Chapter 1 Parenthood #7
I shrug. "Don't even start. We played tattoo shop again. I'll send you the video."
He laughs. "Perfect. Oh, by the way, you think Valentina's free tomorrow? We wanna stop by her place."
"Oh my God, yes," I say instantly. "We were thinking the same. Afternoon?"
"Yeah," Gio says, already smiling. "I can't stand being away anymore. I just wanna be close."
I grin at him. "I know. I can't wait either. I'm so damn happy for you guys. I'm gonna cry."
We're all standing by the door now. Rain's tapping against the windows softly.
"Thank you so much, really," Rava says.
"Please," Noah grins, leaning on the doorframe, "bring him over again soon." Rava narrows his eyes. "Only if you promise not to tattoo him again." Noah puts a hand to his chest. "I swear. On Marco's life."
"Fucker," I mutter, smacking his arm. He laughs, all teeth. "Don't worry, I'm serious this time."
"Yeah, sure you are." I shake my head, trying not to smile. Then glance at Gio and Rava. "See you tomorrow, guys," I say, waving as they step out.
"Goodnight, Fontana family," Noah whispers happily.
The door clicks shut.
6) Watch And Learn
Rava
Gio's in front of the mirror again. "How do I look?" he asks while he's fixing his hair. I laugh. "Gio, our daughter isn't gonna see you right now. You know that, right?"
He glances at me through the mirror, smirking. "Doesn't matter. She needs to feel the vibe. Needs to know she's got hot parents." Of course he says that.
I'm on the floor, trying to shove tiny sneakers onto Antonio's feet. He keeps messing with my hair. Gio tells him to stay still. We've both been lowkey terrified about how this whole thing's gonna go, having two kids, balancing everything.
Daisy used to cry all the time when I was born because she said Mom loved me more, and that thought still sits heavy.
I don't ever want Antonio to feel like that.
So Gio and I made a deal. No closed doors when we're with the baby. No "wait outside, big boy."
No gifts that scream you're the favorite. If one gets a toy, the other gets something too. Always.
"Antonio," I say, as he digs through his box of cars, "you can't take all of them. Only two, okay?" He looks up with wide eyes, like I just asked him to pick a favorite planet.
Then he bends down, diving head-first into the box. He pops back out, holding the red one, obviously Gio's, and another new one Lorenzo and Noah brought last week.
"Good choices," I tell him. Gio lifts him up with one arm like he weighs nothing. "Let's go get Uncle Noah and Uncle Maco." Antonio's whole face lights up. "YESSSS!"
They high-five. We wave bye to Lulu and Blu, Gio double-checks the door's locked.
He walks past the Ferrari, past the Ducati.
Every time I see that damn bike, I get flashbacks. My ears burn. "Alright, bean," he says, holding him higher. "You pick. Which ride are we taking?"
Antonio giggles, points straight at the black Lamborghini. Gio grins, looking proud as hell. "This kid's growing up right."
I laugh as we all pile in.
Thirty minutes later
We're all standing outside Valentina's door. Gio, me, Marco, and Noah, Antonio half asleep in Gio's arms.
We look like a gang. Lorenzo and Daisy are out playing pool with his dad, so it's just us.
Valentina opens the door and... Jesus Christ. Marco lets out this tiny choking laugh, and Noah immediately slaps a hand over his mouth.
She's wearing this… fluffy unicorn robe, her curls are everywhere. She looks like a live-action Disney princess that's had... a really long day.
"Hi, guys," she says, with a slightly broken voice. "Come in."
We step inside.
Wow.
The house is spotless, warm, and smells like vanilla. That's so Valentina. Gio's been sneaking over to help her clean while I'm at school. Says he doesn't want her getting tired. It melts me.
The way he takes care of everyone he cares about.
Noah drops onto the couch like it's his own couch. "Hey girl," he says. "Why the long face?"
Valentina points at the table. Then her eyes water. And just like that, she's crying.
All five of us freeze. Even Antonio's looking at her with wide eyes like uh oh. Marco sighs. "Don't panic, guys. She's been like that since forever. Basically a twenty-five-year-old baby."
Valentina sniffles. "I was just... trying to wax my legs... And it all went wrong," she continues in a broken voice.
"It's my first time, and I don't know what I'm doing. I've got wax in my hair, guys. Purple wax."
Gio pulls out his phone. "I have notes for every situation," he says, scrolling. "But not for this. The baby's doomed."
A paper ball hits him straight in the head. Noah. "She said her legs, dumbass. Not her uterus. The baby's fine."
I walk over, wrapping an arm around Valentina. "Hey," I murmur, brushing her hair back. "I can help!"
Noah leans forward, dead serious. "Valentina, hide. Don't let him."
"I mean it," I say. "I used to do it for Daisy all the time cause she couldn't pull the strip off herself. It's easy." Valentina looks at me, then lets out a teary laugh. "You're such a pure soul, Rava."
