Giovanni didn’t know if he should let her fight through her worry, or just let it out.
“I know,” he said.He was not going to put stress on her for even a second.
“What?”
“You’re pregnant.We’re going to have a baby.”
Mia’s mouth fell.“How did you know?”She frowned.“Of course, the cameras.Don’t you think you should leave some elements to surprise?”she asked.
He shook his head and closed the distance between them.“Do you think that would make you feel better?”he asked.“And think about it for a second.From the moment you sent that text, you’ve been pacing my office.”
Mia sighed.“You’re right.I just didn’t know how to tell you, and I was kind of freaking out, and we’re going to have a baby, and I don’t know if I’m ready.”
She looked so freaking sexy in that moment.He tilted her head back and took possession of her lips.He just couldn’t help himself.Pulling away, he looked into her closed eyes, and her lips were nicely swollen.
She licked her lips and then looked at him.“What was that for?”
“You need to stop panicking.I’m sure you and I are feeling the exact same thing most new parents feel.”He stroked her cheek.“But we’ve got each other, and we’ve got some amazing friends, and I know with their help, we’ve got this.”
“Do we?”
“Stop panicking.”
“I hate my parents,” Mia said.“I hate them so much and I don’t want to be like them.”
He cupped her face and forced her to look at him.“I won’t let you.You’re you, Mia, and I don’t think anyone or anything is going to change that.Tell me, even though you were being stubborn at that Halloween party, did you want to change it?”
She nodded her head.“So badly.I also loved what you had done with it.I mean, there were a few things I would have done differently.”
He gave her a look and she rolled her eyes.“Fine, there are a ton of things I would have done differently.So differently, but it doesn’t matter, because we’re here now, and it was a pretty good party, and next year I can show you how to do a real one.”
He laughed.“See, we’ve got this.”
“You’re not freaking out?”
“Hell, no, I’ve got nothing to freak out about.”
Mia laughed.“Thank you.”
And she rested her head against his chest.Giovanni just held her, because in that moment, that was all he needed to do.
****
Less than a week later, Mia had already been told by her parents what she should and shouldn’t do.Her mother was constantly on the phone, telling her that her diet should be strict as no man was going to like an overweight woman.Mia knew that was a jibe at her current body.
So, she turned off all the phones, and instead of staying in the house and feeling like a constant failure, Mia made her way out toward the pool.She stayed wrapped in a towel, until she got into the room.Her guards stayed outside, and Mia dipped her toe into the pool and gave herself a second to enjoy the feel of the water.Once she was satisfied, she removed her robe, then slowly lowered herself into the water.
Giovanni was working late again.She knew he still didn’t know where those girls were located, and it was starting to drive him crazy.Mia had asked if there was any way she could help, and he kept telling her he wanted her to be safe.
She hated seeing him like this.There was nothing she could do, and that made her feel even more helpless.
Mia started in the shallow end and slowly swam from one end to another.She wasn’t attempting to break any world record, she just wanted the irritation at her mother’s sudden interest to leave her mind.She didn’t want her calling every five minutes, telling her not to give in to her cravings and eat too much.She kept talking about a strict diet, and from time to time, she would complain about her brothers.Mia wasn’t interested in hearing any of that.She just wanted to enjoy the process of being pregnant.
Her family was nothing like Liana’s, who always had her friend’s back.Liana had a father and brother, who no matter what, were always there for her.They were strong and they supported her.
“I don’t think you could sigh any louder if you tried?”
Mia let out a scream and put a hand against her chest, as she looked over to Giovanni.“You scared me.”
