they mistook my kindness for weakness
____
VALENTINA
____
"No, mom, we don't need anything, thank you." I spoke into the phone, as I was taking the pizza out of the oven.
"Are you sure, hon? Alejandro doesn't need any clothes?" my mom said.
"I'm sure, mamá. We're going on Friday; I have enough money to buy him some clothes." I said, silently wincing as the pan holding the pizza burned my arm. I quickly set it on the stove, turned on the tap and let the cold water run over the burn.
"We'll try to come visit next week. Your father has been drowned in work lately, I'm sorry." she said, sighing softly. I know she truly feels bad, because we've seen each other a total of two times since Alejandro was born. I don't have a car, so it's hard for me to travel over there, especially with the current prices of Ubers and taxis. And my mother and father only have one car, which my father usually has with him to work.
"It's okay, mamá. Maybe you guys, or even you, could sleepover as well? Would give us more time to spend together." I suggested. I miss my parents, so I'll take every chance I get to spend time with them.
"Of course, mi preciosa niña." she said, sounding happier already. (my precious girl)
My parents and I don't speak as much spanish to eachother, because they always wanted me to focus on my english, so we eventually just got used to it. We lived in Spain up until I turned 12, then moved here, to California.
I heard Alejandro squirming and whining in his play area, "Mamá, I need to go, Alejandro needs his diaper changed."
"Alright, I'll call you soon. Te amo, cariño." she said.
"Te amo, mamá." I said, hanging up.
I went over to Alejandro and took him in my arms, "Hi mi amor, do you need your diapers changed? Yes, you do!" He giggled adorably, attempting to squish my cheeks with his hands.
I quickly changed his diaper, made my way back to the kitchen to cut the pizza that's hopefully cooled down by now. I was interrupted, by my doorbell ringing.
I went to my door and looked through the peephole. Enzo.
I smiled, opening the locks, and then opening the door. And there he was, in all his glory. Holding a bouquet of roses.
"Enzo! Come in. I just warmed up lunch." I smiled, opening the door wider, so he can get in.
"Valentina, it's lovely to see you. These are for you." he smirked, handing me the flowers as he stepped in.
I smiled, taking the roses from him as he shut the door, and followed me to the kitchen. I laid Alejandro down in his play area and started looking for a vase for the roses. Once I found one, I turned on the faucet to fill up the bottom of the vase with water. I cut off the ends of the roses and set them in the vase.
"Thank you for the flowers, they're gorgeous." I turned to Enzo, who was making himself comfortable on the scrawny kitchen chairs that I have.
"Of course, you deserve the best." he winked.
I turned away, hiding my blush and went to cut the pizza. Once it was cut, I grabbed two plates and two glasses, bringing them to the table. Then I grabbed the pizza, placing it in the middle of the table as I sat down.
"Sorry, I know it's nothing special, but I wasn't expecting you to come over." I chuckled awkwardly.
"Valentina, you could be feeding me dry, uncooked pasta and I'd be the happiest man on earth." he answered, making his way to my fridge, grabbing the bottle of coke and coming back to sit down.
He had such a way with words.
We spent lunch eating and laughing together, I made sure to keep an eye on Alejandro as he was laying in his little play area, swinging the toys around, that were hanging above him. Once we were done, I took our dishes and set them in the sink.
"We could go sit in the living room and maybe watch something? Unless you have anything else in mind." I suggested, picking up Alejandro.
Enzo nodded, getting up and following me to the living room. We sat down on the small couch; I grabbed the remote from the coffee table and handed it to him.
"You can pick."
I set Alejandro into his rocking chair next to the couch and grabbed my laptop from the coffee table. I had forgotten to turn it off earlier.
"What are you writing there?" Enzo asked, glancing at my laptop.
I smiled, "I just like keeping a blog. After Alejandro was born, I started making my blog about, being a single mom and talking about the struggles and victories of it. I add pictures of new clothes I got for him, and once he's old enough to eat solid food, I'll start posting different meal ideas."
"Really? How long have you been writing on this?" he asked, leaning closer to me, his eyes skimming over the screen.
"A few years. I have a pretty big following, and it motivates me to write more. They comment on my blogs, interacting with me and I love reading the positive comments, and people telling their own experiences, giving me recommendations, it all makes me feel a little less alone." I explained, smiling.
"That's amazing. Could I... see some of the pictures? Or, read some of the text?" he asked, a hopeful look in his eyes.
I nodded, "I have a little picture collage at the end of every blog, I can show you the one that I'll add to the end of this one."
"Yes, please, I'd love to see." he smiled.
I showed him the screen, displaying my latest collage of pictures. A few of me and Alejandro, some of the meals I've made, the activities we've gotten up to.
"Do you take lots of pictures of him, or just ones for the blog?" he asked, smiling at the pictures.
"My phone is filled with pictures of him, I photograph him a lot, I guess because I'm scared of forgetting how he was when he was smaller if I don't have the pictures to prove for it." I answered.
He nodded, "I could also take pictures of you guys, so you get more pictures of you and him together."
What the fuck did I do to deserve this man?
"Enzo, I feel like I don't say this enough, but thank you. Seriously. I appreciate you so much. You're a great man, a great person and have been such a big help in the time I've known you." I said, closing my laptop.
"Trust me, Valentina, I am not a great man. But I appreciate you too. I appreciate you trusting me and letting me get to know you and your son." he smiled, leaning back on the couch. He was wearing gray sweatpants and a black tight t-shirt. And when he leaned back the t-shirt got even tighter, showing all of his muscles.
God fucking damn.
How could a human being be so attractive?
"Earth to Valentina." he chuckled, waving his hand in front of my face.
He caught me staring, how fucking embarrassing is that?
I blushed, "Sorry, I was just thinking."
"Thinking about what? Because you seemed a bit flustered there." he teased, moving closer. So close that our thighs were touching.
He was so close. So close that I could feel the warmth radiating off his body.
"What's got you so red, bella?" he smirked, tilting his head.
Our little bubble was broken, when Enzos phone rang.
"Cazzo." he muttered. "Can't these idiots survive a few hours without me?" he got up, groaning, dropping his hand down to adjust his sweatpants.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. I glanced at Alejandro, who was sleeping calmly in his rocking chair.
I decided to turn on some random show on the TV, as I waited for Enzo.
A few minutes later, he came back, sighing.
"I'm sorry, Valentina." he said, looking at me.
"Sorry? For what?" I asked, turning to him.
He had a sad look on his face, "The guys need me at work, I need to go."
Oh.
I nodded, "That's fine." I'll admit it, I was a bit sad. I was looking forward to spending more time with Enzo, but I understand, he has work. We'll have more time to spend together later on.
"I can take you out tomorrow, to make up for it." he suggested.
I shook my head, "No, it's okay. I've got plans with my neighbor, I'll most likely be over at their house most of the day."
"I really am sorry, Valentina." he apologized, again.
"It's okay. Now go, your men need you." I chuckled, getting up and ushering him to the door.
"Keep me updated, on how your day is going, okay?" he smiled.
I nodded, "I will."
He smiled at me, giving me a quick hug before heading out the door.
I guess I'm spending the day alone today.
____
TO BE CONTINUED...