Page 70 of A Treasure To Keep (Leone Legacy #2)

El

I dropped off Andrea at work after we met with our lawyer. The only thing everyone can agree on is that the three of us, plus our lawyers, need to meet. We’re hoping this meeting will be in a lawyer’s office, not at the Leone estate.

Initially, my plan was to head straight home, but after the text I received this morning, I find myself sitting in front of my favorite coffee shop. The first thing I notice is the SUV that I know belongs to him. I should have known that he would join her.

I shake off my nerves and head into the coffee shop, first hearing a giggle to the right before turning and seeing them. Alessandro, Luci, and Gia. The perfect little adorable family they are. It should make me sick, but instead, it makes my on-pause ovaries ache.

The ding of the bell on the door causes Luci to turn in my direction, giving a sweet smile as a welcome. Alessandro notices her reaction, too, and turns around. His response is more stoic, unable to read what’s happening in his head. Typical.

C’mon, El. You can do this. Shoulders back, tits up, and try not to be a fucking bitch. Even I’ll admit that the sass has been on full display over the last few months.

Alessandro stands with Gia, walking in my direction. He pauses for a second as he reaches me, scanning me up and down before speaking.

“Don’t shoot her down. Hear her out. She misses her best friend.” He sits down at a table with Gia between the door and where Luci is sitting to protect her, yet far enough to give us privacy.

My racing heart overpowers the clicking of my heels on the laminate floor until I reach the table. Luci holds tightly onto her coffee cup. An obvious attempt to keep her hands from shaking. She hates confrontation.

“Hi, El. I got you a decaf iced vanilla latte.” Ugh!

A dream. A girl could use the caffeine, though.

Stupid pregnancy. I can’t have anything fun.

Except for the ability to make love with Andrea.

Sometimes. Only in certain positions. That’s not the point here.

What’s the point? Oh yeah, pregnancy prevents you from eating and drinking all the good things I love.

I pull out the chair, sitting down silently as I try to get comfortable. I attempt to cross my right leg over my left, then my left leg over my right, eventually giving up and crossing my ankles. The bigger I get, the harder it is to do certain things, most recently crossing my legs.

Luci presses her lips together, trying her best not to laugh at me. If anyone understands what I’m going through, it’s her. Gia is still young enough that she easily remembers the struggles of pregnancy.

The longer we sit without me responding, the harder it is for her to keep it in.

Within thirty seconds, she is turning red, barely able to hold in her laugh.

I raise an eyebrow as I wait for her, except that’s her demise.

Her laughing catches Alessandro’s attention and triggers Gia to mimic Luci’s laugh.

I set my handbag on the table, taking the coffee cup in my hand. I take a sip, giving her time to collect herself before I speak. “Are you having fun laughing at my expense?”

Finally, she gathers herself, scrunching her face before she answers me. “Is it bad if I say yes?”

I should say yes, except I’d be lying. I’m pretty certain you could put a cow next to me, rolling back and forth, and you’d have a hard time guessing who’s who.

“No. Because I would do the same. It’s ridiculous.

My pregnancy app says that at twenty-four weeks pregnant, my baby is the size of an eggplant.

I don’t believe that for a second. I mean, look at me!

There’s way more than an eggplant sized baby in my belly.

Fucking Marco and his giant genetics. I’ve had to buy new shoes because my feet are stupidly swollen. I refuse to wear flats.”

I’d like to hear you say that during your last trimester.”

“Let me correct myself. I don’t own any flats.”

Her mouth drops wide enough that I’m convinced it’s going to hit the floor. Most people have a similar reaction. “You what? Not even sneakers? Sandals? Flip flops?”

“Do slippers count?” My mamma bought me my first pair of heels when I was five.

Before that, I wore sandals, and before I walked, I wore onesies or my bare tootsies.

The older I got, the higher the heels. By the time I was in middle school, I regularly wore four-inch heels.

According to Mamma, ladies only wear heels.

And if there was anything she was raising me to be, it was a lady.

Other than my attitude and exhibitionistic kink, she accomplished that.

There have also been studies that show that heels accentuate the curvature of a woman’s body.

There is something about what walking in heels does to someone's posture.

Whatever, my internal monologue is getting off-topic.

Luci has stopped laughing, and it’s suspiciously quiet in this coffee shop.

Gia isn’t even laughing or babbling. A rarity for the sweet baby.

Luci nervously fiddles with her wedding ring, chewing on her lip as she tries to figure out how she’ll bring up what she wants to say.

I’m about to say something until she speaks first.

“Thank you for meeting me. I’ve missed you. I’ve wanted to grab my phone and text you about something every day. Except I’m not sure you’d answer me if I did.”

Even though I know she’s telling the truth, our argument still rings loud in my head.

Logically, I know she was expressing herself on what she thinks is the truth.

