"We had too many kids, Jul. One of them had to be gay," Henry's comment made Lorenzo almost spew the wine off his nose and mouth.
Andrea, on the other hand, palmed her face. She couldn't believe all this was unfolding in front of Lorenzo. Taylor laughed. Phil and Farrah chuckled, while Cassie and Haley folded in their lips trying to suppress a smile. Lorenzo and Kevin shared an amused look and William, that poor fellow was too nervous to react.
Juliet heaved a sigh as she rubbed her temples, "I am tired. Can we leave now?" She asked her husband. Henry sigh and slowly nodded his head while rubbing his wife's back. He knows that Juliet can be a little too much sometimes, but he knows all this information was too much for his wife and no jokes will make it easy for her. He doesn't expect his children to bend in front of what his wife believes is right for them – they all are adults now. They can make their decision – where they are allowed to do as they feel like, he and his wife are allowed to take it as they feel as long as they are not in the way.
Henry nodded his head, "Okay, let's take you to the hotel." He told his wife, who nodded in return and with a small mile at Lorenzo and Kevin – she walked out of the apartment. Andrea tried to stop her mother and hug her since she know everything was hard for her at the moment, but Juliet ignore her daughter and left. Everyone turned to see her leave – she didn't even say goodbye to her grandchildren – she didn't feel like it.
Andrea pouted, "What did I do?" She asked.
Henry heaved a sigh, "Nothing, Andy. You know your mom." Her father answered. He looked around at everyone, "You all know how Juliet can be," He said. "Give her some time and you people could have laid out your secrets one at a time. You know how difficult it could be for your parents to hear and process them. Please, give your mother some time." Henry lectured his children – who silently looked at him. He blew his cheeks and thanked Farrah and Kevin for hosting the dinner.
"I am sorry, Kevin. You had to witness – well, that." Henry spoke waving his hand around. Kevin chuckled and shook his head, "It is okay, Henry. I didn't mind it at all. I am family, remember?" He repeated henry's words from the Christmas dinner last year. Henry smiled and nodded before he turned to Lorenzo. Andrea gulped and wished for her father to not go overboard with being a girl's dad.
He put his hand on Lorenzo's shoulder, "Well, it was very nice meeting you, Mr. Vigorito. I wish we could have met for the first time at some better time." He smiled and nodded. Lorenzo smiled back, "It was very nice to see you too, Mr. Hebert. Andrea speaks greatly of you." He replied. Henry chuckled and much to Andrea's displease, he ruffled her hair. "That's my girl." He commented to which Andy hugged her father – she truly missed him.
"Okay, people! I am going to leave. Your mother is waiting for me." He announced and turned to Phil, "My money, I want it tomorrow." He points out before he left. Everyone chuckled while Phil groaned and Ryan shook his head. "I can't you two already knew," He spoke to Phil who shrugged. "Dad was more sure than I was," He replied.
The siblings decided to call it a night but agreed to meet up tomorrow for lunch – without their parents. It has been so long since all of them caught up and now that so many new developments have taken place in her family, it was about time to spend more time with them. Before coming to Farrah's place, Andrea was more concerned about the fact that her father and brothers would be hard on Lorenzo and her mother would smother him with too much hospitality – but what actually happened tonight – she didn't expect that.
Andrea could have told them about Martin and the case she filed against him that was in progress – but that would have grimed the mood than it already was. She will tell them about it when it will be absolutely necessary – till then she is keeping it a secret.
"I don't know what you were worried about, your family is blissful," Enzo spoke as he took his shoes off before peeing off the socks.
Andrea had come with Enzo to his house. She wanted to spend time with him since they hardly get time to do it since her family arrived – also, Lorenzo is busy with work most of the time and soon she will be starting work again, so it will get more difficult to be with each other. So she decided to make most of it. Andrea sighed and walked into his bathroom – she will never get over how big it is – she could live in it!
Andrea rolled her eyes, "Seriously! I mean it was a little extra for me as well and I am used to my family's usual drama – you can't say they were blissful." She told him before she wiped off the makeup and washed it with cold water.
Lorenzo chuckled and walked into the bathroom. Andrea noticed how a few of the buttons of his shirt were undone. He didn't miss the way her eyes fell on his chest through the mirror. "Does it make me a bad person if I enjoyed the evening?" He questioned.
Andrea rolled her eyes at him and fetched a clean towel as she wiped her face, "No, I would have enjoyed it as well if it wasn't my family around the table," She replied honestly. Lorenzo lowly laughed and stood right behind her. His arms wrapped around her waist and placed his chin on her shoulder, "Fine, they are a bit crazy. But I truly like them. They seemed like a cozy family to me. They made me feel so welcomed and – normal," He told her.
Andrea scoffed, "Heberts made someone feel normal – that's new." She chuckled. Lorenzo smiled and buried his face into her neck. He softly placed a kiss on her neck and heard her sigh while she leaned back into him.
Lorenzo smirked and stared at her in the mirror before he noticed how much he had to lean his posture just to get to her neck. "I love how tiny you are," He commented.
Andrea gasped and opened her eyes, "Excuse me," She squinted her eyes, "I am not tiny!" She complained as she playfully pushed him away with her elbow. He softly grunted as she walked out of the bathroom. Lorenzo followed her out.
