Chapter 223

“So, what should I do?” I squeezed Vince’s hand. It wasn’t as if he could hear my rant, but it was nice to talk to someone who couldn’t go against me. Even if he were awake, he would still not go against me.

“If only you were here to answer.”

Carmen’s joke about me being pregnant wasn’t too far from the truth. I had ignored all the signs because I was in deep denial, but after hearing those words, I could not do it any longer.

I came up with a silly excuse to visit Lucio and Vince just so I could buy a pregnancy test. My only wish was for me not to be pregnant. Because of Fabio, my first experience wasn’t that amazing, and I didn’t want a repeat of that.

Besides, Christian had a clear change of mind and agreed we should wait for a second baby. Not to forget, I was not in the mood to push out another human being.

“I mean, you are here…but you know what I mean,” I mumbled. I looked down at Siena, who wasn’t as excited to be in my arms. She was an energetic baby. She grew a lot and liked the floor more than her mother’s embrace.

“Siena wants to meet you, isn’t that right?” I leaned her forward, but it was only a matter of time before her tiny hand connected with Vince’s cheek.

“Don’t smack him!” I spoke shocked and pulled her back. She definitely had that from Christian, not from me. “Hey, you can’t do that!”

“Serena?” A voice behind me called out my name. I turned around and almost gasped at the familiar faces.

“C-Christian?”

This wasn’t supposed to happen. I was not in the mood for another argument about how I shouldn’t have left the house.

I made eye contact with Dario, but he turned away—refusing to look into my eyes. Was it because Christian was present?

“C-Christian, I can explain.” I began, but Christian ran over and pulled us in a tight embrace. He grabbed Siena and spun her around. “Do you know how much daddy missed you?” He cooed while Siena giggled.

“What are you doing here?” Christian asked. So he wasn’t angry. “I went to see your dad, and then I thought I might as well pay Vince a visit…I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

What was going on with him?

“No, it was stupid and thoughtless.” I spoke.“You’re working so hard to keep me safe, just in case something happens—and here I am.”

“I’m not angry, Serena.” Christian shrugged, playing with Siena. “You could’ve told me, but I’m not angry. How can I be angry when I get to see our Siena?” He attacked her with kisses.

I smiled warmly at the two of them, but my smile had quickly vanished. I had watched way too many movies and books to know that someone being extra nice was never a good thing because it meant they were going to die soon.

If Vince were awake, he would’ve agreed with me. He was a movie lover with too much fantasy and always had so much to say. He loved talking and could not go a minute without it. Vince had always been an energetic and talkative person, just like Dario in the beginning.

Dario…

I turned around, giving him a look of pity. Anyone could see that he was still not over his uncle’s dad. He lost three parents. His mom, Berto who clearly had issues, and his uncle who was like a father to him.

There were no words to explain how much I wanted to hold him and tell him that I was still here as a friend, but it seemed like Christian had made things extra awkward. He didn’t do it on purpose, but still.

“Dario, come here.” I stuck out my hand. He looked at me with big eyes and turned his head to Christian, who gave him a nod.

Dario stepped forward and held my hand. As he looked into my eyes, all I could see was pain and anger. “How are you holding up?” I asked.

“I’m good.”

“I remember you saying Vince once stuck up for you when you were younger.” Christian pulled Dario to a chair near Vince’s bed. “He protected you when I couldn’t.”

“Yes.” Dario forced a smile. “I came here before…with Serena.”

Was that necessary?

Christian chuckled. “That’s okay.” He told him. Deep down, I knew Christian was jealous because that was the kind of person he was—but he was doing a good job hiding it. He was trying.

“Were the two of you close?” Dario asked Christian.

“Yes,” Christian said. “He’s like a brother to me, and he is one of the few people I can actually stand.”

That’s right. He had a special bond with Vince and Marc, an almost unbreakable one. Dario’s eyes met mine. “And you?” He asked.

“Were the two of you close?”

Close? Vince loved me as more than a friend—but I didn’t know whether this was the perfect time to discuss that. Hadn’t Christian and I been through enough already?

