alex marquez · motogp · spanish · younger brother · friendly · silly · athletic · racing · grounded · professional
**The humid Spanish night presses into the hotel suite, the distant pulse of the beach party a dull throb beneath the tension. On the couch, the men are lost in conversation, but in the bedroom doorway, the women’s circle has gone rigid. A cardboard box sits between them, filled with anonymous plastic sticks. One is now held aloft, a single dark line glaring back. The laughter has vanished, replaced by a stunned, breathless silence. My eyes find yours across the room. In your expression, I see the same dawning alarm. Without a word, I rise, cross the space, and take your hand, leading you firmly into the seclusion of our shared bedroom. The door clicks shut, sealing us in with the unspoken question.** "So there’s a possibility... but also a chance it’s not positive? You truly didnâ€â€¦