My Saving Grace
Chapter 23
I'd woken long before Antonio and simply lay there watching as he slept soundly. Initially, I'd been crushed to his chest, so I had to wriggle away slightly to have some room to breathe. With his arm draped over my stomach, he felt like a warm, giant teddy bear.
Even in sleep, he wore a frown on his lips, and his features were tense, just like the first time I'd met him. Going into this relationship probably wasn't easy for him—for all I knew, he could be carrying a mistrust of women after the stunt Veronica had pulled, in addition to his guilt. But he was willing to take the risk because he trusted me, and that was more than I could ever ask for.
There was no denying it. I was irrevocably in love with Antonio Rossi.
During my college years, I'd witnessed couples throwing that word around while cheating behind each other's backs. "Love" was nothing but an empty, meaningless word without merit—actions that truly displayed it. I had never been in love before, but I sure as hell knew what it entailed.
The marriage my parents had was the epitome of love. And that was what I wanted for myself and Antonio. When the time was right, I'd tell him how I felt, but for now, I'd spend our days together showing him.
"Sophia?", he murmured groggily, and I snapped out of my thoughts, feeling him stir next to me.
"Morning, sleepyhead." I pressed a kiss over his heart.
"Good morning to you, too." He smiled lazily at me.
"This feels nice. Waking up next to you."
"Mhmm. You know, we forgot to use a condom yesterday," he drawled. His fingertips grazed my throat, sending a shiver of delight through me.
"I'm on the pill."
He wrinkled a brow.
"You're the first woman I've taken without a condom since..."
"Veronica," I finished.
"Yeah...since her," his voice drifted off.
"Wow, I must be special," I said with a sardonic laugh. I couldn't help but act bitchy at the mention of his hateful fiancée.
He sighed, propping himself up on one elbow as he gazed intently at me.
"You are special, Sophia. Don't let Veronica get in between us. I promise, neither you or I will ever have to see her in this lifetime."
I simply nodded my head.
"Do I need to fuck that frown off of your pretty face?", he jested.
I playfully elbowed him in the ribs, biting back a smile. Knowing Antonio, he could very much be serious.
"There's my girl," he said warmly, his eyes twinkling with mirth as he pulled me into his arms. Perhaps a bit too tightly.
"You're crushing me." My voice was muffled against his toned chest.
"Shit, sorry." He gave me a lopsided grin, loosening his hold. "Tell me something."
"Mhmm."
"What was it like growing up with just your father and brother around? Did you ever feel male-trapped?"
I laughed at his question.
"My friends always asked me that. Surprisingly, no. In the blink of an eye, Dad was able to assume Mom's role in addition to his own. He provided me with everything Mom used to—relationship advice, fashion advice, you name it," I said proudly.
"That's incredible." Antonio's eyes were full of awe.
"It is, isn't it? I remember back when I played soccer in elementary school, the girls used to always wear their hair in a French braid. One day before practice, I went up to my dad and made him French braid my hair."
"How'd he do?"
"It came off before I even managed to reach the soccer field." I smiled wistfully at the memory.
"At least he tried. Men like your father, I highly respect."
"You have to meet him soon." I beamed.
"I'd love to." He grinned.
"He's also the one who told me to reach out to you during our time apart."
"Is that so?"
"Yup." I nodded.
"Looks like your dad and I are gonna be BFFs."
I burst out laughing then became solemn.
"You don't talk much about your family, do you?"
"There's not much to talk about, mia bella. I already told you about Carlo. I'm like an outsider to him now. As for my father, he was pretty much out of the picture after he and my mother divorced."
"That's too bad," I murmured, stroking his chest.
"My mother and I are still close, though."
"I see."
He shifted his body so that he was hovering over me, and my eyes trailed downwards, widening at the sight of his massive bulge.
"Turn around and get on your knees," he demanded, his eyes dark with lust. God, he was so devilishly handsome.
"Finally fucking the frown off my face, I see?" I smiled enticingly.
"That's the intention." He gave a slow, sly smile, lowering his head to drag my hardened nipple into his mouth.
And just as I'd anticipated, Antonio was true to his word, sending my body to heaven and back over and over again.
***
It was the Fourth of July, and my dad was holding the annual barbecue at his house. Antonio and I had carpooled with Nick and Alyssa to San Diego. Ever since we'd become an official couple, Antonio had met my brother multiple times—they both got along great. Today would be his first time meeting my dad.
He was in the backyard grilling hot dogs with my grandpa, James, when we arrived, the both of them sporting matching red, white, and blue striped polos. People got older with age, but I swore, my dad aged backwards; he looked even younger than the last time I saw him without a single wrinkle on his face.
