Chapter Thirty-Six
BELLA
After Marco beat me back to the hotel, we took a shower together where he insisted he needed to dirty me up some more before getting me clean.
Once I was clean—a second time—we left for breakfast, which was more like brunch.
I took him to one of my favorite diners my friends from college and I used to frequent.
When I posted a picture of Marco and me on social media, Stephanie immediately recognized the place and commented that we better be getting together while I’m in San Diego.
When I mentioned this to Marco, he said we should make it a group thing at Dexter’s since Mathias will be there as well.
At first, I was a little reluctant about going to Dexter’s.
It’s a popular bar and pool hall and it’s the last place Marco ran into Tristan.
Marco told me not to worry about stuff out of my control, so I said okay and invited Stephanie, Lauren, Kristen, and Michelle to join us.
Kristen and Michelle have dates but said they would try to meet up later.
Stephanie and Lauren said they will be meeting us. I’m excited for them to meet Marco.
We pull up to the hospital in our rental car and Marco turns the car off but doesn’t get out. After a minute he says, “Logan was a good-looking guy.”
“Okay?” I’m not sure where this is going.
“That came out wrong.” I see his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows thickly. “From being in a coma, Logan doesn’t look the same. He’s thinner, paler. His body has softened and lost his muscle.”
“Marco, I don’t care what Logan looks like.”
“I know, but I just wanted to warn you. Every time I see him, he looks worse, but I try to picture him pre-coma. You won’t have a visual to pretend with.”
“I know what Logan looks… looked like. He was… is a UFC fighter. I saw him fight on several occasions. I saw him fight the night—”
“Of the accident,” Marco finishes. “That’s right.
Okay.” He opens the door and gets out. When I come around the car, he grabs my hand, and his fingers weave through mine tightly.
We check-in with the front desk, get our visitor passes, and head to the elevator, Marco’s hand never letting go of mine.
When we get to Logan’s room, Marco walks in first. The room smells of antiseptics and the only noise is the constant beeping of the monitor.
“Hey man, I have someone I want you to meet.” Marco pulls two chairs over and places them next to each other, his hand still not leaving mine, and motions for me to sit in one of the chairs.
He goes on to talk to Logan like he would anyone else.
He tells him all about me, Micaela, the upcoming fight.
Logan, of course, doesn’t respond, but the way Marco talks to his best friend you wouldn’t even know the guy was in a coma.
I just sit and listen and continue to hold Marco’s hand.
When he’s done, he grabs Logan’s hand with his free one and brings his head down to it like he needs to touch his friend in some way to make it feel like he’s here in a bigger way than he really is.
After he’s done talking to Logan, he speaks to the nurse who comes in to check on Logan.
He asks how he’s doing and if there has been any change in his condition.
She tells him he’s stable and there’s hasn’t been any changes.
We both say goodbye and leave—my heart feeling a lot heavier than before we walked through those doors—heading back to the hotel in silence.
There’s so much I want to say but hold back, letting Marco work through his feelings.
I can’t even imagine one of my best friends being in a coma let alone knowing it will most likely end in death and just waiting for it to happen but praying it doesn’t.
Once we get back, Marco’s mood shifts to playful when he insists on picking out my bikini.
It shouldn’t surprise me when he picks the all black bikini with the cheeky bottoms. We spend the rest of the day bouncing back and forth between the pool and beach.
Since I’m pumping and dumping this weekend, I enjoy being twenty-one and legally order a few fruity drinks. Marco sticks to water.
When we’ve had enough of the sun, we head back to our room to take a short nap before getting ready to go out for the night.
Cuddling with Marco has officially become my new favorite pastime.
You would think with all those muscles, he would make for a horrible pillow, but it’s like my body fits perfectly against his, and when my head goes into the crook of his shoulder, I fall asleep like I’ve been drugged.
We’re going to be sharing a bed from now on, that’s for sure.
After our power nap, we get ready to go, then head over to Dexter’s.
Before we walk through the doors, Marco stops me, pulling me to the side. “Babe, you realize with that tight dress you’re wearing, I’m going to be all over you all damn night, and there’s no way in hell you will be leaving my side.”
