Page 86 of A Treasure To Keep (Leone Legacy #2)

Andrea

L uci and El went upstairs with the babies, leaving Marco and me with Alessandro. Marco has poured his second drink, and I’ve concluded that he needs the liquid courage to tell his best friend that he’s with not only El, but me, too.

I’ve always known I’ve been attracted to men and women since I was a boy.

When I casually mentioned it, ma mère simply said, ‘Okay. Do you want lunch?’ and we went on with our day.

I can only imagine what it’s like to realize you’re in love with a man when you’re thirty.

To top it off, you have to tell your best friend who’s known you since you were a kid.

Alessandro is scanning through something on his phone, and I’m only guessing he’s peeking in on the cameras in Gia’s nursery. No sound is coming from his phone, making me wonder if he has the sound off or if there’s no sound to begin with.

The silence is defining. We need something to happen before the opportunity passes to have the conversation.

“With having a newborn at home, I’ve forgotten to congratulate you on baby number two. How far along is Luci?” Alessandro switches his focus from his phone to me, locking it before sliding it into his pocket.

“Thank you, Andrea. We’re estimating about sixteen weeks based on how she’s measuring.

Luci found out she was pregnant right before El’s baby shower.

This pregnancy has been vastly different.

She has more energy, she hasn’t been sick, and she’s not as emotional.

She’s had more eyes on her this time around, too.

” Luci ran off with her grandfather the night she found out she was pregnant, separating the two of them for several months.

I noticed immediately that Enzo followed the two ladies upstairs.

I’m not surprised he’s got her on lockdown during this pregnancy.

“Good. I’m happy for you two. Marco, El, and I have news too.” Marco stops mid-sip, not expecting me to bring this up randomly. The whole point of coming over here was to have this conversation.

Alessandro is hyperaware of the room, noticing how Marco tenses. “And? Are we pausing for dramatic effect?”

“No. Since Théodore was born, we’ve put any animosity we have toward each other to the side.

At first, it was to care for our son. Over time, we let down our walls, giving us the freedom to express ourselves.

We’ve even added a clause to our agreement stating that all three of us are legally Théodore’s parents. ”

“Then the three of you are co-parenting? That’s good.”

“Not exactly. The point I’m trying to make is that we’re together. The three of us.” Now Alessandro is the one pausing for dramatic effect. I can see Marco’s knees bouncing out of the corner of my eye. His knees stop the second Alessandro turns his head toward him, before turning back to me.

“Do you mean a love trio situation? Marco has threesomes all the time.” I’m sure he does.

“Yes. Not quite in the way you’re thinking. All three of us are together. Marco, El, and I are in a relationship.”

Alessandro finally gets the memo, switching his focus back to Marco as he continues to sit in the chair. “Is this true?”

Finally, Marco gets the courage, sitting up straight and tilting his chin up. I smile, internally cheering him on as he expresses himself for who he is. “Yes. I’m with a man and his fiancée. Is that a problem?”

Instantly, Alessandro responds with no hesitation in his voice. “No. Why would it be?”

Marco furrows his brows, somehow confused by Alessandro’s acceptance. Was he hoping for a different reaction? “Because I’m a dude.”

“Andrea is, too. I never expected this from you. You’re my best friend, though. If being with both of them makes you happy, who am I to judge? I’m more surprised you and El can be together without you losing your dick. Hasn’t she spent the last few years threatening to castrate you?”

Marco blinks rapidly, and I wonder if he’s trying to blink back tears. I know how important both Alessandro and Geno are to him. They’re the closest thing to family he has. Until now. Now he has El, Théodore, and me.

Marco suddenly stands, closing the gap between him and Alessandro. He wraps his big arms around Alessandro, holding him in place as Alessandro’s face flattens. Unless it’s Luci or Gia, Alessandro isn’t a man who enjoys affection.

Marco clears his throat, moving his lips to the shell of Alessandro’s ear, and whispers. “Yes, she has. Yet, my dick still exists.”