Especially since Marco is her husband's best friend. On the other hand, there is the girl code. She’s supposed to always have her best friend's back.

The betrayal still burns deep in my chest when I think about it.

“You should have. I would have at least enjoyed hearing about what’s going on in your life.” Silence. Silence. Silence. Then the words come out, in typical El fashion. “So, what’s the tea?”

“Gia is sitting up. I’m convinced she’s going to say her first word any day. Alessandro wants her to say, ‘Papa.’ I hear the two of them talking over the baby monitor in her nursery. On the other hand, Alessandro has his agenda when it comes to me.”

Oh. My. God. “I swear if you say he’s trying to get you pregnant again, I’m going to lose it. That man constantly thinks with his dick.”

She leans back in her chair, face turning beet red.

There’s her answer. I whip my head around to Alessandro, narrowing my eyes at his grumpy face.

I cannot roll my eyes any harder without getting them stuck in the back of my head.

Alessandro and I sit there in our stare down, trading words through our eyes instead of our mouths. Whatever. He can stay grumpy.

Luci interrupts the death glare I’m giving Alessandro. “Can I still plan your baby shower?”

Hold on.

“You’d do that for me?” I assumed, after our argument and our lack of communication, she wouldn’t want to.

I’ve been loosely chatting with James about my baby shower and what it should entail.

I do not doubt that James would throw an amazing baby shower for me.

I will say, there’s something different about your best friend throwing you one.

“Of course, I do. You send me any wants or needs, and I’ll plan something perfect for you and yooooour . . . ” She extends the word, trying to get me to finish her sentence. I guess Marco didn’t tell her what I’m having.

“I’m having a boy, a.k.a. Gia’s future husband.” Immediately after seeing Luci’s wide eyes in response, I slowly turn my head in Alessandro’s direction. Fortunately, he’s too focused on Gia sleeping to pick up on the thought of Gia dating.

Since Alessandro is distracted, it means we have all the time in the world.

It also means I can tell her all the news I’ve been internally begging to tell someone.

“Let’s put the baby shower talk on hold.

I have other news. It’s been long enough that I forgot to give you the juiciest tea I’ve been holding onto.

Andrea doesn’t even know this. Remember Mirabella?

My skank cousin, who was engaged to my ex-fiancé?

She texted me the other day. She apologized and told me what had happened between her and Giovanni.

We went through his messages and social media DMs, messaging all those girls he cheated on Mirabella with and any girl he’s flirted with since.

His passwords were almost suspiciously easy to guess.

Like, come on. B!GD!CK12? More like L!TTL3D!

CK2. Anyway. We posted on those social media pages that warn girls about men covered in red flags.

And not the good kind, like the movies I love that have sexy, morally gray men.

There’s no way he will be getting laid anytime soon. ”

“That’s sneaky, El. I should be impressed, but the Bible says to forgive.” Luci is such a good person. The angel to my devil. Metaphorically.

“The Bible also says an eye for an eye.”

She scrunches up her face, wanting to both argue and agree with me.

We continue catching up and drinking our coffees for about an hour longer until Gia wakes up from her nap, hungry and unhappy.

Gia rarely cries and is usually a happy and calm baby.

I guess waking up in a new place upset Gia.

After Luci feeds Gia, calming her soul, we decide it’s time to part ways for the afternoon, with plans to finish the details of my baby shower.

Time got away from me, and by the time we’re done, it’s time to go pick up Andrea. The second Andrea gets in my car, he instantly guesses that Luci and I made up. Something about my smile, I guess. If there’s anyone who can read me, it’s Andrea.

Until today, I didn’t realize how much I missed Luci. We haven’t been friends for that long. That doesn’t necessarily mean anything. The connection and comfort we have with each other are unmatched.

I call James when I get home, catching her up on the tentative plans for my baby shower.

I’ve kept it a secret about why Luci and I fought.

Or what’s going on with Marco, Andrea, and me, even though her husband is our lawyer.

Thankfully, she hasn’t pushed me on why Luci and I were fighting.

I wouldn’t know what bullshit answer to give her.

After she reassures me for the thousandth time that she’s not upset I’m letting Luci plan my baby shower, we make loose plans to get together outside of work.

She has mountains of baby items that Oliver has outgrown to give me, and I’m happy to take them from her.

I can read countless articles and endlessly scroll all I want.

At the end of the day, a mama knows what a mama needs.

I set two countdowns on my phone. One, for three weeks, when Andrea, Luci, and her protective shadow, known as Enzo, will join me for baby registry shopping. And one for six weeks from today, a.k.a., the day of my baby shower, and sit around impatiently for those days to come.

When I press save on the second countdown, the shower turns off, letting me know that Andrea is done in the shower. A wet and naked Andrea to finish off my day? Yes, please!