Mena
I stared at my reflection in the mirror of the boutique, the dress hugging my flat belly. “Can you believe there’s a baby in there?” I caught Pilar’s gaze through the mirrors.
It had been a few weeks since everything settled down. Life had returned to normal, or as normal as it could be for us. Domenico and Giulia had returned to Italy, and Alessio was back to his long hours leading the Fanuccis.
“I’m sure it’ll grow,” Pilar smiled. “But have you already thought about what we’re going to do if you go into labor while I’m away on a gig?”
I pouted, as did she. Pilar would soon be heading back home to continue her career, and I understood she had her own life to lead. As much as I wanted her to, she couldn’t stay here forever. The thought of not having her around had already started to make me feel lonely. She wasn’t just a friend, over time she had become like a sister.
She was the one who always had the best advice, the one who made me laugh and forget the stress around me. Who would be there to share these with once she was gone?
Pilar tried to cheer me up. “Don’t pout like that. You have Donni, Dante…Gian,” she chuckled at the last name.
I rolled my eyes. “Be serious.”
Donni and Dante were always by Alessio’s side, and Gian…well, I avoided him like the plague, and until he would give me the apology I deserved, I didn’t want to deal with him. Pilar was smart enough to stay out of it, and he wasn’t a topic we discussed.
My mind drifted to Isaac for a moment, and without realizing, a small smile crept across my lips. Back when I still knew him as Levi, I definitely saw him as the most sane person out of all of them. I didn’t know how he was doing or if Alessio had visited him. The details were vague-and all I knew was that he was alive. For now, knowing that was enough.
“What are you thinking about?” Pilar’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.
“Nothing,” I quickly covered up. “I think I’ll buy this dress, and then we should get something to eat.”
–
After our shopping spree, we were back at the mansion, seated at the table near the pool as we ate our food.
“So, have you thought of any baby names yet?” Pilar asked, sipping her drink.
I shook my head, my mouth full of food. “I’m not good with names,” I confessed after swallowing. “I don’t like making decisions.”
“It’s easy,” Pilar shrugged. “If it’s a girl, you call her Mena Junior, ‘MJ’, and if it’s a boy, you call him Alessio Junior, ‘AJ’.”
I laughed at her suggestion, instantly knowing that would definitely not be it. “Thanks for your suggestion, I’ll keep it in mind.”
Pilar grew a proud look. “It’s kind of messed up your family is not there to support you,” her tone softened.
Somewhere along the way, I had opened up to Pilar much like I had with Alessio, telling her about my family and their lack of presence in my life.
“Maybe,” I responded, pricking a piece of chicken with my fork, “but it’s better that way.”
I thought about my family, and how much of that statement was pure bullshit. It was what I made myself believe to soften the pain. The Fanuccis meant more to me than my own family, and they were good to me-but I also knew that no matter how much they would tell me I was part of the family, it could also be over just like that.
Alessio had his parents and they loved him, but I didn’t even have a Dad-someone I could call my own, who would be there for me unconditionally. There was a time I used to be okay with it, but just like with my first pregnancy-I was once again forced to think about my baby who would not know its grandma, grandpa, cousins…
I sighed, feeling a bit empty as I thought about it. Most Fanuccis had some serious issues, Alessio included-but at least they were there for each other.
“Where is my plate?” Donni’s loud voice broke through.
Pilar rolled her eyes and I let out a laugh. “You can have mine. I’m not that hungry anymore after seeing your face.”
“After seeing my face? You’ll be alright, I mean-Mena’s eating perfectly fine after looking at your face all day,” Donni shot back.
Pilar’s mouth dropped open in shock, while I covered my mouth to hide my giggles. Talking back to Donni was something you didn’t want to start, and I had learned that the hard way. “Don’t laugh, Mena!” Pilar snapped at me. “His joke is just as weak as he is.”
“I’m weak?” Donni smirked, staring into her eyes. Pilar returned his smirk as she hummed. “You heard what I said.”
I continued eating my food, third-wheeling as Donni scooped Pilar up from her chair and threw her over his shoulder. Pilar squealed, “Donni, put me down!”
Donni walked to the pool while she hit his back, repeatedly begging him to let go of her. “Alessio’s inside. He told me to come get you,” Donni called out.
“Thanks,” I said, still chuckling as I watched the scene unfold. One second later, he had really thrown her into the pool-and all I could think was that I was happy it wasn’t me.
“Donni, I’m going to kill you!” Pilar shrieked.
I shook my head, smiling and walked away. As I went around the corner, I almost bumped into a figure. Looking up, I met Gian’s sharp gaze, but he wasn’t looking at me. He was looking at Pilar with Donni.