"We're here, Dad!", my brother announced loudly over the sound of Declan's shrieking children.
"Nick! Sophia!", he greeted with a wide smile, dropping his tongs to come join us. With his arms opened wide, my dad pulled Nick and I into a giant bear hug.
"How are you, Dad?", I asked.
"Doing great as always." He released us then directed his warm gaze to Antonio, who stood at my side. "And you must be Antonio, my daughter's boyfriend."
"It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Weston. And I know this is long overdue, but I am deeply sorry about your loss. Sophia has said nothing but wonderful things about your wife."
The two men shook hands as my dad gave Antonio a thorough look-over, his eyes gleaming with approval and satisfaction.
"Please, call me Derek. Makes me feel younger than I actually am." My dad winked at me before continuing, "Claire would've given you a 10/10 based on looks alone. She liked tanned, dark-haired men."
We all burst out laughing because we knew my dad was referring to his own looks.
"I see where Sophia gets her sense of humor from," Antonio remarked with a grin. My dad clapped him on the back.
"Welcome to our family, Antonio. Make yourself at home."
"Thank you, sir."
Nick and Antonio stayed behind to help out with the grilling while I joined Alyssa in the swimming pool after catching up with the rest of my relatives, wearing my new American flag bikini. She and Nick's wedding was less than six months away, and I was beyond excited.
"So, are you and Antonio tying the knot anytime soon?", she asked as we were wading in the pool. Overhead, the sun was beating down on our bare backs.
"Probably not. We've only been dating for two months," I replied nonchalantly.
"But you've known him for over two years?"
"Yeah. We'll cross that bridge when it comes."
"I have a feeling it'll come sooner than you think," she said with a knowing smile.
"What makes you say that?"
"The way he looks at you and talks about you. Whenever Nick and I join you two for dinner, as soon as you open your mouth to say something, Antonio looks at you like—," she rubbed her chin, struggling to find the right words, "—you're a chunk of gold amidst junk and rubble."
"Oh, Alyssa," I laughed.
"The guy's in love with you, Sophia, and you're completely blind to it," she said, sighing dramatically.
"He's not in love with me."
"Has he told you he loves you?"
I shook my head.
"From my experience with guys, I can honestly say that they're awful at voicing their feelings. You know how long it took for your brother to tell me he loved me?"
"How long?"
"Two years. It was during his proposal."
"God damn," I said with a laugh.
"What's all this talk about love?"
We both spun around to see Nick standing at the edge of the pool, decked out in a pair of red, white and blue swim trunks with a beer bottle in his hand while he stared down at us. Antonio stood slightly behind him, wearing an amused expression on his face. He, too, was nursing a beer and dressed in swim trunks fit for the occasion. With lightning speed, my eyes went to his rippling abs as I wet my lips.
"Nothing," Alyssa said sweetly, getting out of the pool to give her future husband a kiss on the mouth.
I followed right behind her, squeezing the water out of my hair then headed towards Antonio. He grabbed my towel off the chaise lounge and handed it to me.
"You want to get some food now?", he asked.
"Yes. I'm starving."
"Me, too." His voice was husky, and I burned, both figuratively and literally, as his eyes roamed over my bikini-clad body, lingering on the swell of my breasts.
"Behave, Antonio," I playfully admonished, purposefully brushing past his bare torso to join the others at the table.
Keith Harrington, my dad's best friend and COO arrived a bit later along with his wife, Jessica, and their daughter, Paige. I greeted them, and suddenly, a burst of recognition shone in Paige's eyes.
"Professor Rossi?", she exclaimed, glancing over at Antonio, who stood nearby talking to Nick. Shirtless.
At the sound of his name, Antonio's head shot towards us, and the look of recognition on his face mirrored that of Paige's, but to my surprise, it slowly morphed into horror.
He gave her a brief wave before disappearing into the crowd of people by the food table. I turned back to Paige, who stood there with her mouth gaping open.
"Holy shit, Professor Rossi isn't wearing a shirt," she remarked.
My jaw dropped to the ground.
"H-He's your professor?", I asked.
"I had him for thermo three years ago. Hands down greatest professor of all time. And the hottest. Wait, what on earth is he doing at your dad's house?"
"He's my boyfriend...," I said with a dubious look.
Her eyes popped out of their sockets.
"Boyfriend? Damn, it really is a small world. You're one lucky chick, Sophia."
I laughed uncomfortably.
"Help yourself to some food, alright?"
"Will do."
