Page 85 of A Treasure To Keep (Leone Legacy #2)

El

T oday we’re getting together with Alessandro and Luci to introduce Théodore to Gia. Also, to tell them that Marco, Andrea, and I are together.

Gia and Théodore’s age difference is enough that Gia is sitting and grabbing at things while Théodore is focusing on keeping his head up during tummy time.

Until he face plants. Still, I’m convinced they’ll be adorable together.

He is her future husband anyway, meaning they need to be together all the time. I’ll make sure of it.

The morning after we had sex, we sat down while Théodore went down for his morning nap.

We talked over every action and word that was said.

We came to the general conclusion that while Marco may not necessarily be bisexual in the quote-unquote traditional sense, he wants Andrea in the same way Andrea wants him. And of course, I’m in that mix.

Since that conversation, Marco has been staying in our bed. Now I get to decorate and officially make the spare room into a nursery! I’ll admit I was upset for a ridiculous amount of time that I wasn’t able to do that. I blame it on hormones.

We’ve loaded up Théodore into Marco’s truck, and I climb, literally climb, into his truck while he and Andrea sit up front.

My heart beats faster at the idea of telling people about our .

. . unconventional relationship. I know Alessandro and Luci won’t judge us since they’re our best friends, but it’s still nerve-racking.

Their relationship started with Luci getting kidnapped and forced into marrying him. Who are they to judge?

It’s been two and a half months since my accident, and my legs still shake when we drive by the stretch of highway where my accident was.

The bent guard rail and several missing trees on the side of the highway leave any leftover evidence that an accident happened.

The average person could miss those details if they didn’t know or weren’t paying attention to the side of the highway. I’ll always know, though.

Andrea reaches his hand back to hold mine, knowing the anxiety rushing through my body without me having to say anything. My perfect empath. When I place my hand in his, he squeezes it twice, grounding my anxiety until we’ve taken our exit off the highway.

Before we know it, we’re pulling onto the Leone property, Domenico waving us through the gate.

When we drive up, Andrea gets out first, grabbing Théodore in his car seat to carry him inside.

Marco gets out next, opening the backseat and helping me get out of the truck.

Heels plus the railing don’t mix. Yesterday, after Théodore’s pediatrician checkup, I slipped, and Marco barely had time to catch me as I plummeted to my death.

Okay, I may be exaggerating on the plummeting to my death part.

Marco got a stiletto to the foot after he laughed while setting me down.

We weren’t friends for the rest of the day. Until he apologized. All. Night. Long.

The second my feet are on the ground, Marco spins me around, pressing me against the side of the truck as he grabs my face, kissing me gently yet passionately.

Can you say weak at the knees? I’m about to bang him right then and there when Enzo turns the corner, switching his focus back and forth between us before walking off.

One thing Enzo has always been good at is minding his own business, the best he can.

I shove Marco out of the way, walking into Alessandro and Luci’s house, and immediately hear her voice.

I haven’t seen her since my baby shower, and I notice the shadow of her bump under her shirt.

How far along is she, anyway? We have way too much to catch up on.

Girl talk has been at a minimum since I’ve spent the last ten weeks focusing on a premature baby, healing after the wreck, and this crazy thing called motherhood.

And now my two boyfriends who are boyfriends.

Luci is holding Théodore while Alessandro holds Gia.

Gia is intensely focused on Théodore, her eyebrows wrinkled as she takes in his size.

That intense focus on her face says Alessandro to a T.

There’s no doubt she is his kid. Gia has been around James’ son, but he’s even older than her by almost a year.

This must be her first time seeing a small baby.

Oh my god! I missed Oliver’s second birthday!

I’ll text James tonight and beg for her forgiveness.

She’s been texting me, saying she has bags of things for Théodore.

Like he needs more stuff. And being the terrible friend I’ve become, I keep forgetting to text her back.

We need to go back to our focus, El. This isn’t the time for my internal monologue to spin.

Important things are happening here. Your son and his future wife are meeting for the first time.

“Are you two having fun with a sneak peek at your future? That is, if Gia is as enamored with her sibling as she is with Théodore.” I walk up to Alessandro and Luci as Andrea walks back in from the kitchen, holding three glasses of whiskey.

I scan him up and down, raising my eyebrows while he walks past me, handing a glass to Alessandro.

“Alessandro said it was time for a celebratory drink with Marco and I to commemorate this occasion. This is Alessandro’s home. It would be impolite to deny his generosity. Did I ever tell you how exquisite you are in this light?” Ugh! This man.

Andrea walks back over to me and kisses me. Can I ever be mad at this man? Unfortunately, no. Marco, finally, has made his appearance, casually taking the other glass from Andrea’s hand and sitting in the wingback chair in the corner.

Luci cuts in, disrupting the tension in the room.

“El, I’m in love with him! He’s a perfectly handsome little boy.

” Gia reaches over, gently touching Théodore’s hand.

Luci moves Théodore to a sitting position with his back against her chest. “Gia, those are such gentle hands. Do you love Théodore? We’re focusing on gentle hands.

She’s reaching a phase where she hits and throws almost anything.

Most of the time, out of excitement. Until the other day when she smacked Alessandro.

Geno said Alessandro was an early hitter, too. ”

Marco cuts in from across the room, his right leg crossed over his left knee. “He still is!” Fucking. Marco.

