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But then I ruin it, because I just keep talking. “It’s not like anyone else will want me, anyway, not now.”
Nico frowns. “What are you talking about,principessa?”
My cheeks redden further and my chest constricts at the pet name, and I look down at my feet.
“I mean, I’m all fat and pregnant now. No one will look at me like that.”
“Principessa,” he says, trying to catch my gaze but I won’t look at him. Finally, he cups my chin in his hand, forcing me to look at him. “You’re crazy,” he says softly, almost a whisper. “Any man would be lucky to lay eyes on you.”
My breath hitches in my chest. “You think so?”
“I know so,” he says.
“So, if I meet someone else while I’m pregnant...” I don’t know why I say it. I guess I’m trying to make him jealous, but it doesn’t work because he just looks away.
“You’re a free woman,” he murmurs, and then he walks past me and leaps into the deep end of the pool, swimming quickly, his back muscles rippling.
I look away and sigh, putting my hands to my red cheeks, and I wonder if he’ll visit me tonight. Do I want him to? Do I want to put myself through this all over again?
I glance over at him again, at his body and his handsome face as he comes out of the water at the shallow end, and it feels like there’s something boiling in my lower abdomen.
Yes.I’ll put myself through anything just to be with him, in whatever capacity I can.
I’ll take what I can get.
* * *
I meetFrancesca in the dining room with a plate in front of her and sit down next to her.
“You need to eat something,” Francesca says, but my stomach feels funny after talking to Nico.
“Francesca,” I say seriously. “I need to talk to you.”
She looks up at me from her plate of fruit and slides it to me. “Okay, but you should eat.”
I take a piece of honeydew and eat it slowly, and it does make my stomach feel better.
“This thing with Nico,” I start, and she waves her hand dismissively.
“I’m not upset with you or anything, babes,” she says easily. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“That’s the thing, though,” I argue quietly. “I want to be able to make my own mistakes. I know that I’m not very experienced and that you are, but you makelotsof mistakes.”
Francesca scoffs. “Tell me about it.”
I continue without looking at her. “So, I need to know that you’re not going to interfere. Not with Nico, not with this baby.”
“That baby is my niece or nephew,” she argues. “I’m going to interfere plenty.”
“Okay, fair enough,” I laugh, glancing up at her and she’s looking at me with a little smile.
“You’re gonna be such a good mama,” she says, and tears spring to my eyes.
“I’m glad you think so,” I say softly, sniffling and trying not to cry.
“I know so,” she insists. “You’re such a kind and loving person, Aurora. That’s why I’m worried about you and Nico. He doesn’t feel things the way that you do.”
“I think maybe he does,” I say softly. “He just keeps it buried deep inside.”