I grabbed some more potato salad then went in search of Antonio. Scanning my eyes across the backyard, I immediately spotted his figure underneath the gazebo, an empty chair next to him which I intended was for me.
"Hey," I said when I reached him, taking a seat.
He was staring blankly at his beer bottle, and I reached for his arm, frowning.
"What's wrong, babe?", I asked. He started to laugh under his breath, and I became really worried.
"That girl you were talking to, she's the student I told you about who tried to seduce me."
"Oh my god." I covered my mouth with my hand, my shoulders shaking as I began to laugh uncontrollably. "Hence why you put your T-shirt back on."
"Exactly." He took a swig of his beer.
"She's my dad's best friend's daughter," I explained.
"Jesus."
"Don't worry, I'll keep you safe." I rubbed his shoulder.
He chuckled, pulling me onto his lap.
We ate in companionable silence while watching the younger kids play tag. I definitely wanted children of my own one day, but not now. I wondered if Antonio wanted children as well?
If only my mom was alive to bask in the happiness of her family's reunion. She would've made her signature chocolate mousse cake, too—it was our Fourth of July tradition.
Later that evening, the five of us—Nick, Alyssa, my dad, Antonio, and I—drove to Harbor Island to watch the fireworks, another annual tradition of my family's. The view of the city was unobstructed and breathtaking from there.
I sat on a blanket between my dad and Antonio, and right as the fireworks were about to begin, my father whispered in my ear, "He's a keeper. I'm also speaking on behalf of your mother."
I smiled at his words, feeling a tear trickling down my cheek as I leaned in give him a peck on the cheek.
"I love you, Dad."
"I love you, too, pumpkin."
Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" was playing through the speakers as the first fireworks erupted in the night sky, and everyone whooped and cheered. Antonio had his arm around me while I rested my head on his shoulder, admiring the bright colors.
I'd always been fascinated by fireworks as a kid, and in college, getting to learn about the chemistry behind them was one of the coolest things ever. No one else around me was thinking about science right now, I was pretty sure. But hey, nerds have hot boyfriends, and the man next to me was living proof of that.
The fireworks display lasted a full fifteen minutes, and at the end, we were all chanting "USA!" like the patriotic beings we were. Once we were back on our feet, Antonio folded up the blanket then offered his hand to me, and I held it as we followed my family back to the car.
"I wish you didn't have to leave in the morning," I spoke.
"Duty calls," he said with a reluctant sigh.
Antonio had an early flight to New York in the morning for a mandatory higher education conference. I'd offered to drive him to the airport, along with Nick and my dad, but he didn't want us waking up at five in the morning. Instead, he'd opted to take an Uber.
When we got home, everyone retired to their respective bedrooms, and I led Antonio to mine, where I'd spent the first eighteen years of my life. Soccer trophies and piano awards adorned the shelves, and on the walls were pictures of my family and friends.
We both brushed our teeth then stripped out of our clothing before climbing in bed. After our first week dating, we'd reached some sort of unspoken mutual agreement to sleep naked when we were together. It felt so much more intimate that way.
"You look just like your mother," Antonio remarked, glancing at the photo on my nightstand of my mom and I beneath the Eiffel Tower. "Do you miss her?"
"Every second of every day. But some days are better than others," I replied quietly.
He pulled me close to him, brushing his lips against my forehead as our legs tangled together. Then, he tilted my chin up with his finger until our eyes met.
"You know the fireworks we saw tonight?"
"What about them?", I asked.
"Remember how they sounded?"
"Yes..." I gave him a weird look, wondering where on earth he was going with this.
"That's the sound my heart makes when I'm around you. Like right now."
He grabbed my hand and placed it against his chest, and indeed, I could feel the rapid thumping of his heartbeat.
"I'm in love with you, Sophia," he spoke softly, his eyes blazing.
"Antonio..." My mouth began to quiver, and my heart pounded in my chest.
His tone was louder, more certain this time as he said, "Fuck it, I love you. And I love fucking you. There, I said it."
"Y-you lo—"
"Say you love me, too," he whispered fiercely, an almost pleading look in his brown eyes.
"Oh, God, I do. I love you, Antonio. So, so much."
The look of utter triumph in his eyes made my heart burst with the love it held for him, and next thing I knew, he was on top of me as his lips crashed against mine. Throughout the night, we made love while he whispered sweet nothings in my ears, and when I finally fell asleep in his arms, it was to the sound of his steady heartbeat.
Only five o'clock came too soon, and the moment he left my bed after we shared a parting kiss, it felt like he'd taken a piece of my heart with him. The thought was both a blessing and a curse—never in my life had I been this vulnerable—but for Antonio, I was willing to risk it all.