And she just buries her face in my shoulder, laughing and crying at the same time.
Ten minutes later
I've got my sleeves rolled up, legs crossed, and Valentina's feet are resting on my thighs.
This feels like a spa treatment. There are wax strips and tissues all over the damn table. Gio's on the floor with Antonio, driving toy cars across the carpet. Noah and Marco are cuddling on the couch.
Marco's face is squished against Noah's chest. "How did you even think of that?" Marco mumbles.
Valentina lifts her chin. "I wanna go out tomorrow. With my coworkers. And I got this perfect new burgundy dress. It hits the knee, and I'm not about to look like I gave up on life because I'm pregnant. I have to be a doll."
Noah bursts out laughing. "You sound exactly like your brother. Love that for you. We'll still love you though even if you turn into a hairy gorilla."
A pillow flies across the room and hits him square in the face. I grin. "Alright, you ready?" She nods. "Hit me with it, Rava. I got this."
I press the strip on, smooth it down. "Okay, deep breath." Then I rip.
She screams into her palms, then starts laughing through it. Antonio turns his head, panicked. "It's okay, bean," Gio says, ruffling his hair. "They're not doing anything bad."
I laugh too.
Marco's cheering from the couch. "You got this, woman. Think about that dress." Valentina nods through tears. "Let's go again, Rava. Do it."
So I do. Strip after strip.
Each time she yelps, then laughs harder. By the end, she's red-faced. She wipes her forehead dramatically, looks down at her legs.
"Okay?!" she yells, rubbing her shins. "Rava, this is amazing. You're a saint. I owe you big time." I smirk, stretching my back. "Give me my kid and we're even."
I start laughing at my own joke.
"Wow. Congrats, Rava. First good joke of your life," Noah says. Gio spins around like he's about to throw hands. "Hey. My husband is always funny. Watch your mouth."
Antonio instantly mimics him.
"Watch your mouth!!" Gio gasps, his eyes go wide with fake pride. "That's my boy. Best impression of me ever." He kisses Antonio's head.
"I'm joking. I love your husband," Noah says, dragging himself off the couch. He comes over to us, squats in front of Valentina's legs and stares at them. "Damn. This is insane. It's like there was never a single hair here. Did it really hurt that bad?!"
Valentina hands him a wax strip. "Here. Try it."
I shake my head. "Yeah, right. He's gonna scream like a dying goat."
Noah scoffs, fully offended. "Um, excuse you. I've got, how many tattoos?! You think a lil' wax strip's gonna end me? Babe, start the engines. Valentina, scoot."
She slides off and flops next to Marco, who pulls her into his side. Noah lies down dramatically in front of me. "Alright. Let the peasants watch and learn."
I eye his legs. "So... you're just gonna walk around with one bald spot and call it fashion?"
"Yeah. Who the fuck cares. It's winter. No one's seeing shit." Internally, I'm already laughing. This man is about to die. I heat the wax, smooth it on his shin with care, but I'm shaking from holding in the laughter. I press the strip down. Rub it.
"Gio," I say, deadpan. "Cover Antonio's ears."
Gio throws a look over his shoulder. "Bean, come here." He claps his hands over Antonio's little ears as Antonio giggles. "It's fine," Noah says.
"I swear it's not even that b—YAAA FOTTITI BASTARDO SANTO," Noah's scream shatters every window on this street. I'm gone. Tears in my eyes. Gio falls sideways, laughing. "Thank God you didn't overreact."
Valentina's holding her stomach. "Imagine if he had to give birth." Noah is hugging his leg. Then he leans his whole body into my side, head on my shoulder. "Why would you do this to me, Rava," he fake cries. "I thought we were best friends."
I ruffle his hair.
"I know. I'm sorry. It was a mistake. A tragic miscalculation." I'm still laughing. I can't stop. Noah sits up, pokes at the smooth part of his leg. "Damn… It's kinda soft though."
He squints. "Would this make my legs look more defined? Show off the muscles?"
"Technically…" I say, wiping my hands. "Yeah. Probably." He nods slowly, serious. Gio and Marco are staring.
"What?" Noah says. "I'm just asking. Out of curiosity." Marco smirks. "Just say you liked it and want more."
"No!" Noah snaps. "That's not—okay, I don't know."
I don't wait. More wax.
"AY—I didn't say I wanted it!"
"Your eyes did," I say. "They were sparkling. Adorable. You owe me a free tattoo after this, by the way." Noah groans but high-fives me. "Deal."
Valentina stands up. "Alright, I'm bringing fruit bowls. We're putting on a movie."
Gio's up before she even finishes the sentence. "I'm coming with you, don't carry anything, okay?" Valentina spins. "Bro, I'm pregnant, not brain damaged. I'm fine, I swear."
She's laughing, already in the kitchen.
"Okay. Okay," Gio says, hands up. "I won't argue. You might cry and crying women scare me."