My daughter's XXL physical therapist

Chapter 05

Urso

What was supposed to be just a stroll through the square to get that woman out of my mind turned into pure torture the second I noticed she was there. She was completely carefree, dancing samba as if she didn't have a single worry in the world.

The guys were all staring, and that s**t bothered me. I got seriously pissed off, for real. They tried to play it cool, but there was a mystery in the way her hips swayed—a fire—and it wasn't meant for just anybody...

I hurried home, called JN to come down to the samba so I could play it cool, took a quick shower, and got ready. I saw his text confirming he would meet me there, since he needed to clear his head too...

I just hoped there wouldn't be any trouble between him and his woman down there. They might not be together anymore, but his woman is his woman, and no one can change that. And to make things worse, she is always glued to the one who keeps me up at night, so trouble just follows us around.

I don't get involved in their mess because everyone knows their own choices and consequences. I don't need to give my opinion on anyone else's life, just like I don't want anyone meddling in mine.

I grabbed my bike and rushed back to the square. I never hang out at that bar, but I wasn't about to let her be out there looking like that while I was all the way across the street. No way. I wanted to see those hips up close, preferably in my lap. But that is a story for another time, because I am definitely going to have her in my arms eventually...

Big mistake. I was just enjoying the view when that other crazy chick showed up and started causing trouble. Damn it, she ruined my night. Nicole got seriously pissed and stepped right up to face the blonde. I liked that she stood her ground. Her voice might be sweet, but she is firm as hell. She doesn't take s**t from anyone, and that drives me wild, for real. She goes all out, stands tall, and doesn't back down an inch. Man, she looked ten feet tall compared to that other girl...

I don't know how to explain it, bro, but I stopped in front of her, looked into her eyes, and my soul caught fire. It is something that goes way deeper than the skin. It is like she has this intense magnetism. It really messes with me. She gives me goosebumps without even saying a single word.

"Man, that blonde is going to cause problems. Listen to what I'm telling you, it's going to be a headache," JN said to me, and I downed my drink in one go. "Crazy chick, trying to mess with the quiet one. If my woman gets dragged into this, I'm getting involved too, you know that, right?"

"Nobody touches Nicole. Over my dead body, partner. That is not even up for discussion," I told him, already pissed off just imagining someone trying to lay a hand on the woman who would soon be mine. I highly doubt anyone would try!

"What's the deal, Urso?" He started trying to get in my head, then went back to complaining about his woman dancing over there with Nicole's mother.

Meanwhile, my woman was sitting there with a stern face, drinking a beer, until she finally got up to dance again, and a smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. A sight for sore eyes. Unfortunately, for a lot of other guys' eyes, too.

"Another year, and she won't even speak to me. Doesn't even reply to the stuff I sent her," JN said, taking a shot and grimacing at the burn.

"You're never going to get over it, are you?" I asked, and he glared at me, pissed off.

"If you were in my shoes, would you get over it? It's not that easy, Urso. You know the deal. I can hook up with anyone, but the second she says the word, I drop everything and go straight to her. You know that. She is the only one I keep under my protection, no matter where she is in this world. They can do whatever they want to me, or to anyone with me, f**k it. I only have one woman," he said, looking down at the tattoo he had of her name. "The mark from when all this hell started is right here, and it's never going away..." I watched them ask for the bill and discreetly signaled the waiter to put it on my tab without her noticing.

The waiter spoke to her, and she looked over at me, giving a simple nod of thanks without any arrogance. Her mother, on the other hand, was pure friendliness. Her mom is a real one.

They left, and I headed back to my place. I didn't stay out much longer. I was tired, and tomorrow was going to be a tough day because a shipment was coming in early.

I got home and went to check on my daughter, who was sleeping all sprawled out in her bed. I adjusted her blankets, kissed her forehead, and went to my room. I took a shower and collapsed onto my bed, drifting off with thoughts of Nicole. It was inevitable... and stronger than my own willpower.

I woke up the next day to my radio buzzing with an incoming call.

"Hey, these guys are trying to play us. They didn't even send half the shipment you asked for. I'm holding two of them here. Get down to the base," JN said, sounding pissed. I jumped right out of bed.

"Keep them there and give them a warm welcome. I'm on my way," I told him, rushing to the bathroom.

I washed up in a hurry. I hadn't wanted to leave the house this morning; I needed to at least meet my daughter's new physical therapist. But I had to go down there and handle this s**t as quickly as possible.

I flew out of the house before my mother was even awake. I arrived at the base and walked straight over to JN, who was still wearing the exact same clothes from yesterday.

"You didn't even go home, asshole?" I asked, looking at him in disgust.

"Lost track of time at the base with the guys," he said slickly, and I chuckled.

