"I'm sorry," I said softly, staring at my bare feet as I recalled the events from the day before that caused me to retreat inside my shell.
I looked up to find his eyes on me, scanning me to make sure I was really all right. He studied my face for a few seconds before using a more gentle tone. "What happened? Why weren't you picking up?"
A heavy sigh left my mouth and I moved over to the couch where I plopped down. He sat close by in the armchair, still watching me. When I didn't readily answer his question, he spoke again. "I apologize for dropping in on you like this, but I did try to call first."
I dismissed his apology with a wave. It made sense that he stopped over, especially seeing as how I probably scared him by not at least shooting him a text to say I was okay.
"It's fine," I assured him, but didn't add anything else.
His heavy stare could be felt. One thing that stood out about him was how commanding his presence was at times, even when he wasn't trying. Like now. All he did was watch me while he waited for further explanation, but I could hardly sit still with his eyes on me.
"You're feeling okay? Is it the headaches again? The dizziness?" were his next questions when I couldn't find my words.
I blew out a breath. There had been another episode, but I didn't feel like getting into that. Every time I went to see my doctor, my blood pressure had been slightly elevated and that was likely the culprit for the spell I had last night as well. There was definitely a link between my stress level and how good or bad I felt.
"I'm fine," I finally answered, but lowered my head right after.
I heard Marco take a breath from his seat. "I know there's more you're not saying, but it's not my business. As long as you and the baby are good, I won't press you. I just didn't know what to think when I couldn't get you on the phone."
I appreciated him not pushing me for details. Yesterday and that meeting were things I wanted to forget. Marco and I sat there in silence for a moment, but my question interrupted it.
"Don't you have to be at work soon?" I asked, feeling guilty. Most likely this little detour would make him late. I'd gotten his routine down somewhat over the weeks, based on our phone schedule. We'd usually text during the week on my lunch break and sometimes once at night. Then, Saturday mornings I'd get a quick text on his drive in to the shop-nothing formal, just his usual, ‘Hey, how're you feeling? Do you need anything,' message. Sometimes, I'd beat him to the punch and let him know I was awake and doing well before he asked.
"It's fine. I have Pete opening up for me so I could come see about you," he answered.
Yeah, I definitely wouldn't dismiss his phone calls again. I got the impression my lapse in judgment had interrupted his life quite a bit.
"I feel terrible for making you come here. Yesterday was just … it was a long day," I concluded, not wanting to say much more than that.
He shook his head. "As long as you and my little princessa are okay, you don't need to explain."
Despite the bad mood I was in, I smiled at that, his nickname for her.
Marco smiled back, gesturing toward my tummy when he asked his next question. "Has she still been moving?"
I gave a nod. "Every so often. Actually, when you first came in and spoke I felt her."
His smile widened and mine did, too, at the sight of it. It was incredible the turn he'd taken, how on board he was with being a father now. In a matter of a few months, he'd done a complete one-eighty.
His stare lingered on my stomach for a moment and it dawned on me he'd never touched it before, had never gotten to feel his daughter growing inside there. When we went for the ultrasound weeks ago, he'd asked me then to loosen up around him. This wasn't just my experience, it was his, too, and I didn't want him to miss a minute of it. Not seeing as how he was more than willing to be involved.
"Would you like to feel it?" I asked, bringing his eyes back to mine. "I mean, I can't guarantee she'll kick or that it'll be strong enough for you to feel even if she does, but … you can try if you want to."
His expression softened and my heart fluttered. Without words, Marco stood from his seat and he came closer as I got up from the couch. I undid the tie of my robe and let it fall open, revealing my rounded tummy through my thin, cotton nightgown. Normally, I wouldn't have been this comfortable with a man I'd known for such a short time, but Marco wasn't just some guy.
He was close enough now that I picked up on the hint of spearmint on his breath and his mellow cologne. Keeping my eyes fixed on the tattoos on his arm helped distract me from the way heat crept up my legs, and then the rest of me, just because he was in my personal space. Looking down on me, both his hands went to my stomach. Right away, his warmth penetrated my skin.
Air left my lungs erratically and I hoped he didn't notice. My breasts heaved up and down as I stood there trying to pretend not to like the way his hands felt on me. That had been one of the few things that stuck with me from that night and for good reason. A flash of us, a memory from our encounter, flooded my mind out of nowhere and I heard the sound of my own cries of pleasure as I breathed them into the crook of his neck, feeling the velvety texture of his hair against my face. The intensity of the flashback nearly made me snatch away from him, but I somehow held my composure and managed to stay close.
Minus a bra, my nipples hardened beneath my gown and I felt myself getting wetter as the seconds ticked past. This pregnancy had me horny all the time anyway, but not like this. This was all because of him. Every freakin' time.
"I think I felt her," he said in a low, gruff voice. The sound of it always sent a chill through me.
I nodded to confirm, letting him know I felt it, too. He shook his head as the corner of his mouth turned up into a smile, completely unaware of the sensations such a simple touch had ignited inside me.
"That's incredible."
Again, all I did was nod, grateful when he pulled his hands away and I was able to re-secure my robe. I instantly moved back to the couch, putting a fair amount of distance between us.
"I swear it seems like I just saw you, but you're showing so much more than you were then." He smiled and took his seat again.
The observation brought to mind the meeting I sat through the day before and I felt my expression go slack.
"So, I was thinking; we, meaning you, keep putting off meeting my family, but I think you should come to dinner with me next Sunday." White teeth flashed my way in between statements. "I can only keep them tame for so long and they're all over me about meeting you."
Lowering my head, I smiled a little. He was right that I'd been avoiding it. I was just so nervous and with what went down yesterday, I wasn't sure I was ready for another stressful confrontation. However, Marco was certain they'd love me, so … I accepted his invitation.
First nodding, I let him know I was in. "Okay," I sighed. "I'll go."
If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was more excited about this than he was letting on. "Cool. We eat around five, so I'll come get you at four."
My fingers tingled with anxiety, but I didn't let it show.
"Should I bring anything?" I asked. Living in Texas, I picked up a few Puerto Rican recipes over the years. "Something for dessert maybe?"
Marco seemed shocked that I offered, but pleased when he gave a nod. "I think Ma would like that."
Then it was settled. In a little over a week, I'd be meeting Marco's people. Hopefully, it wouldn't be a disaster like I feared. Besides, at this point, I was pretty sure I'd endured the worst of the storm when I came face to face with the headmaster. Compared to that, meeting the rest of the Rios clan should be a piece of cake, right?
Chapter Thirteen
Brynn
Nothing looked right.
Nothing.
The pile of clothes on my bed kept growing and I was having zero luck finding something to wear to dinner. Today, in particular, was important and I couldn't leave the house looking frumpy. It meant a lot to me that I made a good impression on Marco's mother in particular. It seemed like he held her in high regard, so I was sure she'd be watching me like a hawk-the woman carrying her only son's child.
There was no telling what they already thought of me, seeing as how I was pretty sure they knew the gist of the circumstances surrounding my hookup with Marco. Meeting them face to face, in a sense, would be the second impression I'd make on them. The first came in the form of Marco's baby announcement several weeks ago. I was scared out of my mind about this, but I'd run out of excuses to stall. Today was the day.
With the strong craving I had for all things coconut lately, I decided to prepare arroz con dulce for dessert. Hopefully, it was up to his mother's standard. I got the impression she was one hell of a cook, so I put my all into this recipe-checking and double-checking my measurements, using the highest quality ingredients. This dinner had to go perfectly.