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“I’ll try not to, although it’s been a long fucking time,” he snorts. “Are you sure that you want to? I don’t mind waiting, Soph. I just want to make sure that you’re ready.”
“I’m ready and I want to.Reallywant to,” I say, reaching up on my tiptoes to kiss him.
“When is your Ma dropping by? She wanted to see the ultrasound pictures.”
“Next week,” he says a little stiffly.
I won’t pretend that Rocco has become a saint overnight or changed every flaw about him, but he has definitely come a long way from that night in the hospital room. He is trying, and that is what counts. He even gave his, albeit reluctant, blessing for Lucia and Franco to get engaged after a bit of persuasion from me. Rocco has even made good on his promise to meet with his mama. She explained to him that she was sorry for leaving him. She had been barely eighteen and in a marriage that confused and terrified her.
She never wanted to leave Rocco but she thought her staying would harm him more. When she was in a better place to come back, his Nonna refused to let her back into Rocco’s life, so she thought she would start writing to him instead but was heartbroken thathe never responded.
I was there the first time she met with him, and I could see he was moved by her tears and the fact that she wouldn’t let go of his hand. After that day, she regularly visits at least once a week. Rocco hasn’t told me verbally that he forgives her, but their newfound closeness implies it.
“Maybe you don’t start with forgiveness, you just start with acceptance,” I said to him on the first night they met.
“I guess so.”
“Did it open some past wounds?” I asked gently.
“A little,” he said uncomfortably.
“I just wish Nonna told me that she-—Ma tried to come back for me. I would have felt different. I spent all these years thinking she never wanted me, that she had another son, another family that she wanted better than me.”
“I guess she thought she was stopping you from being hurt all over again, but it’s done now, Rocco, and she’s so happy she can be a part of your life and her grandson’s life.”
“Yeah,” he said noncommittally.
“Rocco,” I smile, rolling my eyes, “don’t be so closed-minded.”
“I’ll try,” he said, winking at me.
I sit in my study, nodding along to Tysen’s raspy voice through the receiver. Although he is a complete jackass at the best of times, he is still one of my best friends and he has pulled off a massive surprise that I can’t wait to unveil to Sophia.
Sophia walks into the room, and I can tell she is automatically suspicious of the grin on my face as she pauses to study me. She moves her hand to her bump, a familiar reflex, whenever the baby kicks. When I first felt him kick, it was a feeling of joy that nothing else could match. A lot had happened since I brought her home from the hospital, but I always knew we would make it through. I won’t let anything tear us apart. Even reconciling with Ma was a step I took for her. Though I was glad I finally understood why she left, it still confused me about my feelings on the situation and I was still processing it all.
“Asshole, are you still listening to me, or are you in the land of fucking fairies? I still can’t believe you want to do this all again,” Tysen says, breaking through my thoughts in his usual blunt tone.
“I’ll see you on Friday,” I say, smirking. “Trust me, nobody is more surprised than I am.”
“Who was that?” Sophia asks, leaning on my desk.
“Why, don’t you trust me?” I say, raising an eyebrow.
“Well, yeah,” she hesitates.
“Sore subject, I guess,” I say, sighing.
“It’s not perfect, but it’s a work in progress,” she says, tiptoeing to kiss me.
“You said something earlier about sex being back on the table?” I say, pulling her closer to me.
“Yes, just don’t go handcuffing me to the bed or anything.”
“Damn, there goes my night,” I say, breathing in her musky scent.
“Follow me,” she says, leading me upstairs slowly. “I don’t think I can quite pull off the sexy strip tease I did in Capri but just pretend I have my old body.”
“You look perfect baby,” I say pulling her on top of me as we fall on the bed.