I sorted things out and dealt with the two guys. They really thought they could play me for a fool. I got in touch with my supplier and gave him absolute hell. It's over. I am not doing business with that piece of s**t anymore, and I am going to f**k him over for trying to play me, just to teach him how to be a man. f*****g asshole. I don't have the patience to repeat myself.

"I'm heading home. There's a new physical therapist there, and I need to see what she's about," I told JN. He nodded, giving me a fist bump.

"I'll swing by later to check on my goddaughter," he said, and I agreed.

I hurried home and went straight to the outside bathroom. I took a quick shower. My mother always left some clean clothes out there for me in case of emergencies. I threw my blood-stained clothes into a black trash bag and finally went inside the house.

I walked in through the kitchen. My mother was washing vegetables and chopping onions with a dish towel thrown over her shoulder. When she saw me, she just lifted her chin, saying "good morning" with her eyes.

"Aren't you monitoring the session?" I asked, setting my gun on the counter. She just gave me a look, so I quickly grabbed the gun and put it away where it belonged.

She gave me a devious smile. That mocking little smile of hers.

"Go see for yourself," she said.

"Huh?"

"Just go. They are in Sophia's room."

She went back to chopping vegetables as if she were dismissing me. So I went. I walked down the hallway, curious and a little apprehensive, my brow furrowed as I took slow steps.

As soon as I reached the doorway to Sophia's room, I stopped.

Frozen. Unable to take a single step further.

And the air left my lungs for a second.

It was her.

Nicole. Right there in my house. I couldn't believe it. I just stared at her. They hadn't noticed me yet, and listening to Sophia's laughter, it felt like I had stepped into a parallel universe. I couldn't believe it. It felt like a crazy twist of fate.

I have seen a lot in this life. I have seen a man drop with a bullet in his chest before he even had time to pray. I have seen a mother scream over her child's body, seen a partner turn into a traitor, seen a brother from the favela beg for his life. But there are some things you just never expect to see.

Like... my daughter, with that mischievous little smile on her face, lying in the lap of a woman she had just met for the very first time today. And she wasn't just any woman. It was her. Nicole.

The same woman who was dancing samba with a drink in her hand and pride in her eyes just yesterday. The same woman who stood up to protect her mother without a second of hesitation. The same woman who disarms me with a single, piercing look. Damn.

I stood there, leaning against the doorframe, just watching them. And every gesture she made felt like a silent blow to my chest. The way she looked at Sophia, the way she held her, the way she genuinely cared. It wasn't fake. It wasn't some forced professionalism. It was real.

And that was when it hit me. Because I know exactly how people act when they want something from me. I have seen enough bitches fake an interest just to get an advantage. But not her. She hadn't even wanted to be here. God must have literally pushed this woman into my house; there is no other explanation.

My mother was completely enchanted by her. It was nothing but praise and kindness. And Sophia... Sophia had actually fallen asleep in her lap. In her lap. My daughter, who hadn't let anyone touch her since the last physical therapist handled her roughly and scared her. Just fell asleep. Breathing deeply, all curled up, holding onto that plush bunny as if she had known this woman since she was in the womb.

I felt a lump form in my throat. I swallowed it down. Because I am a man, damn it. I am the boss of this whole damn place. But right there, watching that scene, I was just a father.

My mother threw out that lunch invitation. And I hit the jackpot, because I desperately wanted her to stay, too. I wanted to see more. See her laugh. See her talk to my mother. See her hold my daughter as if she belonged right there with us. And when she looked at me, completely caught off guard...

Man, I told her to "accept," but what I really meant was "stay."

Stay a little longer. Stay here. Stay... in my life.

She held my gaze. With that same fierce attitude, as always. But she accepted. And right then, I knew. It was game over. She wasn't just going to invade my thoughts anymore; she was going to invade my home and my family, too. And I will fight for what I want.

She stood up with Sophia still in her arms and gave me a sidelong glance. She walked past me slowly, and her scent hit my nose with a force that made me lose my train of thought for a second.

"I'm just going to lay her down on the couch, very slowly," she told my mother, and I could hear the pride in her voice. The woman was already fitting right into the rhythm of the house. It didn't even feel like her first day here.

I went to the kitchen to play it cool. Being too close to her right now was going to be trouble. I am a man of action. And right now, I am trying to be respectful. I am trying to figure this out. But her scent, the way she holds my daughter, the memory of that dress clinging to her body yesterday—it is all messing with my head.

My mother nudged me as soon as Nicole left the room.

"I saw the way you looked at her..." she teased me.

"Don't start, Mom," I tried to brush it off.

"I'm not starting anything, boy. You have never acted like this with any of them. Not even with Sophia's mother," she said without even looking at me, stirring the pot on the stove as if she were poking at an open wound.

"She is different," I said quietly, almost in a whisper.

"Then treat her differently. Because if you scare this one away, you will lose what you never even had."

She's right. But I am Urso. And Urso, when he wants something...

He goes out and gets it.