Chapter 32: Chapter Thirty Two

*Gabriela*

She was staying.

And apparently not by choice. Or rather Giovanni requested for her to stay. When I heard the news from Domenico I wasn’t sure on how to feel about it. I decided to stay in my room for the rest of the day not wanting to face Enzo just yet.

I shouldn’t have gotten so angry. But it seemed I just couldn’t help it. It’s not like we were together or started messing around before this manifested. But hearing her claiming that her unborn child was Enzo’s made me feel so envious and jealous. The mere thought of someone else having his baby was slightly driving me up the wall.

All I felt like doing was cry. Hurt like no other was welling inside me and I couldn’t seem to shake it off. And the fact that Enzo hasn’t even bothered to try to come and find me to explain what was going on hurt even more.

Where were the denied accusations? Where were the begging and pleading to not believe such awful lies? The only thing I could think of was the fact that the lies were actually the truth. And that he didn’t want to face me with it.

I hear voices down the hall and find them to belong to that woman and Giovanni. I couldn’t really understand the words since the door and walls were causing the sound to muffle. But just hearing them talk was sending my blood to boil. I didn’t want to hear her voice, or be in her presence, or even have any indication she was here at all.

And then I realize that he was placing her in the room right next to mine. That’s it, lets just make things worst for me. I guess I can at least be thankful that he didn’t place her in a room next to Enzo’s, or worse having them share a room now that they were expecting a child together.

The thought immediately sent a heartbreaking realization that the two of them were going to be a family. Tears finally sprang to my eyes and my chest felt heavy and tight. Through my anger I had hoped that I was wrong, and it was all just some kind of mistake. But if she wasn’t leaving than what did that exactly mean?

I grab my pillow and hug it to my body, then I lay down on my bed as the tears fell. For the first time since my mother’s diagnosis I had finally felt happy, I felt alive once again. Just for it all to come crashing down on me. What was I supposed to do now? I couldn’t stay here watching them get closer and I couldn’t go back to my father’s either.

I had nowhere else to go.

It’s not like my old apartment was still waiting for me. The place was probably already rented out. And even if Enzo went back home taking her with him, there was no way I could stay here any longer. Not with all the new amazing memories we had here. It was all ruined now. I loved Giovanni, but the raw pain is too fresh.

I cried harder. Because I wasn’t just losing a man that I was deeply in love with. I was losing a family that I had adored and cherished since I was thirteen years old. If I had to leave, I wouldn’t have anybody.

A soft knock sounds at my door. I don’t say anything, afraid of who it was.

“Gabriela. Sweetheart?” Pappi Gio.

His voice sounded a bit concerned. Not sure why, it wasn’t like he knew about mine and Enzo’s secret relationship. But I continue to stay silent. I didn’t want him to see me like this. My face was a mess, and one look would tell him everything.

After another few seconds I hear him sigh and walk away.

***

I fell asleep.

I didn’t even realize that I did, my thoughts and emotions had been all over the place. But now my eyes felt puffy, and I had a slight headache from it. My mouth felt dry and my body heavy. So, I just lay there. Blinking I stare out the open curtained windows to see that night has already fallen.

How long was I out?

I go to slowly get up just to find something anchoring me down. I freeze with my mind racing. The room was dark, and the only lighting was the moon’s ray. I hitch a breath when that anchor starts gently squeezing me to them. Closing my eyes I couldn’t help inhaling his intoxicating scent, the natural scent of my Enzo.

My eyes pop open with that thought. But was he still my Enzo?

Unwanted tears came rushing forward again and I tried everything to get them to stop before they spilled over. Clamping my eyes shut tightly, I try to even out my breathing. I don’t know how long I laid there letting him hold me like this. My heart wouldn’t stop pounding and the fact he ignored my demand to not come looking for me I couldn’t help but be glad that he didn’t actually listen to that demand.

“We need to talk about what happened earlier Gabby.” He suddenly whispers softly next to me.

I jolt at the words, so much for pretending I was still asleep. That movement gave it away when I heard what he said. The problem is, I didn’t want to talk about it. Not now, not ever. But he wasn’t going to let me off the hook that easily. It was Enzo after all.