“Shut up, Marco! No one cares.” Marco turns his head in my direction while we have a mental standoff until drama commences, surprisingly not brought on by me.

Gia must continue to reach out her hand as she stares at Théodore. All of a sudden, without warning, I notice her rear back her hand in my peripheral, smacking Théodore in the center of his face. The smack is what snaps me out of said standoff with Marco.

Luci and I gasp as I snatch Théodore, noticing that, other than a small bit of pink on his nose, he appears to be okay.

His tear-filled eyes and bottom lip jutting out make my heart hurt as I hold him close to me.

He’s more scared than hurt by my sudden and dramatic reaction.

Luci apologies profusely and if Gia was older and if Luci wasn’t my best friend, I’d be pissed.

But he’s okay. It’s okay. We’re fine. He’s fine.

That leftover shocked caveman expression on Théodore’s face is Marco’s genetics showing up.

After a moment of silence, I break it, wanting to get this conversation going.

“On that note, let’s chat before Marco’s too drunk to drive us home.

Lord knows I’m too short to drive his truck, and Andrea hates driving.

” Marco stops the glass to his mouth, noticing that I was talking about him as he finishes the last sip of his whiskey. Fucking. Marco.

Luci and I take Gia and Théodore up to Gia’s nursery, followed not so subtly by Enzo. I shouldn’t be surprised that Enzo is more attached to Luci during this pregnancy. I think Alessandro would make him bury himself alive if she went missing again.

When Marco and Andrea decided to tell Alessandro and Luci about us, we decided separately might be better.

I desperately need to have some much-needed girl talk with Luci, anyway.

There’s too much testosterone in that apartment.

Also, for some dumbass reason, Marco has decided now that if Théodore can pee without perfect aim, he can too.

I’m convinced it’s his excuse when he dribbles on the toilet seat.

Because apparently, he can’t even take the time to lift the damn seat.

Another reason we weren’t friends yesterday.

Waking up and sitting in pee dribbles first thing in the morning isn’t what I want to experience.

Luci lays out a blanket on the floor, giving our babies a place to hang out while we sit on the floor beside the blanket.

I keep an extra eye on Gia while she sits, and Théodore hangs out on his tummy.

He takes turns between lifting his head and his head plopping onto the blanket until I help him lift his head again.

Luci sits with me, smiling at the two of our babies together.

She smiles blissfully while rubbing her belly, holding Théodore’s hand.

She’s obviously daydreaming about her future.

A few seconds pass before she turns her head to me, genuinely asking how I’ve been.

“How’s motherhood going? I can’t imagine having a newborn that was in the NICU. ”

“You have no idea. Andrea and Marco have been a godsend. I don’t think I could have done any of this without them.

Speaking of, that’s one of the reasons we came over today.

Over the last ten weeks, we’ve done a lot of healing as a new family.

The other night I had sex with Andrea for the first time since having Théodore.

Let me tell you, it had been way too long.

Anyway. Marco tiptoed his way on in and joined us.

Then Andrea and Marco joined each other.

We’ve reverted to how things were about a year ago.

” Pause for reaction. One, two, three, four, five. Fuck! How is this pause going to last?

“I didn’t know Marco was attracted to guys.” Seriously? That’s her answer?

“He doesn’t. I mean, he’s attracted to Andrea. I don’t know, it’s hard to explain.”

“Is this what you want? Both of them? Is this what would make you happy?” A perfect best friend answer. This is why I love her.

“Absofuckinglutely. I love them.”

Luci reaches for my hand, resting hers on top of mine as she sweetly smiles. “I’m happy for you.”

We smile at each other, living in the moment as best friends, mothers, and women deeply in love with our men. I’m stuck in this perfect moment, almost forgetting about the most important thing. Something my men could never relate to.

“Oh my god! I forgot to tell you!”

“What?”

“Pelvic floor exercises have changed my life. I don’t pee when I sneeze anymore.” Even post diapers, I’ve found myself needing to wear liners or change my underwear anytime allergies tickle my nose. Let me tell you, it’s annoyingly inconvenient.

Luci’s eyes get optimistic and wide, letting me know what she’s going to say before she says it.

“Really? Where did you get this information? Where can I get this information? I thought it was bad after I had Gia. Now, being pregnant again? It’s worse.

I’m convinced I’ll be in diapers forever after having this baby. ”

I’ll order you the book. Seriously, babe. Life. Changing.”

The rest of the day goes by way too fast, and before I know it, Théodore makes his little grunting noises, telling me he’s struggling to stay awake.

There’s been no yelling or screaming from downstairs, letting me know the conversation between the boys is going well.

Good. Luci couldn’t even stop me from castrating Alessandro if he offended my two men's love for each other.

“Alright, girl. Little man over here is telling me it’s time to go home.

My insurance check finally came in, and I’m going to get a car soon.

After that, I can come over whenever you want.

We need to plan your baby shower and my bachelorette party.

I may be with two different men, but I need to have at least one of the same last names as my son.

And I already promised my hand to Andrea.

Don’t worry, Marco knows, and he’s fine with it.

Promise to amuse me with my party planning? ”

“Always.”

Théodore dozes off and is asleep by the time we get downstairs, proving that the day was way too eventful for him. I can’t wait to have more adventures out of the house with my best friend, watching our babies grow as we raise our children together.