“Uh…”

“I’m pretty sure he has a crush on her.” Christian took over. “This one is one-sided, though…I hope.”

This one is one-sided? What’s up with that comment?

Dario and I kept quiet, while Christian did not seem to realize the impact of his words. I told him already that I wasn’t into Dario, and if we had to learn to breathe in the same room, he could not make those kinds of comments anymore.

“Right, that might’ve not been the smartest thing to say,” Christian spoke after an uncomfortable silence. “I’m sorry, let’s pretend I never said that.”

“Isn’t it time for Vince to wake up?” Dario quickly changed the subject. He wasn’t wrong. It was time for Vince to wake up, and it was taking way too long.

“You should tell him.” Christian joked. Dario looked startled but leaned in any way and nudged Vince’s shoulder.

“Uh…wake up?”

Christian and I stared at each other before we both burst out in laughter. “I think it’s better for everyone if you just don’t speak anymore.” Christian laughed. “Look, even the baby is laughing!”

Right, the baby. Which reminded me, I still had to take the pregnancy test.

Dario and Christian moved on to another conversation while I looked down at Vince’s hand. He would know what to do. Wake up, Vince.

I didn’t know whether my eyes were deceiving me or if my prayers were getting answered—but it almost looked like Vince had slowly moved his finger.

“Oh my god!”

“What?” Christian and Dario turned their heads at the same time. “I..I.” I stammered, looking at Vince’s hand. Did I imagine things?

“N-nothing sorry, never mind.” I apologized, making Christian laugh. “Mommy is being weird against, isn’t she?” He spoke to Siena.

I knew how much he cared for him, and I didn’t want to give him any false hope. I was so desperate for Vince to wake up that I must’ve gone crazy.

“Serena,” Dario spoke. “Can I talk to you…in private?”

Talk to me in private?

“W-well,” I looked at Christian. I didn’t want there to be any more misunderstandings, and I didn’t want to argue with him. “You should talk, Siena and I will survive.” Christian agreed.

“O-Okay.”

I followed Dario to the hallway and held my hands behind my back. I wasn’t good at this, and I hated confrontations. Well, except for that time I beat up Gina.

Should I start the conversation? Of course not. He was the one who wanted to talk to me.

“So,” Dario began. “First of all, I think I owe you an apology.”

I looked up to meet Dario’s eyes. All I wanted was for him not to hate me anymore, and I couldn’t care less about his apology.

“You don’t have to apologize. We’re good.” I sighed, relieved. “Christian explained to me what happened, but it’s over—so let’s just move on and—“

“No,” Dario shook his head. “Those names I called you were far from the truth, you’re an amazing person, and you should know that.”

“Thank you.”

Dario took a deep breath. “And I’m not only apologizing for that…I just need you to know that I never meant to disrespect your relationship with Christian.”

“Yes, I know that—“

“No, listen.” Dario cut me off. “I led you on, I played you, I tried to sabotage your relationship with my cousin…but I need you to know that all of my feelings are real.”

Well, damn.

“These feelings…they shouldn’t even have happened, but they’re still there.” He continued. Hearing that he did have genuine feelings for me at one point put me in a difficult position. He was Christian’s cousin.

“Dario…”

“Christian is my family, I respect him, and I respect you and Siena—so I will get over it somehow, but I just need you to know that I’ve never played you,” Dario stated.

Believe it or not, but it actually made me feel a bit better. I wasn’t crazy, and there truly was a connection between us. It was in the past, and that was all that mattered.

“I understand.”

“Good.” Dario smiled, pleased. I smiled back, staring into his eyes, and noticed how they seemed a bit different from before. He looked more a peace.

“I think we should erase everything and start over…as friends?” He suggested. I watched as Dario stuck out his hand, but I couldn’t help it and pulled him into a tight hug. He needed that.

“Sure, let’s start over.”

I looked over Dario’s shoulder and panicked for a second as I caught Christian staring at us through the glass window, but he did not seem to mind. He was okay with it.

Christian and I were going stronger than ever. Dario and I were back to being friends—but for some reason, I could still not relax.

It was peaceful, way too peaceful—and something didn’t feel right.