Chapter 77
Chapter seventy-seven
The Best Man
Sophia
I haven’t moved from his bedside or let sleep take me, too scared that if I do, I’ll never see him again.
Marco is thankfully asleep, the breathing monitor a salve to my fears I could still lose him.
As if the bullet hadn’t already done a good enough job, the revelation of his big family secret hit hard.
When Samuel and Elena left the room, I climbed onto the bed on his uninjured side and just held him the best I could as the tears steadily and silently fell down his face.
When he couldn’t fight sleep any longer, he succumbed to its pull, and I spent hours tracing every detail of his face and body with my eyes and fingers, the gravity of nearly losing him making my insides twist violently.
After we got the news that Marco was stable and would make a full recovery, all our family and friends left to get some rest. They’ll all be back later today to visit.
I refused to leave his bedside. In fact, I’m never leaving his side again.
Marco groans, and it snaps me from my thoughts.
I gently move off the bed and lean over him, stroking his hair off his handsome face.
“Marco, are you okay, baby?”
His eyes flutter before he slowly opens them. “Sophia, what are you still doing here?” he croaks. “You need to get some rest.”
This man. He’s the one lying in a bed with a bullet wound, and he’s worried about me getting rest. Every doubt I ever had about him dissipates, because the essence of who he is has never been more apparent; he’s selfless, loving, honest, and will protect the ones he loves at any cost. He would have died for me.
That’s all it takes for the floodgates to break again.
“Come here, baby.” He gingerly pats his chest. I bury my face into him and let it all out.
“Hey, hey. Don’t cry, Kitten. You know you’re not going to get rid of me that easily,” he jokes weakly.
I compose myself and sit on the edge of the bed so I can look into his eyes when I say what I should have said weeks ago. He goes to talk, and I place a finger over his lips to silence him.
“I need you to listen. I didn’t need you to go off and become a better man, Marco, because you were already the best man for me.
Time and time again, you showed me all the ways you were all in.
It was me who was too scared to jump with you.
When I found out about the deal you made with my dad, I convinced myself my doubts were founded. ”
I pause so I can get through the next bit without crumbling. Marco entwines our fingers and starts turning soothing circles with the soft pad of his thumb over my skin. Our own little love language. I’m here. I’ve got you. Always and forever.
“You’re all I ever dreamed of, Marco. I love you and all the ways you show me love. Even stripped bare, you make me feel like I am worthy of shining. And no one else has ever made me feel like that. I don’t think anyone ever will.”
He stares back at me, relief washing over his face.
“You have been the center of my universe and the eye of my storm for more days than I can count, Sophia. Every day, in every universe, in this life and the next, I choose you.”
He lets go of my hand so he can grab my chin and bring my face down to his.
I lean over and gently press my lips to his.
He kisses me gently, as if to seal the deal.
Keeping lips still on mine, he deadpans, “This isn’t like a sympathy fuck where you’re just telling me you love me because I almost died? ”
I giggle against his mouth.
“You’re insufferable. It’s way too soon for jokes.”
Even in jest, the thought of losing him is too much to bear. From this day forward, it’s us against the world.
A knock on the door forces us to pull apart. I look up to find my dad standing in the doorway. He went home to change out of his formal clothes, but judging by his haggard appearance, it doesn’t look like he got any rest.
“Do you mind if I speak with you, Marco?” he asks. He looks forlorn and like he’s aged overnight.
Marco nods and gestures to the chair by his bedside. I stay perched on the bed next to Marco, entwining my fingers with his.
“Son, I know I owe you one hell of an apology, but first I just want to say a heartfelt thanks for saving my daughter’s life.
That was truly a selfless act. One that Sienna and I are forever grateful to you for.
But I can’t say I’m surprised, because what I’ve failed to recognize for all these years is all the ways you’ve proven your selflessness when it comes to Sophia.
” He pauses, looking Marco in the eye. “It should not have taken you almost getting killed to realize how wrong it was of me to ask you to make that impossible decision all those years ago. Or how misguided it was of me to continue to try and manipulate both you and Sophia with empty threats and heavy-handed actions. My preconceived ideas about how you make your living clouded my judgement of the man you have become. You deserved more respect from me. I hope even if you can’t forget that, you can forgive me. ”
The room is so silent you can hear a pin drop. I’ve never heard my dad speak this way. Marco squeezes my hand and clears his throat.
“Patrick, all I ever wanted was your respect. For you to consider me worthy of officially becoming part of your family one day. I appreciate the apology, but respectfully, nothing was ever going to keep me from Sophia. I would throw myself in front of a bullet again if I needed to, that’s how much I love her. ”
My tears are flowing now, and even my dad’s eyes have misted over. He rises and comes over to squeeze Marco’s shoulder.
“My eyes are open now. Not many men would have had the courage or honor to make the sacrifices you have. Thank you for hearing me out. I’m going to let you get some much-needed rest.”
He kisses me on the cheek, adding, “You need to try and get some rest too, Princess.”
“Soon.”
He simply nods and walks out the door. It feels like the slate has finally been wiped clean of resentment, and we’re all finally on the same page.
“I’m not sure I can get used to that version of Patrick Princi,” muses Marco, turning to me with a sly smile. “But it sure beats the asshole version, so I’ll take it.”