Alessandro shakes Marco off him, stepping back and straightening his shirt sleeves. “Get off me, you weirdo. Why are we friends?”

A deep chuckle reverberates from Marco’s chest as he laughs. If there’s anyone he picks on more than El, it’s Alessandro. “Because Geno and my papa made us. After you punched me, might I add?”

Alessandro goes to argue when the girls come downstairs, Théodore sleeping soundly in El’s arms. Her body language and the high-pitched laugh make it obvious she needed this. Needed some real social interaction outside of the three men in her life.

I take a mental note to ensure she has more time with Luci, James, and her other close friends. I’ll talk to Marco about us taking Théodore for the day once a month, minimum. She needs this time to relax. To have some sort of normalcy.

I walk up to El, slowly grabbing Théodore and transferring him into the car seat. Other than doctor's appointments, he hasn’t left the apartment much. Today was an eventful day for such a small baby.

We say our goodbyes, heading out to Marco’s truck, and all load up. Things are calm and content on the drive home. Théodore sleeps, the slight whistle of his nose the only noise in the car.

I meet El’s eyes through the rearview mirror. The smile she gives me is rare. A mix of content and joy.

“You needed today.” El places her left hand in mine when I reach back. I find her ring, stroking right below it.

“I did. You three are great, but it’s nice to see someone who doesn’t have a dick.”

“Does that mean you don’t want to see my dick?” I need to talk to Marco about interrupting sweet moments. I swear his default mode is picking on El.

She rips her hand out of mine, turning her body to the left as she yells at the back of Marco’s head.

If he wasn’t driving, I’m sure he would turn around to argue with her face-to-face.

“Shut up, Marco. If you’d rather not have one, you can place it on the cutting board, and I’ll cut it off.

You can have it as a nice little dessert. ”

“Little? Don’t call Little Marco little.” His face twists in offense at El’s statement.

“What do you mean? You just did! Also, who names their dick?”

They spent the rest of our drive arguing about nothing, with some threats dropped in there for pizzazz.

Surprisingly, Théodore sleeps through this, not even shifting his head slightly.

He's not even three months old, and he’s adapted to the same unconventional relationship we have.

If there’s one thing I know about his life, it is that it will never be boring.

Our lives will never be boring. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

When we arrive home, I grab Théodore, carrying him upstairs and into the apartment. He’s still sleeping soundly when I transfer him to his crib.

El and Marco continue arguing in our living room when I gently close the door, aware that their argument is getting louder.

El has her finger pressed firmly against Marco’s chest when I walk into the living room, reminding him about the new movie he watched without her the other day.

According to her part of the argument, he did it on purpose, yet Marco denies it.

I’m on Marco’s side, even though I’ll never tell El that.

They attempt to talk over each other, a sign that no one will win this argument. At this point, there’s only one way to get them to stop arguing and get them to scream my name instead.

I grab both of their hands, getting them to focus their attention on me instead of each other.

“Hey, you both. I love you.” I lean down, kissing El enough that her knees shake.

“And I love you.” Forcing Marco to bend slightly to kiss me back.

“We all know no one’s winning this argument. Let’s make love instead.”

They let me lead them to our room, where we make love. Until five minutes later, when Marco’s dick is pressed against my lips, and Théodore wakes up.

El leaves the room first, heading into Théodore’s nursery, followed by Marco and I once we have our clothes on. I’m the last one in his nursery to take in the scene. The three people I love.

Marco leans over the crib, grabbing Théodore before he holds him close to his chest. On the other side of the room, El gets out a new outfit, prepared to change and dress him.

“Is something wrong?” El’s focus changes from the sleeper she’s picked out to me when Marco speaks. A flash of worry sparks on her face when she chews on her lip, concerned versus Marco’s curiosity.

I shake my head, stepping from the doorway into the room where they both stand.

El, Marco, and I surround the changing table with Théodore in the middle of us.

I reach out to Théodore’s hand, letting him wrap his hand around my finger.

I stare at him while I speak to the people I love.

“No. I’m basking in the bliss of my family. Is there something wrong with that?”

“Absolutely not.”