"My mother always told me to be myself," she mumbles. "She always told me that, eventually, I'd find someone in life who would love me as I am, despite my flaws. I choose to believe one day I will."
As her breathing begins to even out, I stare down at her, the words she spoke playing on a loop inside my mind.
It's then I realise, I'm already in love with Alicia Garcia.
Everything about her is fascinating. No matter what she says or does, I'm still infatuated by her.
She may be sassy and disobedient, and she may push my buttons, but I admire her for that.
She's outspoken, she knows what she deserves, and she can't and won't be controlled.
She's her own woman, and she will do as she pleases, no matter who or what stands in her way.
I find that impressive.
It shows she's strong and independent, as well as beautiful and vicious.
She's everything I want in a woman.
I can't keep her in a box like I've tried to do.
I need to give her the freedom she wants, or I'll end up pushing her away, and although that was previously my goal, it's not anymore.
I want her by my side, and I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that happens.
Chapter Forty-Five
Alicia
Sitting on the sofa, basking in the bright daylight pouring through the large living room windows, I breathe a sigh of relief when I hear the elevator doors slide open down the hall, and the sound of multiple voices fills the apartment.
I'd messaged the group chat earlier and gave them a brief description of everything that had gone down lately. I then mentioned that Dom had been in his office all morning and asked for advice.
They told me they'd get ready and come over, to not only keep me company, but also get through to Dom somehow.
We were woken up in the early hours of the morning by a call from Leo, telling us he'd left the hospital and there was still no improvement in Percy's condition. Since then, Dom's been on a mission to find my brother—hauled up in his office, on and off the phone to people, screaming at them.
Jess is the first one to enter the living room, scooping Jellybean into her arms as she walks, fussing over her as she moves toward the sofa where I'm seated.
Rory follows closely behind, bundled in warm clothes and running her hands through her messy brown curls, smiling at me as she unbuttons her coat and moves over to us. She leans her small bodyover the back of the sofa and wraps her arms around me as her eyes scan my hand.
"Why've you removed your splint?" she whispers.
I shrug. "It was annoying, and my hands fine, so I took it off."
She rolls her eyes and shakes her head, moving around the sofa to sit down as Sophia and Kaleb come in.
Sophia's blonde hair is thrown up into a messy bun, her cheeks are flushed, and her eyelids are heavy. She shoots me a lazy smile as she hobbles into the room, swatting Kaleb's hands away from her large, rounded stomach, glaring at him when he tries to protest.
"I'm fine," she snaps, eyes narrowed in his direction.
He cocks a brow, a smirk on his face as his eyes roam the length of her body.
"Yes,dolcezza. You certainly arefine," he drawls, winking at her while she snorts and crinkles her nose.
"Don't even try flirting with me right now."
She walks over to the lone armchair across from where I'm sitting and plops into it, sighing as her body relaxes into the seat.