She ignored him and walked into his closet, "Rich bastard," She mumbled under her breath as she eyed the large collection of clothes Lorenzo had – most of them were suits and sweaters. He had some t-shirts, but none of them captured her interest until she saw one of his hoodies hanging on a hanger. "Ah-ha!" She grinned and pulled it out. It was long enough for her to sleep in. It was another of Lorenzo's hoodies, he will never get back.
Lorenzo smiled as he folded his arm and leaned against the door frame, admiring the adorable girl in his closet. He didn't believe this time would ever come again. When Zara was in his life, she too used to steal his clothes. The smile he had on his face dropped slightly as her face came to his mind. A sour taste developed in his mouth, Zara is the reason why Lorenzo has trouble trusting anyone with his heart – she broke it once – he can't afford a repetition.
Lorenzo can't lie and say that he didn't think that Andrea would ever betrayal him as Zara did – of course, this thought lingers in his mind, but then he shakes the doubts away. She is different. She is not Zara. She is not going to hurt me like Zara. He reminds himself again and again – until his mind is to believe the chant.
Thankfully, his gloomy muse was interrupted by barks. His dogs were up. His smile widened once again when he saw the glint in Andrea's eyes. "Oh, Bella!" She greeted a very excited golden retriever as she marched into the closet with her tail wagging – passing him like he doesn't exist and went straight to Andy, who happily kneeled to pet Bella. "Hello, baby." She cooed as she pets the hyper dog.
Lorenzo chuckled and just at that moment, Luna decided to walk in as well. Unlike Bella, Luna stood beside Lorenzo, who kneel to give her pets. "That's my girl," he complimented her before scratching her head. Luna has always been more close to Lorenzo. She is also not as overly friendly as Bella. He placed a kiss on her head as Luna nudged him with her nose.
"No hugs for me, Luna?" Andrea said with a fake pout. Luna looked at Andrea when she mentioned her name. And just when Lorenzo thought he was Luna's favorite, she decided to deceive him and rushed into Andrea's arm. Lorenzo couldn't help but roll his eyes as he got up on his feet. He witnessed how in such a short time, his dogs have gotten close to his girlfriend.
At that moment, Lorenzo did what he promised himself that he would never do. He started to compare Andrea with Zara. Andrea likes pets. Zara didn't like pets. One of the reasons, Lorenzo didn't adopt pets earlier. He shook his head. He promised himself that he would never do that – Zara is in past and he is not going to let her memories affect his relationship with Andrea. Zara doesn't matter to him anymore, Andrea does.
After Andrea was done playing with his dogs. Bella and Luna decided to sleep in his room tonight – of course. Andrea had changed into Enzo's black hoodie and he had changed into a plain shirt and sweatpants. He usually doesn't wear a shirt in bed, but with Andrea he does. He is not sure if she is yet comfortable with that. He had slept with her after sex, but he never slept along with her without sex. This was new for him. He smashed his lips together and wondered what was the protocol with her.
Lorenzo is not a man who enjoys cuddles – he likes to have some space when he slept. Lorenzo wasn't sure what Andrea preferred. He saw her hesitating as well, so he decided to make a move. He held out his hand for her. She smiled as put her hand in his. He softly pulled her on the bed before he leaned in and placed a kiss on her forehead. Andrea sighed and stayed still – enjoying his lips on her skin. He snaked his hand on the back of her waist and pulled her closer – until she was against him.
Andrea smiled and pulled her head back before she placed a kiss on his nose. Lorenzo smiled and pushed her hair behind her ear and put both his hands on each of her cheeks. His thumb softly grazed her soft skin. Her eyes were fixed on his lips. Lorenzo leaned in and placed a kiss on her lips as gentle as a breeze. "I love you," He whispered into the kiss. Andrea softly bit his lower lip, "I love you too," She whispered back. The two of them kissed a while before they decided to call it a night.
Andrea scoot over and placed her head on his chest. He smiled and wrapped his arm around her and placed a kiss on the top of her head. She likes to cuddle, he thought. He knew she like it after sex, but she is fond of them without sex as well. Lorenzo noted it. His mind once again wandered where he wasn't supposed to go. Zara didn't like cuddles, just like him. Andrea enjoys them. He shook his head. He wasn't supposed to think about it – not now – not ever.
After a while, Andrea fell asleep, but Lorenzo couldn't do the same. He needed his space to sleep and turns out with her clinging to him, he couldn't bring himself to sleep – how stupid of him. Lorenzo didn't notice how he subconsciously squirmed around with her resting over him.
Andrea was woken by his movement, "Enzo," She sleepily mumbled.
"Hmm," he responded quickly.
"You don't like cuddles," It was a question she muttered, but a statement. Lorenzo paused for a second but before he could say anything, Andrea separated herself from him and looked at him with drowsy eyes. "Say it, if you don't like something – idiot," she mumbled and chuckled and rolled to the other side.
Lorenzo raised himself on his elbows, wondering if he had offended her. "Sleep, babe." She mumbled again without looking back at him. "I am not mad – just very – very sleepy." She muttered. "I have to spend tomorrow afternoon with my siblings. I need energy. Sleep," She muttered and soon fell asleep again – her soft snoring was evident to it.
Lorenzo chuckled as he laid back on the bed. Zara would have gotten mad. Andrea is better for him – so much better. She is his better half. With that final thought – he fell asleep with a smile on his face.