Professional tennis scandal! Player caught with rival's wife!
Why have all the Holts suddenly disappeared?
Luca covered his face so he would not have to see Sario's reaction to the information. Kill me. Kill me please. Fucking kill me. I can't do this. Not again. After several long moments, he lifted his head just enough to peek at Sario's face.
His husband looked stunned, but he was silent. He was either plotting a way to kill Luca or was being ridiculously calm about everything. Sario placed the damn device back on the bed, and the mattress dipped as he sat on the end.
When Sario still said nothing, Luca looked through his fingers and saw deep fear on Sario's face. Fear for him. For Luca.
Sario started to reach for him but then stopped and dropped his hand. Why was he hesitating so badly? Was he scared of hurting Luca or something?
Carefully and cautiously, Luca lifted his head enough to let Sario see.
Sario's face softened instantly. "Hey," he said, his voice falling into the gentle rhythm Luca knew and loved so well. "I'm sorry."
Luca frowned. "Sorry? For what?"
Sario's expression slipped toward distress at Luca's question. "For doing this to you. For scaring you like this. For hurting you like this."
Luca grabbed Sario's hand. "I'm not hurt." But he was definitely scared. He would not deny that.
"You deserve the world," Sario whispered, his eyes shiny with tears. "And I feel like I've stolen that from you."
Luca leaned forward and trapped Sario's face between his hands. "You haven't stolen anything. You've been the best part of my entire life."
Sario smiled faintly. "If you say so."
"I do say so."
"Can I touch you?"
Luca blinked at the question but nodded. "Of course."
Sario scooted up next to him and hugged him softly. "I love you."
Luca felt his heart burn at the words. Love. Why would Sario say that word now, when their contract was up? "I love you, too," he murmured back, his heart shattering as he admitted it.
Noah cleared his throat, the sound slightly awkward. "Um, so, thoughts?"
Luca knew what he wanted, but he was not sure if Sario would allow it.
But Sario said something that confused the hell out of him. "Is it high-risk?"
Noah shook his head. "I'd say it's medium-risk. I don't know how it happened with your body in the condition that it's in, Marlowe, but if you're careful, take vitamins, and come in for regular checkups, it should be perfectly fine." He hesitated. "Or—"
"No or," Luca snapped, fear choking him at the thought of purposefully killing his baby. "I want to keep it." He glanced at Sario, who just smiled at him. "You're not mad?"
Sario shook his head quickly. "No! I'm not mad at all! It's your choice, not mine."
"But it's your kid too. And you're young, still in school. I wouldn't want to be a father if I were in your situation."
Sario kissed Luca, probably to shut him up. "I don't think that way. I love you, and I'd love to have a kid with you."
"So…" Noah interjected, very awkward now. "Yes, you want to try to keep it?"
Since Sario seemed to be on his side, Luca nodded fervently.
A smile curved Noah's mouth. "Alright then. I'll go consult with an OBGYN and come back with a personalized care plan." He cleaned up the room and then left, probably using the plan as an excuse to give them time alone to talk.
"Why?" Luca asked the moment the door shut. "Why would you agree when our contract is over?"
Sario was still for a long moment and then slid off the bed to kneel beside Luca.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Sario smiled and took Luca's left hand. "We're still legally married, you know. Certificate and all. But I'd like to ask you something. Will you marry me again? For real this time. It'll be like our contract: no one'll know. To the rest of the world, we stay a happy, famous couple. They don't have to know what keeps us together."
Luca realized belatedly that his right hand was pressed over his mouth and he was crying. "Fuck you," he sobbed out. "Why did you have to get so romantic?"
Sario kissed the rings on Luca's ring finger. "Is that a yes?"
"Yes!" Luca wailed. "Of course it's a yes, asshole!"
Sario launched up and embraced Luca tightly. "Love you too, kitten."
Once Noah had given them the plan and schedule he had created and explained it all, he took them up a few floors. "You're all good to go in," he said when they stopped at one of the doors. "Looks like Darius finally let his parents in." He gave a parting smile and walked away. He was still in the middle of his shift, so he probably had other patients to see to.
Sario knocked and then opened the door. "Hi," he said when everyone inside turned to look at them.
Luca gave a small wave from behind Sario, not trusting his voice to not break.
There was a blanket-wrapped bundle in Darius' arms, hair black as night peeping from beneath a small hat. Daniel and Gabriela Holt hovered at Darius' shoulder, looking at their newest grandchild with all the love in the world, while Darius looked like he could not wait to kick everyone out of the room.
Luca silently made his way across the room to where Rowan was laying in bed, his dark hair stuck to his forehead with sweat.
Aiden was curled up next to Rowan, his shockingly red curls resting on Rowan's arm.
Rowan had to have a sixth sense for people approaching him because he opened his eyes when Luca came near. He offered a weak smile. "Hey. Sario calls you Luca, right? Sorry, it just feels weird to keep calling you by a last name that isn't yours anymore."
Luca threaded his fingers into Rowan's. "Please call me Luca. And don't be sorry. I know it's really confusing."
Rowan squeezed Luca's hand, his other hand absentmindedly petting his son's hair.
"Darius looks like he'd like to murder all your visitors."
Rowan chuckled. "He does, doesn't he?" He sighed. "Darius is an anxious father and a very anxious husband. I'm sure he just wants to take care of me. I'm fine, by the way. I'm just tired. I'm not in pain or anything."
"That's good." Driven by instinct, Luca carefully pushed Rowan's hair off his face. "I see Aiden has been allowed to continue with his barnacling."
Rowan smiled and wrapped his arm a little tighter around his cuddling son. "He's clingy, but that's to be expected of a first child. He'll soon learn he needs to share me with Amber."
"Amber?" Luca asked stupidly before realizing that Rowan was talking about his newest baby. "Oh, that's such a cute name!"
"Amber Lea. The more I say it, the more I like it."
"She looks just like you, at least from what's visible."
"Yeah, she's a cutie."
After half a second of hesitation, Luca made a decision. "I've got news. You're gonna be the first one to know, other than Sario and Noah."
Rowan blinked up at him, clearly confused.
Luca set Rowan's hand on his stomach and waited for the realization to hit.
Rowan's eyes went huge. "What? You're kidding me! Are you serious?" He laughed, his tired eyes sparkling with joy. "That's amazing!"
Luca laughed too, some of the weight pressing down on his soul finally leaving for good.