Served him right. The corners of my lips turned into a smirk.
“Is there something you want from me?” Gian asked dryly. So he did notice me. It was the first words he had said to me since our disagreement.
“No, not really.” I pursed my lips as I shook my head. “I just think it’s funny you’re telling Alessio to keep me in check while…” I gestured to Donni and Pilar, still busy at the pool, using Gian’s own words against him.
Alessio had told me all about that, and we had laughed about it the entire night to the point our stomachs were hurting. Then there was this thing about Alessio turning into a woman’s bitch-just all of it sounded hilarious in my ears.
Gian grunted, clearly not amused. I brushed past him, but before I could completely walk away, he wrapped his hand around my wrist.
“Jimena…”
I smiled, my back turned against him because I knew what was about to come. I would finally receive my well-deserved apology.
“And we’re back to using my government name,” I sang, turning around.
“Mena,” Gian sighed, “Gigi…”
“Yes?”
“I know you don’t want to hear it, but I’m sorry.” I chuckled, taking in the apology. “I’m sorry for the way I treated you, for what I said about you, and for what you might hear I said about you-but all I did was protect my brother.”
“So was I,” I spoke back sharply.
Gian cracked a slight smile. “Good. Then we’re on the same page about that.”
“I guess so.”
Just as I was about to walk away again, he wrapped his hand around me for a second time. “I was also protecting you,” he confessed. “I’m not sure if you’re good for my brother, but there’s something about you…I like having you around.”
I swallowed, not quite knowing what those words meant. First he needed Alessio to keep me in check, and now it was because he ‘liked’ having me around, whatever that was supposed to mean.
I released myself from Gian’s grip and took a step back. “Go after your girl, dude.” I told him. “Pilar’s amazing, so don’t let go of her.”
“I know she is,” he chuckled. “I’m not confessing my love to you or anything.”
“Good, I wouldn’t want that anyway,” I frowned, not remembering ever implying that. “Then if you’ll excuse me.”
I rushed inside, the only thing on my mind was Alessio and how much I had missed him even though I had seen him in the morning. As I reached his office, I heard his voice and knew he was on the phone.
“Just make sure he stays in bed and doesn’t try to get away,” he spoke. I frowned slightly, wondering if he was talking about Isaac.
“I’ll be there tomorrow,” Alessio finished, before ending the call. “You can come in,” he spoke right after.
I pushed open the door, feeling a bit embarrassed-it wasn’t the first time he had caught me eavesdropping, but he didn’t seem to mind. With a wide smile, I ran into his arms and pressed my lips against his.
“I missed you.”
“Yes, me too-but where’s Naty?” Alessio looked behind me with a playful smile.
“School, you know-it’s kind of mandatory and all,” I spoke in a rush. “Anyway, who was that on the phone-are you going to visit…him?”
“Yes, I am,” Alessio cleared his throat, knowing exactly who I was referring to. Isaac.
“Can I come with?”
He chuckled softly. “No,” he brushed a few strands of my hair to the side. “You cannot.”
I sighed. “I knew you were going to say that, but it was worth a try.”
Alessio took my hand in his and squeezed it. “I have to draw a line somewhere,” he spoke. “If I don’t, people might start calling me ‘Mena’s bitch,’ again,” he ended with a chuckle, mocking his brother’s words.
“Can I ask you a serious question?” I brushed his arm with my fingers. “Do you think I influence your decisions, and do you believe you work better with me not around?”
Alessio’s eyes softened, already giving away the answer. It didn’t sting because I knew he was right, I was just a bit curious. “It’s okay, I can respect that,” I said.
Alessio looked surprised, perhaps expecting a different reaction. “Thank you?” he said, sounding unsure.
“No problem,” I bumped his chest with my fist. “Can I at least ask what you and Isaac are going to talk about?”
“No.”
I huffed and folded my arms. “Can you at least give him a message?”
“Depends.”
“I want you to tell him,” I began, lowering my gaze to the floor. “Tell him he was a good friend to me, and that I’m sorry things have to be this way-and tell him that we’ll take care of Jessica and Sam.”
I waited for Alessio’s reaction, but all he did was respond with a hum. As I looked up, I was met with a smirk. “I’m not going over there for tea, Mena,” Alessio spoke. “But I’ll see what I can do.”
Alessio pulled me closer, pressing his lips to my head. “Thank you,” I murmured. “You wanted to see me. What for?”
“I need you and Naty to wear pink Saturday-and don’t ask me why. It’s for a special occasion I’ve delayed for too long.”
“Okay,” I smiled with closed eyes, inhaling his familiar cologne. “Just being able to spend time with you is enough. I won’t ask any questions.”