"You are great. You are strong. You are beautiful. Tell it to yourself until you make it real."
Lorenzo POV
I hold her tightly as her small figure shakes.
I can't believe she had to endure that. No child should ever have to go through that. Now I feel bad for the test I did to her the day of the interview, I'm pretty sure all those memories came back.
Clearly, I've been spoiled rotten because I still have a mother, even though my dad died, it wasn't like he chose too and a mother is a very valuable asset. I regret all the times I shouted at mum saying she was unfair and mean because thinking about it, I don't know what I would do without one for thirteen years.
Soon I felt that she was calming down.
"My breakfast is now cold." She said smiling weakly.
"I'll warm the plates up. Do you want to meet me in the kitchen? We can make choc chip cookies?" I ask.
"You can bake?" She asks in surprise.
"No, but isn't that what you girls do in movies? Eat ice cream, bake, or do each other's hair?" I say rubbing the back of my neck. "It's snowing so ice-cream wasn't in the picture, I don't know how to plait hair. But I can watch you bake?"
She laughs and I feel my heart leap. Making her happy is now my number one priority.
"Who said Ice cream had a season?" She said peeling herself of me. I quickly grabbed her back into my chest.
She looks at me confused.
"Sorry, it got cold really quickly," I said feeling like I was blushing. Her body fitted perfectly in mine and her heat was warming me.
"If you needed a hug you could just say so." She said. Straddling me she gave me a big hug and whispered "Thank you for listening."
I hugged her back. Just then the door flew open and Henry and the kids were entered. Henry quickly covered the twins' eyes.
"Sorry, we will knock next time," Henry said and soon Massimo's head appeared at the door picking up the kids and when he saw us he laughed.
"Dude we have children in the house. A door is supposed to be knocked on." He said taking the twins away.
We both started to laugh as soon as the door swung shut. While she was laughing I observed her. How perfectly her lips curved and her white teeth shined through the room. Her laugh was like a melody but not like the fake one but straight from the belly.
But soon it dawned on me the position we were still in.
"I'll see you downstairs." She said giving me a kiss on the cheek before climbing off me and into the bathroom.
I fell onto my back and touched my cheek. Her lips could still be felt, like a tingle, even though it was a simple brushing of it. A stupid grin appeared on my cheek.
Natasha, you have no idea what you are doing to me.
I quickly got up, just in case she decided to come out of the bathroom, I grabbed her breakfast and headed downstairs.
In the kitchen, Massimo was frying his eggs.
"Hey, little brother. How was it?" He said.
"Nothing happened," I said.
"You idiot. Not "that" I meant how was yesterday's talk." He said.
"Confidential," I said putting Natasha's breakfast in the microwave.
"Ok. Whatever you say." He said. "I have a mouth to feed."
Then I was alone in the kitchen. I tried getting everything ready but I kept thinking of Natasha. I needed her here right now, holding her, making sure she was alright.
You were just with her.
I know. I really don't know what's happening to me.
Soon I saw her appear at the door. She was still wearing her previous outfit.
"Hey." She said.
"Hi. Here's your breakfast." I said.
She took a seat and smiled at the breakfast.
"Typical English people." She said.
She patted the seat next to her.
"You know this is a lot." She stated.
I sat down next to her. She cut the sausage in small pieces, popped one in her mouth then fed me another.
She let out a moan and I started choking.
"Are you ok?" she said patting my back. I nodded grabbing a glass.
"You know this bacon is really good," she added
"You made that very clear," I said.
"Sorry. I will keep my body and sounds in check." She said ducking behind a wave of hair.
We kept eating like that, she would eat then feed me. Which felt natural. kind of normal. Don't ask me why.
"Ok. Let's make these choc chip cookies." She said once we finished breakfast.
She grabbed the ingredients and I looked away when she bent to put in the oven.
"I'm wearing night shorts under." She muttered blushing.
"Oh ok," I said. "I realize you blush a lot when you are around me."
"I do not." She said.
"You do too," I say.
She quickly grabs a handful of flour and throws it at me.
"You did not just spill flour on me," I warned.
"Maybe I did." She said.
I grabbed a handful of flour but she ran around the kitchen island.
Soon the twins come barging in. I whisper something in their ear and they nod.
"Loren, Anna! Don't listen to him!" Natasha warns.
Grabbing a handful of flour they ran around giggling trying to catch Natasha.
Soon Natasha was cornered. I grabbed her by the waist and bleached her hair while Loren and Anna smudged it over her face.
Soon we were all tickling Natasha, till she was crying.
"Mercy! mercy!" She cried.
Soon Henry and Judy came in and took the twin.
"You too, the adult play stays upstairs not in front of my girls." He teased.
"Hun we were the same thing," Judy said then winked at Natasha who blushed scarlet.
"We have been married for so long I don't even know whose the bad influence anymore," Henry says which resulted in receiving a punch in the arms from Judy and they chuckled all the way outside the kitchen.
I looked at Natasha under me. She was still crying but trying to calm her aching stomach.
"You are evil. Turning those poor girls against me." She said.
"Only for you," I replied
The moment of silence was interrupted by a voice, I knew too well.
"WHAT ON EARTH HAPPENED TO MY KITCHEN?" My mum, scram.
"I think my ears are bleeding," Natasha whispered.
I chuckled,
"Lorenzo come here right away. And you go and clean up." She said giving Natasha a disgusted look.
Natasha turned towards me then stormed upstairs.
"What do you think you are doing acting like a six-year-old? Can you not see that she's only here for one reason?" My mum said.
"What are you talking about, mum?" I asked furiously.
"Can't you see it? You are so blinded by her that you have neglected your responsibilities. Did you know you missed a meeting with the director of Finance?" Mum said.
I wipe my face. I was so bummed by Natasha's behavior I forgot.
"Mum I'm so sorry," I said.
"You must be because that was a big opportunity that you flushed down the drain." She said pacing around.
"Mum, she means a lot to me please understand," I said.
"Is she even your girlfriend?" Mum asked.
I hesitate. I've had a beautiful time with Natasha but I can't lie to my mum.
"No, she's my PA. I got her to come with me so that you could stop nagging me about grandchildren. But clearly, this plan worked out for the best for me at least because being her pretend boyfriend has been a pleasant adventure." I said.
I actually confirmed that I liked her and out loud.
"PA? PA! This is crazy! Honey, she's not even at your level!" Mum said.
"What level? You and dad met when you were still a chalet girl." I cried. I can't believe she was pulling the status card on me.
"That's not the point and you know it, you can do better." She said.
"Dad could have done better. " I muttered frustrated.
"Listen, honey, I'm happy that you found someone you cherish. But please make sure it's a two-way stream. I know how hard it was to get over your father I just don't want you to get hurt." She said.
"Mum, she's hurt and if I am the one to help her heal, I want to be there. Remember that money is important but it doesn't last as long as love does." I said.
"Are you in love with her?" Mum asked.
"I not sure but it sure feels like it," I said.
"Ok hold on to your feelings, I'll have to make sure it both ways. We will start tomorrow after the dance." She said.
"Is it like princesses and the pea?" I asked.
"I call it the love test," Mum said.
----------------------------------------------
Hey guys.
I thought it would be better to write a happy chapter after the last one. Hope you liked it.
Xoxo.