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“I know that you’ve always had a little crush on him,” Francesca mumbles, pacing around my bedroom. “But I never thought it was anything serious. I never thoughthewould—”
“Never thought he would what, Francesca? Notice me?” Anger rises in my blood as I look at her. Perfect Francesca never had any issues being seen, never had any issues finding any number of boyfriends. And I’m all grown up and no longer jealous of that. She’s always had everything, and well.... I haven’t. But at least I’ve stayed true to myself.
“That’s not what I meant and you know it, Aurora,” Francesca argues, but I’m angry now, and I can’t stop the words coming out of my mouth.
“You just can’t stand the idea that I might have someone, can you?” I accuse. “You can’t stand the idea that maybe someone wants me.”
“Nico? Why would he—” she starts, and I cut her off.
“Get out, Francesca,” I say coldly.
“Aurora, please,” she pleads. “Let’s just talk about this.”
I shake my head. “Not right now. I can’t talk about this right now, maybe ever.” I put my hand on my stomach, rubbing it unconsciously.
Francesca looks down at the gesture and I see the realization in her eyes.
“Oh my god,” she whispers. “Don’t tell me that he...he knocked youup?”
“It wasn’t like that, Francesca, he didn’t do it on purpose!” I defend him, and Francesca snorts.
“Sure, he tripped and fell into your—”
“Stop it,” I cut her off. “Don’t be crude.”
Francesca throws her hands up in exasperation. “I don’t know how else to be, Aurora. I can’t believe that my brother took advantage of your crush and got youpregnant.”
“It takes two to tango, Francesca,” I snap. “And I wasn’t exactly just lying there like a starfish.”
Francesca blanches, looking at me. “You tell me everything, Aurora. You always have. Why wouldn’t you tell me this?”
“Because I knew that you would act like this! I knew that you’d hate it,” I try to explain, taking in deep breaths and feeling dizzy. I don’t want to lose her friendship but I also want to stand up for myself. I want to stand up for Nico.
“Nico is going to break your heart, honey,” Francesca says softly. “That’s why I don’t want you with him.”
He already did, I think, but I don’t say it, gritting my teeth and fighting back tears.
“That’s my problem.” I sigh. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” I say finally, my voice shaking. “But I have a right to be happy, and I want this baby.”
Francesca looks at me for a long moment and then stalks out of the door, shutting it behind her. I sigh again. Francesca can be a bit of a brat, but I hope that she comes around. After all, I want her to be the aunt this baby deserves.
I try to calm down, taking deep breaths, and then I follow her out into the hallway. She’s not there, but I hear yelling coming from Nico’s room and I roll my eyes.
I decide that I need to decompress and I walk down the stairs and out toward the pool. My father is there, in a pair of swimming trunks, his feet in the water. He’s had plenty to drink and I can tell by the glassy look in his eyes, but he’s not a big drinker so I’m not worried.
I wish I could have a glass of wine myself.
It’s been a really long few weeks.
My father smiles at me as I kick off my shoes and sit next to him, putting my feet in the water next to his.
“Glad to have you back,carissima,” he mumbles, and I lean my head against his shoulder, seeking comfort.
He puts an arm around me, and it feels nice to have this moment with him. We don’t have many father/daughter moments. Usually we’re in the same house but doing different things. He won’t let me in to the things he gets up to, the things he’s not supposed to be doing because he has a bad heart. He’s still very much in the life despite his ailing health, and I know that.
But it’s the way that we make money. The alternative is what, he gets a regular job? Minimum wage because he’s never finished school? It’s not like he’s going to do that, so I try not to complain. But I worry about him.
“How’s the ticker?” I ask him quietly.
