep on long flights, but I guess she's nervous about this big step in her career. I know I would be.

But you don't know her, asshole . You fucked her and left .

I flinch as the voice in my head hits me with another dose of reality. I quickly turn the volume down on my phone and start working instead.

By the time Friday rolls in, I'm exhausted from the long hours we've been pulling in the office. The Golden Warriors want our proposal ready to deliver on Monday. I haven't been in the mood to hang out with my coworkers after work all week, and they're starting to look at me funny.

When I landed this job, I decided that I was going to truly get out of my shell and work on my social skills. It wasn't easy at first; I missed the slow pace of La Plata, the familiarity of having my friends around and being able to go grab a bite and a beer with them after school. But the truth is, all that ended when they started meeting their better halves. Luca moved to Chile with Karina, Marco and Dani bought a penthouse even before getting married, and Franco and his wife Sofia got a mansion as a wedding gift from her dad. And me? Well, let's just say I decided to look for a job somewhere outside of La Plata. I didn't want to see my friends ridiculously happy with their wives every day. It's a reminder of how monumentally I had fucked up my chances with the only girl who has made my world go round. Hanging out with Franco and Sofi was giving me a high level of anxiety.

I get to the office parking garage, and when my baby starts purring, the slow rumble beneath me makes me feel like everything is right in my world. The freedom I feel driving my bike is the closest I've ever been to feeling what I felt that night . When I came back to Argentina, and after getting this job, it was the first purchase I made. A Ducati Diavel 1260 Dark Stealth. I also got an apartment in a nice neighborhood in Buenos Aires, La Paternal , known for its soccer history. It's the home of Argentinos Juniors, a soccer club founded in 1904 and currently managed by one of the greatest centre-backs in soccer history.

I make it to my place in no time; I know my mom would have words with me if she ever saw the way I zigzag through traffic here in Buenos Aires. But I just love the air hitting my face, the adrenaline running through my veins.

My apartment building is in front of a small lake. For some reason, looking at the water brings me peace, and that's exactly what I do after taking a quick shower and putting a pair of gray sweatpants on.

Looking at the lights coming in from the other side of the lake, dancing with the water as a couple of paddle boats pass by, an idea pops into my mind.

Matía s

I know what I'll do. I'll find a hookup.

Luca

What? Are you crazy, bro? No pussy has made you feel anything compared to what you felt with that mina, and now you think another random hookup will?

I wince at Luca's answer, but he's not wrong. I've had multiple hookups over the years and nothing has ever come close to what I felt with mi ángel .

Matías

True, but maybe this time I'll find some sort of relief.

Luca

Suit yourself, man. Keep me posted, tho.

Matías

Of course, I won't.

Luca

Didn't expect a different answer. Peace out.

Matías

Peace.

I need to get some release. I need to find a mina who's the least similar to Cattleya. I do a Google search, looking for the best hookup apps. After downloading two, I quickly fill out the info required and start browsing for a match. Crickets. All the minas I see are either too fake, full of Botox, or definitely not my type. This is going to be harder than I anticipated. Maybe I need to try and find my hookup the old-fashioned way; I need to hang out with my coworkers, after all. Maybe I'll find a girl at Devoto , the bar we usually go to.

Matías

Are you guys still at Devoto ?

I shoot a quick text to my coworkers' group chat.

Vale

Yes! Did you decide to join us?

Matías

Yeah, I'll see you all soon.

The moment I enter the bar, I find my group easily. They've claimed a couple of tables by the darts area at the back of the room. Vale is the first one to spot me and starts waving her hand at me with a huge smile on her face. She's one of the HR girls; she's nice and sweet and has the hots for me, but I just can't. Every time she approaches me, I feel nothing. When I get to the table, I wave my hand in greeting, and Pablo, another engineer, greets me with a cold beer.

"Thanks, man," I say as I take a sip of my drink .

"Don't mention it. So, decided to come out after all?" he asks as Vale makes her way toward me and gets in between Pablo and me.

"Hi Mati, I'm so glad you changed your mind," she purrs as she grabs the lapel of my leather jacket, and I feel the need to detach myself from her immediately. I don't shit where I eat, and having a one-night stand with Vale would be a mistake of monumental proportions—the girl gives all the clingy vibes. It would make my work hell, and I actually like my job.

"Yeah, I needed to eat and decided to do it here, shooting the shit with the boys instead of staying home." Vale deflates at my words but recovers quickly, plastering a saccharine smile on her face.

"Well, the girls are here, too, and I would be more than happy to keep you company," she says as she bats her eyelashes at me. Pablo actually chokes at her words. I can't help it and laugh too, but I try to cover it with a cough.

"Vale, I'm sorry. I'm sure you're a great girl, but I'm not looking for anything with anyone at the moment," I say in a flat tone. I don't mean to be rude, but if I keep my niceties, she'll never get the hint. I would rather be seen as an asshole now than later when she thinks I've strung her along.

"Oh yeah, of course. We're coworkers; that would be crazy," she says, not meeting my eyes anymore, and I notice a hint of pink covering her cheeks. I give her a curt nod, and she goes back to her seat.

"Dude," Pablo says with a chuckle, and I simply shake my head.

"I meant what I said, she's a nice girl but going there would be a mistake."

Pablo doesn't say anything. He simply clicks his beer bottle with mine. After ordering a burger and fries, I take off my jacket and finally sit down .

Women's soccer isn't as big as men's soccer, but after the last Women's World Cup, more people have started following, and the fan base is slowly growing. It's not surprising that when the sports segment of the news comes up on the TVs mounted to the bar walls, the first thing I see is Cattleya being followed by a ton of reporters.

"What the hell?" I say low, but I guess I was loud enough for Pablo to hear me.

"Who's that mina ? She's hot as fuck." I throw a murderous look his way, and he chuckles. "What? You know her?"

I take a sip of my beer before replying, I need to be cautious here. I don't want to share any details with Pablo.

"As a matter of fact, yes. Her sister is married to one of my best friends back in La Plata," I say, and the little voice in my head immediately pops up. Little sister? You despicable, cruel bastard. You took her away from her family when they needed her the most . I grind my teeth, and my jaw clenches. I don't want to think about the past right now.

"No shit, man. You'll have to introduce me to her, then. I'll make sure to give her a warm welcome to Buenos Aires," Pablo says, a smirk on his lips. He raises his eyebrows like I should give him a medal for lusting over the woman who I've decided to claim as mine—even though I have no right whatsoever. Instead of replying, I finish my beer in one big swig to avoid commenting on his stupidity.

Over my dead body .

After eating my food and having one more beer, I stand up to play a round of darts. I follow the pace my coworkers have set for the night, and before I realize it's four in the morning. Though they're ready to keep the party going at a club, I decide to head home instead. I've had enough peopling for one night.