He’d never told me. Not even after I’d wasted weeks in billing-department hell, growing increasingly frustrated. He’djust quietly handled it, without needing credit or gratitude. He didn’t want me to thank him, didn’t expect acknowledgment. He was just Marco—annoyingly silent in the way he cared, and fiercely protective.
And God, I loved that about him.
I shook myself gently from my thoughts, finishing the last unicorn-inspired stroke on Lucia’s cheek, glittering and surprisingly recognizable. She hopped off the chair, barely glancing in the mirror before squealing and racing toward her friends in the bounce house.
Marco had finally broken free of my uncles. He walked across the yard toward me, suit jacket folded neatly over one arm, tie loosened slightly. He paused next to me, following my gaze toward Lucia bouncing wildly, covered in glitter.
“You survived my uncles,” I said, fighting back a smile. “Impressive.”
“They were harmless,” he admitted. “Loud, but harmless. I’ve yet to meet your mother though.”
The thought made my stomach twist. I wasn’t sure why. Maybe because he hadn’t met her and he was already making sure she was taken care of.
I swallowed softly, my heart suddenly beating faster, and forced myself to look at him again. “You know,” I started, brushing glitter nervously from my fingertips, “it took me three weeks of phone calls and yelling matches with billing departments to realize you’d already paid her hospital bills.”
He blinked slowly, absorbing that quietly before finally meeting my gaze. “You found out?”
“The billing lady finally got sick of me screaming at her,” I said lightly, smiling faintly. “Turns out the payments were covered under the name ‘Grey.’”
He hummed softly, his eyes steady on mine. “And here I thought hospitals respected patient confidentiality.”
“They do, until the patient’s daughter annoys them enough.” I tilted my head, studying him carefully. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He didn’t have to ask what I meant. Marco always knew exactly what I meant. “Because I didn’t do it so you’d thank me.”
“Well, I wouldn’t have thanked you anyway. Probably would’ve yelled at you for not telling me sooner. You made me endureweeksof hold music, Marco.Weeks.”
He exhaled softly, amused. “You’re impossible to please, Valentina.”
I tilted my head and looked up at him quietly, my heart beating just a little faster. “You please me just fine.”
Marco’s eyes held mine steady for a moment, his mouth curving into the faintest of smiles. “Glad my efforts aren’t entirely wasted then.”
“Not entirely,” I teased softly, nudging his shoulder gently. “I appreciate them—in secret, of course.”
“Of course,” he echoed dryly. “We wouldn’t want anyone thinking you’re getting sentimental.”
“Exactly. It’d ruin my reputation.”
Marco gave a quiet, amused huff, shaking his head slightly.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Mama quietly sitting near the garden, shaded beneath an old oak tree. She had a thin blanket over her knees despite the warm weather, and she was watching Lucia and the other kids with that soft, patient smile she always wore—the one that meant she was truly content.
My stomach twisted gently, though I wasn’t exactly sure why. It wasn’t like I doubted Marco’s ability to impress Mama. She was probably already halfway to adoring him, considering he’d silently saved her health insurance coverage without anyone asking. It was just the idea of the two worlds finally colliding that made me strangely nervous. Mama, who’d known every version of me—the messy, the impulsive, the reckless—and Marco,who’d quietly come along and pieced me together without expecting anything in return. It felt important. More important than I’d ever expected.
“You ready to meet her?” I asked.
He didn’t hesitate. “Yeah.”
I studied him carefully, reaching out impulsively to smooth a faint wrinkle on his shirt, my fingertips brushing lightly against his chest. “You sure?”
He arched an eyebrow. “I think I can handle it.”
“Bold words, lawyer.”
He smiled, catching my hand in his and brushing his thumb softly over my knuckles.
Gently, I squeezed his hand, tugging him forward through the backyard toward Mama. She looked up and smiled warmly, expectantly, waiting patiently for whatever was coming next. And as we approached her, I felt something inside me settle.
