Free Fall

Chapter Thirty-Four

The song for this chapter is Whatever It Takes by Lifehouse

Kendall

Erick's house was huge.

After he pulled into his circular driveway and opened my door, we made our way to the front door. I had just opened my mouth to ask him what his parents' do for a living when we walked through the door and Dr. Sanchez was making his way down the spiral staircase. I looked up at Erick, but he didn't meet my eyes.

I didn't have to contemplate long. A gangly shepherd barreled past Dr. Sanchez's legs and slipped on the marble floor towards me. I squatted down and accepted his slobbery kisses as I scratched his huge ears. Erick and his uncle chuckled and I heard Erick suddenly shout a strangled 'Uh-uh!' sound. The dog stopped dead from attacking my face and circled Erick once before sitting on his haunches. I raised my eyebrows as I got to my feet. "Impressive."

"Erick has been taking up dog training. Not that he had a choice, otherwise Kobi would of been long gone." Dr. Sanchez said as he disappeared into what I assumed was the kitchen. I laughed and Erick motioned me to follow him into the massive cooking room. Kobi trotted along side Erick.

"Whatever, Mario. You love this dog."

His uncle raised his eyebrows at him as he sliced tomatoes. I slid onto a barstool, surprised at how comfortable I felt here. Things between me and Erick are far from sunshine and rainbows. My old doctor suddenly looked up at me and smiled.

"I didn't even say hello. Hello, Kendall. How are you?"

I smiled. " Great. How's the hospital going?"

He turned to toss a handful of trash into a trashcan. "Good. Haven't had any severe trauma cases in awhile."

Erick sat on the stool to my left and half-smiled at me. Butterflies erupted in my stomach and I looked away, blushing.

"Karen asks about you quite a lot. At the time I didn't realize you are attending the same university as Erick." Mario continued. "What are you majoring in?"

"Physiology." I tried to ignore Erick's gaze burning into the side of my face.

"Interesting." Erick's uncle poured the chopped up vegetables into a bowl and I stared into it curiously.

"What are you making?"

"Pico de Gallo. Popular Mexican dish." Erick answered, and his voice causes my heart to flip.
He smiled, almost knowingly.

Mario looks over at Erick as he walks over to a huge walk-in pantry. "How's baseball, Erick?"

"Good. We have a scrimmage versus UCLA tomorrow and Hubbs made us practice like mules." He takes a sliced tomato out of the bowl and tosses it into his mouth.

Mario comes back with a bag of tortilla chips, his eyes flashing. "Scrimmage? So that's like a first game?"

I look at Erick as he laughs. I couldn't even hear his response to his uncle as I really studied him. The way his lips stretch over his perfect teeth, the way his eyes crinkle at the ends. Just that laugh on its own yanked me out of the moment and forced me to face the reality: I'm still in love with Erick Sanchez. Unconditionally, whole-heartedly in love with him.

Erick glanced over at me, catching me staring at him but I didn't care. He half-smiled and I gave a small smile back. The moment didn't last long as Mario placed a bowl of the salsa in front of me and I was forced to break my gaze with Erick. "Thanks, Mario."

***

"Erick, why can't I see where I'm going? I'm going to fall on my face." I tried to sound stern but I giggled on the last word.

"I won't let you fall. Don't worry, we're almost there."

The ground under my feet was rocky and uneven, and we picked our way slowly with Erick's large hands wrapped around my eyes. I could smell salt water and hear the crashing of waves and knew we were near an ocean, but the hint of surprise still caused my heart to race with excitement.

"A couple more steps, Ken...almost there..and-" We suddenly stopped and Erick gently moved my body to face something and removed his hands. A gasp fell from my lips.

We were standing at the top of a huge cliff, the waves crashing angrily against it. The red sun was sinking below the horizon, casting pink and blue colors against the sky. I looked up at Erick with a grin on my face. "Oh, Erick. It's so beautiful."

He smiled back at me before sitting on an even patch of ground and pulling me to sit in between his legs. I blushed at the sweet gesture, glad he couldn't see my face. We sat like that for many moments; the spray from the water cooling us down from the 100 degree weather.

"Erick?" I said nervously.

"Mmm?"

I swallowed and twisted my body so I could look him in the face. "Why did you, um, move to Mexico?"

Erick's face fell and his jaw hardened and I instantly regreted asking. I turned to look back at the ocean and shook my head. "I'm sorry, I was just curious."

It was quiet for awhile before Erick sighed and turned me back to face him. His face looked exhausted and suddenly way older than an eighteen year old boy.

"My dad. . .um." He cleared his throat and stopped, looking over my head at the setting sun. I waited patiently for him to continue.

He looked down at his hands. "He was in a gang. Quit his old job at a packaging factory. But me and my mom didn't know that. He told us he worked extra overtime to bring home more money. He was bringing home more money, alright, but not from working overtime at a factory.

"He got in a gunfight with a rival gang or whatever. He killed someone, Kendall. My father. He got arrested and was charged with numerous offenses. He's basically going to have a life sentence. My mom completely broke. She packed her crap and left me here with my uncle to move to Mexico. I couldn't just let my mother leave. My dad failed as a man so I had to step up and be a man for him."

He stopped and I knew he didn't have anymore to say. I moved so I could wrap my arms around his neck and cuddle into his chest. His arms didn't hesitate to wrap around my body. I knew it took a lot for Erick to tell me that and I felt my heart flutter.

"It's going to be okay, Erick."

He didn't respond as we stared back out at the ocean and the never-ending cycle of the waves hitting rock.