Chapter 59

Lounging between Jake’s legs on the huge sofa in the family room feels amazing after the events of the day before. My head against his chest, he concentrates on a document in his hand and strokes my hair and neck with the other. I’m attempting to read a book, but the sheer blissfulness of our morning has me daydreaming idly instead. Every so often, he plants a kiss on top of my head before turning his papers and silently focusing back on work— he’s reading through contracts for something I’ve no idea about.

When did this happen? When did I become so disconnected from the business side that I don’t even know what Jake’s reading through anymore?

I realize it doesn’t bother me; I like lying here detached from work while he still keeps tabs on things in his empire. At this rate, I’m in danger of becoming a kept girlfriend, and I’m not sure how I feel about it.

A few minutes past ten, the maid comes in and leaves us a tray with fresh coffee and bagels. We were up early for breakfast, revived, even with a lack of sleep, both in the happiest of moods and playful, tickling, and play-fighting as we walked through the house.

Jake sighs heavily.

“This is the agreement with Marissa.” He strokes my face again as he feels me tense up. “I called the legal team and requested a new meeting to discuss the DNA test and some other minor details in the draft Marissa’s lawyer sent me.”

I curl around to my side to look up at him; he smiles when we lock eyes.

That beautiful face.

“You look relaxed today.” Leaning down, he kisses my nose, bringing out a smile from me, despite his mention of her.

“I feel it.” I sigh and tug the corner of the document he’s holding slightly to the side. “What details?” I remind him of his topic. He sighs heavily again.

“I’m refusing to fly to LA every month for classes. She has no commitments as I do, so it makes more sense if she relocates to New York until after the birth. That way, I can fit her into my schedule, not vice versa.” I look at the paper rather than him, aware of how much it still aches to talk about this and swallow it down. I know he has to go to LA again soon for the first of the maternity meets, but with things still in limbo, he’s refused to do anything until this is settled. My hatred for her never ceases to eat at me.

“Why is she making this more awkward?” I ask finally, once I have my emotions fully under control.

“Marissa likes to think she’s in control. She likes to play stupid games.” I watch his mouth and inwardly blanch. He has no idea how ironic his statement is. I wonder if Marissa’s games in the past were the start of Jake’s need always to have the upper hand.

“She wants you to jump through hoops and agree to anything she decides?” I push my other thoughts away, trying hard to commit to talking about this; he obviously wants to.

“I guess. She doesn’t know me very well then, does she, bambina?” He winks at me, and, despite myself, I smile. It’s true. She has no idea what she’s up against with him. He isn’t a fifteen-year-old boy anymore, and if she hasn’t known him since he grew up, then she is about to get a rude awakening.

Jake will wipe the floor with you, sweetie!

“No, she doesn’t,” I admit with a degree of somberness, which makes him frown at me; he leans down and gives me an almost upside-down kiss on the mouth, sticking his tongue in unexpectedly and then licking my chin playfully. I squeal in disgust and wriggle to get free, trapped in his muscular arm. He nibbles my cheek before releasing me and then hauling me up against him from where I had slid down, grinning at me. He’s been playful all morning, and, despite the shitty topic of conversation, that little maneuver is just one of many similar instances since dawn. He's in affection overdrive to make up for yesterday.

“I’m done with negotiating with her. Most of her demands are plain stupid. She’s acting like a woman in a relationship.” He closes the papers and throws them onto a nearby table with a dramatic inhale. “It’s not even close to what I’ll agree to.”

“I thought you sorted things out when you flew out there?” I nestle my head in his neck again, a little less likely to run and hide with the topic being opened again, adamant I need to try to face this. Knowing how he feels about it has helped me, taking some of the sting out. Or maybe I am just starting to get used to the idea that this is happening after all.

“We did, to an extent; the basics were agreed on. Marissa keeps adding demands anytime we get close to signing, and now she wants me to spend a weekend a month in her condo with her, going to maternity and parenting classes, plus an additional day every two weeks, going to some bonding shit so that we will work together for the sake of the baby. I don’t know what she’s been smoking, but she can forget it.” He wraps both arms around me tightly and squeezes me hard.