I roll my eyes. Yes, it’s true. I am wearing a dress.
It’s one of the few I own, and even though it’s tight and is a dress, because it’s a comfortable cotton T-shirt material shaped like a long tight jersey, it doesn’t feel like a dress.
If you’re looking at me from the waist up, it looks like a short sleeve olive green button-down shirt, but as you go lower the shirt continues a few inches above my knees.
It’s not short in length, but it has wide slits that run high up—which is why it’s called a jersey dress— and reveals a hell of a lot of leg.
Because I’m not a dress and heels kind of girl, I’m wearing my favorite taupe-colored Chucks, making my outfit more casual than club.
We walk inside and Marco says Mathias is already here.
“Cuz!” A good-looking Hispanic guy comes walking over to Marco and gives him a one-armed hug.
While Marco is more of a bad-boy sexy with his tats, ripped jeans, and plain black T-shirt, Mathias is more pretty-boy sexy.
He’s wearing a mint green button-down shirt and his jeans look like he ironed them before putting them on.
His hair has gel in it while Marco keeps his shaved short.
But when you see them side by side you can tell they are related.
They have a similar jawline and their noses are almost identical.
I would bet they both look a lot like their mothers.
“Mathias, I want you to meet Bella. Bella, my cousin, Mathias.” Mathias shakes my hand then pulls me into a hug.
“It’s nice to meet you,” he says, giving me a warm smile that reminds me so much of Marco and Chloe’s.
We have a seat at the large booth and order drinks.
A few minutes later, Lauren and Stephanie show up to join us and I introduce them to Marco and Mathias.
We’re all joking and laughing and Marco and I are showing everyone at the table pictures and videos of Micaela.
Before I know it, I’ve probably had three mojitos and announce to everyone I need to use the restroom.
“Oh! I need to go as well,” Lauren says.
“Me, too,” Stephanie adds.
Before I can stand, Marco pulls me in for a quick kiss making me smile. This is what I wanted for so long, to be with Marco in every way. It’s finally happening, and it’s amazing.
The girls and I each enter a separate stall to go pee, gossiping through the walls. “Mathias is a hottie,” Lauren gushes.
“Yeah, he is,” Stephanie agrees.
“I’m going to ask him for his number.”
“He’s moving to San Fran,” I jump in.
“Hmm… well, I can enjoy him until then.”
We all giggle.
When we exit the stalls, we all crowd around the sinks to wash our hands.
Lauren and Stephanie reapply their lipstick while I try to tame down my hair.
As we’re heading out, the door swings open, causing me to stumble back.
Stephanie grabs my arms to hold me in place before I hit the ground on my butt.
When I see who has entered, I want to punch someone, preferably one of the two women who just entered.
“Well look who it is.” Janell gives Gina a bitchy smirk.
“Pretend like I’m not here.” I roll my eyes and attempt to pass by, but before I make it to the door, I notice Gina sporting a small bump. A bump that would indicate she’s pregnant. She gives me a knowing smirk when she sees where my eyes landed.
“Yes, I’m pregnant, and to answer the question I know you’re dying to ask.
It’s Tristan’s.” There’s no way in hell Tristan would have slept with her after she threw me under the bus for keeping my baby’s paternity a secret.
Sure, it worked out in the end, but what she did by taking a picture of my letter was conniving and there’s no way Tristan would have forgiven her. Right?
“Bullshit.”
Gina shrugs. “You don’t have to believe me, but you’ll believe it once we’re officially back together.”
“Good, I don’t, and there’s no way Tristan would ever get back together with you. Now if you’ll excuse us…”
Janell steps in front of me and my fists tighten. I’m not above knocking this bitch out.
“Someone should seriously teach you a lesson in staying away from another woman’s man. First you sink your nails into Tristan, then when that doesn’t work out, you go after Marco.”
Gina steps up next to Janell, and I take a step back. Is she out of her mind? She’s fucking pregnant for God’s sake. Lauren and Stephanie take a step forward ready to have my back.
“I’m not fighting a pregnant chick, even if you deserve to have the shit knocked out of you, so back the fuck up,” I say dryly.