He squeezes me to him even tighter, his face burying into the side of my neck and inhaling deeply. I couldn’t help closing my eyes basking in his warmth feeling weak and helpless against him. Damn, I was such a sucker for this man.

I should be angry. I should jet off this bed and demand him not to touch me. I should yell and scream at him for what was happening to us. But I just couldn’t. I was hopelessly, undeniably, disgustingly, in love with him that even the simple sound of his voice turned me into putty.

As much as I didn’t want to talk about it, I needed answers and where we go from here. So, I turn around in his embrace to look at him. How could someone be this freaking handsome even when there was hurt and sadness in his eyes?

For a long moment we just stared at each other, neither of us saying a word. I wasn’t sure if he was just trying to gather the right words to tell me that he needed time away from me to figure things out or simply end it here for good. The thought brought more tears to my eyes.

He gently reaches up and wipes the tears from my eyes and says, “I’m sorry, she shouldn’t have told you something like that without getting the facts right.”

I sniff, frowning at his meaning. What did he mean by that?

Seeing my confusion he keeps going. “She’s speculating, Gabby. I’m not going to lie and say that I didn’t sleep with her. It was a one night thing that happened months ago. It didn’t even mean anything, and I barely even know her.”

“Then why is she still here?” I whisper, my voice sounding a bit raw from the tears.

“Nonno wanted to be a hundred percent sure that I’m not the father to her baby. This isn’t the first time that some random woman came to me stating that I gotten them pregnant. I was able to prove them all wrong and I will with this one too.”

He sounded a bit bitter and angry. So, he’s dealt with this situation before? Multiple times at that?

“But why would she lie about something like this?”

He sighs deeply, rubbing his face in exhaustion. “The thing is I’m rich, have connections, and my family is very well known in the community. They figured since I’m the next in line to be head of the Giordano’s that I’m a fine catch. So, they think if I sleep with them that I might catch feelings and if I don’t they come up with this type of bullshit.”

I frown deeper. He didn’t think this about me, did he?

As if sensing my train of thoughts he squeezes me tighter. “You are the only woman that’s never crossed my mind that would ever do something like that. You’re special to me Gabby. More special than anyone else has ever been. Aside from my mother.” He shrugs at that last part.

But I couldn’t stop the water works at the depth of his meaning. I was special to him. Special enough to gain his love though? That’s all I wanted from him; it was all I ever wanted from him. But I still couldn’t help asking,

“What if I came to you and told you I was pregnant? How would you react?” My heart slams against my chest afraid of his answer.

“I’ve always thought I would be an infinite bachelor. No strings attached, no one holding me down and definitely no repeats.” He says softly.

My heart squeezes with hurt from the start of his sentence but then becomes a little confused with hope.

No repeats…but we…

When I look into his eyes they were soft and held so much emotion.

“I meant it Gabby. You’re special to me.” He leans his hand down to my abdomen, slipping it under my shirt causing my breath to hitch as he tenderly grazes a finger over my skin there.

“If you were to become pregnant, I wouldn’t hesitate at all and there would be absolutely no doubt in my mind whatsoever. Before you I didn’t entertain the thought of having a family. I didn’t want one because there wasn’t a woman around that could make me think otherwise. But then you came back into my life switching that instantly.”

He pushes me back against the mattress, leaning over me as our lips were so close to one another’s, my heart hammering away, my nerves coming alive as my blood flowed with so much feeling.

“I love you, Gabby. Never forget that.”

Then he captures my lips in such tenderness that I wanted to cry even more. He loves me. My entire body felt like flying. The joy pierces through me that I felt like nothing could break through. I clutch his body closer to mine, the desire replacing all the doubts and hurt I just had previously.

Maybe I was a fool to fall for his words, but at this point I just didn’t care. Because I truly believed them. Enzo isn’t the type of person to spout things he truly didn’t mean. He said he loves me and I completely, wholeheartedly believe him.

He was mine. I was his. And nothing was going to change that.