“Sounds like she just wants excuses to have you with her.” I pout jealously, anger overtaking me and filling my stomach with a heavy knot of hatred.

“Well, she can try.” He lifts me, sliding his legs under me, so I sit on him, my head slightly higher than his. I open my legs to sit more comfortably on top of him, still being spooned by his body.

“Are you going to come with me this time?” he says in his serious tone, and despite really trying to agree, I shake my head. I still can’t do this. He sighs but says nothing.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, leaning my head against his cheek, heavy with overwhelming guilt. But I just can’t. It’s still too soon, too raw for me.

“I understand, bambina. If it were a role reversal, I wouldn’t be able to handle it either.” He hugs me tight before getting up and sliding me onto the couch. “I need to go make some calls; I’ll be in our room if you want me.” He leans down and kisses me on the mouth before turning and lifting a coffee and a bagel. “Go roam the gardens or take a swim; no one shows their face until noon around here on weekends.” He walks off and throws me back a smile with a glint of wickedness in it. “Or maybe come see me in a little while, and I’ll occupy you.” With a wink, he’s gone, and I’m left to lie back on the cream-plush settee and stretch out like a satisfied cat.

***

I take a walk in the gardens and gaze at the view of the distant shoreline visible from the Carrero home. It’s peaceful and sunny despite the late season. The view is so beautiful and calming. I’m surprised to hear footsteps lightly coming up behind me and turn in curiosity; a smile breaks across my face as I see Sophie start running toward me at full pelt with a massive grin on her face. Turning with complete joy, I grin back and am soon met with the crushing hug of an overexcited teenager.

“Oh, my God, it’s so good to see you again,” she gushes, looking every bit the pampered and tanned socialite, a far cry from the skinny tomboy in oversized clothes of weeks ago. My heart swells at the sight of her.

“You look so healthy and happy.” I hold back the emotions that threaten inside of me, hugging her back with equal force, tears brimming in my eyes; she looks so good, it’s painful. Happiness is bursting out of me in every direction. Her tawny hair is highlighted and silky around a plumper face, deliciously tanned, and sporting hints of makeup.

“I can’t ever thank you and Jake enough for how my life has turned out, Emma. I can’t believe you’re actually here. I almost died of happiness when I got Jake’s text.” She releases me, her eyes raking me over with appreciation; it’s obvious she can see the change in me too, just like everyone else.

“I’m happy to hear you’re doing well here, Sophie. I must say, you look completely different.” I lift her hand and make her twirl under my arm, all skinny jeans and a flattering sparkly T-shirt with a bold logo. Her body has filled out from a better living, losing the unhealthy gauntness of Chicago.

“Likewise.” She giggles and hugs me again for added measure, her energy infectious, and soon we’re walking along, hand in hand, catching up with anything we forgot to add in our emails.

Sophie is infectious, her happiness brimming over into every word and mannerism. I can see Leila’s influence in the quirky Converse with animal print laces and the sparkling diamantes on her jeans. Leila always liked a little bit of showiness.

We make our way back to the main house, lost in easy conversation.

“There she is!” Jake’s deep voice catches us both, and Sophie beams at him; she doesn’t, however, close the gap between them the way she did with me, and it’s the first time I see she has that same distance with males that afflicts me. It causes me a moment of pain, a flicker of heartache for her.

Jake strides forward, giving her a light hug quickly before releasing her and planting a kiss on me. He makes me blush unashamedly with the sheer passion in its brief touch.

“Well, look at you two nowadays.” Sophie giggles with open-eyed wonder. “Nice to see that you finally stopped fighting it and just got around to giving her a good kiss.” She laughs as I throw a jab at her shoulder, and she ducks away.

“What are you—all of fourteen?” I giggle, affected by her youthful fun so easily.

“Can I just point out that I never fought it.” Jake smiles, the face of a boy trying to earn points. “I always tried like a bear.” Coming beside me, he slides an arm around my shoulders, his other hand in his pocket. Sophie regards him thoughtfully and smiles with maturity.

“The thing is, with girls like us…sometimes it takes a lot to trust people. We need the ones who try like a bear to get in.” She throws me a bashful look, and we exchange a smile of solidarity. A blush rises on Sophie’s face that hints at a double meaning, but I let it slide.

Jake says nothing but kisses me on the temple; no explanation is required.

He definitely is someone who tried like a bear.

“So, who’s ready for lunch because I’m starving?” he cuts in with good humor after a few seconds and is delighted to get two very strong ~me’s.~

***

Sophie is easily integrated into the Carrero family lunch; it’s obvious that she’s a frequent visitor, the Huntsberger family home being a mere walk away from here. Sylvana clucks over her like a mother hen, and family and friends pull her into easy conversation on topics they seem to already know about. Arrick places her beside him throughout lunch, and it’s easy to see the rapport they have already built, his touch causing her no hesitation. A very brotherly Arrick is watching over her as Jake did for me. I wonder if he’s Sophie’s ‘bear’ that caused her to blush.

We’re all sitting around a garden table that’s big enough to seat about twenty people or more and eating a light chicken salad lunch with lots of side dishes. Jake’s beside me with a casual arm around the back of my chair, already full from the huge mountain of food he inhaled the minute he sat down, while the rest of us ate more slowly and made polite conversation. He’s lazing in his chair and laughing at whatever Arrick (or “Arry” as Sophie keeps uttering) is saying to the left of him.

The bustling noise of this family is a joy to be a part of, having grown up with just my mother. It’s a little overwhelming but so enjoyable, a complete contrast to my life in my own family. The conversations are littered with fluent Italian and English, and it seems not one of them knows how to speak without talking over each other and butting in from every direction. They are a fun and verbal family, and I now know where Jake learned the art of being social and found his confidence. They also endlessly touch one another, prod, poke, and push, or throw sarcastic gestures around. I absolutely love them all.

His fingers trail up my back, and I throw him a sweet smile.

“You must have been hungry.” He grins, watching me clear my plate for the second time. Lately, I’ve been ravenous at meals.

“I told you I was starving.” I shrug defensively, wondering if he’s having doubts about me staying thin. I put my fork down, feeling that bite of anxiety.

“Don’t stop on my account… I like seeing you well-fed, bambina.” He kisses me lightly and runs a finger across my cheek with a smile.

“Voi due siete così appassionati di belle, mi fa così caldo dentro,” Alessandra gushes toward us, but I can only look in confusion as Jake smiles at her.

“È facile amare, Emma, non ho potuto chiedere per una ragazza più perfetta,” Jake responds with a look toward her then at me, complete infatuation sweeping his expression, but I just stare at him, completely lost.

“What now?” I burst into laughter, and he shakes his head, leaning close to talk quietly.

“Alessandra is envious of how we are together. She appreciates people in love.” He kisses me on the corner of the mouth; a rise of inner warmth spreads through me and makes me blush.

“And you said?” I tease playfully.

“That it’s easy to love you…because you’re perfect.” He grins, and this time it’s me that throws a kiss on him with a smile of complete devotion.

Smooth! My man is so smooth; he’s slick!

“You’ve no idea how perfect you can sometimes be,” I gush. “Sometimes, it’s easy to love me.” I correct him and get a look of agreement in response. “Hey!” I protest with mock outrage, but he pulls me into a headlock and devours me with nibbling kisses across my face and cheek, which has me squealing for help. No one at the table does, but I catch Sylvana watching us with extreme glee on her face.

“Mio figlio, così innamorato,” she gestures at Jake as most of the table turns and smiles at us, and I can only assume she’s happy that he finally settled down with one woman. It makes me all warm inside. Jake slides his hand down my arm and squeezes me against him, beaming with pride.

What’s with this family talking Italian, though, when it’s obviously about us?