She ran and jumped into my arms, almost knocking me over.
"Oh, Leo," she cried. "I am really, truly sorry. I love you so much and I would never want…"
"Will you shut up?" I laughed and she smacked my chest. We walked back into the house together and had dinner with my parents.
Our lawyers had been contacting each other and set up a meeting where we could discuss the custody arrangement. We were going to work up to the overnight and lengthy stays after two months of allowing Tony to get familiar with me.
I pulled up to Chloe’s home and took a deep breath before I went to her front door. A plump, older woman answered the door and showed me through the house. The house was ridiculously large and didn’t feel like Chloe at all. It was then that I noticed all the brown boxes with a moving company’s name on them. She was moving.
"They are out back, sir," the older woman stated as she walked me through a large kitchen to a set of French doors.
"Thank you," I said as I turned to head out the doors. I stopped where I was standing, Tony was running around as Chloe chased him. He hurried up the ladder of large swing set and Chloe went up after him, both of them coming down the slide together.
Her hair was down and flowing around her from her movements and a slight breeze. The smile instantly made me think back to that first night on the beach at the fire. Her eyes shone with such love as she looked down at her, my, our son. I felt my heart swell at the vision of my son wrapped up in her arms as they laughed and giggled.
I walked out onto the back porch and Chloe’s whole demeanor changed once she saw me. I wanted her to go back to the minutes before I stepped out. It was that spirit in her that had always seemed to draw me to her. Like a moth to a flame.
"Leo." She nodded and swallowed hard. I nodded back. She knelt down to Tony, "Remember what we talked about, baby?" Tony stared at her blankly. She sighed. "Can you say hello?"
He turned his little head to me. It was like looking into my own eyes. It was so surreal and scary at the same time. I was instantly in love with this little person in front of me. I had been from the moment I looked upon him. Before I even knew he was mine I felt it, the same way that I had felt it with Chloe. I shook off that thought.
"Hi," his little voice said as he giggled.
"Hi, Tony," I smiled. "I’m Leo," I stuck out my hand.
He gave me a strange look and crumpled up his face.
"Daddy," he said and I stared at him in shock. He slapped my hand, like he was giving me five. I looked to Chloe who smiled a little at me and then she stood up and headed to the porch. I picked Tony up and hugged him tightly, planting kisses on his head.
"Ew…" he giggled. Chloe sat down in a chair and smiled at Tony’s reaction.
"How did he…" She cut me off.
"I’ve been telling him," she said.
"But…"
"I have a photo of you, Leo. I’ve been showing it to him and telling him that you were his daddy." She half smiled at me and then picked up a book from the table next to her.
"Thank you."
She simply nodded to me and looked back to her book.
Tony and I played for a couple of hours in the back yard before Chloe said that it was time for him to eat lunch. He ran to her and climbed up her body until she lifted him into her arms and walked him into the house.
Chloe discussed his new diet and his medications with me as Anthony ate. She knew that we would have to go over it again, but she figured that the more times I heard it, the better I would remember. I had to admit that she was being much more civil than I thought she would be today. After he was done eating, I saw him yawn and Chloe quickly washed him off. She looked up to me.
"Its nap time, did you want to…" I cut her off.
"Of course," I started to grab my things to go.
"Um…what are you doing?"
"Leaving so he can go…"
"I meant, did you want to put him down for his nap?" She fought a small grin that was playing on her lips.
"Oh, um…yeah, sure. What does he normally do?" I answered, completely embarrassed about the misunderstanding.
Chloe helped me with his typical routine and then we left him to settle into sleep.
"He is pretty good with napping," she said without looking at me as we went back downstairs. "Once he’s in there, he usually doesn’t get up until he’s slept. He’s very good."
"I can tell," I stated. "You have done a great job with him, Chloe." She stopped suddenly and looked at me like she was waiting for me to say I was joking. I wasn’t. I was very serious. I saw moisture start to build in her eyes, but she turned away quietly and walked back toward the kitchen.
There was a large TV room next to the kitchen that Chloe led me to.
"Should I go and come back tomorrow?"
"Wait," she said quickly. "I wanted to give these to you, to look at. I’m getting copies made for you." She furrowed her brow as she held out four large books.
I took them.
"What are…?"
I started to ask as I opened the first one. Once I saw the ultrasound picture, I knew what these were. I sat on the couch I was next to and couldn’t stop looking at it. That was my son. I looked up and saw that Chloe was over in the kitchen, she seemed to be making coffee. I looked back down at the four different ultrasound pictures. That was my son inside of my Chloe. I felt the tears form and then fall as I thought about missing this.
As I turned the page, there was a picture of a very pregnant Chloe, Roni holding her arms behind her back as Mina was holding up her shirt and drawing a face on her belly. I couldn’t hold in the chuckle.
"What?" She asked.
I held up the page. She blushed and bit her lip. Ahh..the lip! Damn it still gets me.
"Sorry," she said as she placed a tray with coffee, cups, sugar and cream.
"For what?" I asked curiously.
"I forgot that picture was in there. It won’t be in the copy that I’m having…"
"I want it," I blurted out as I turned the pages. Keeping my face down toward the pictures of the baby shower and then of Anthony in the hospital right after he was born. The tears really streamed now.
"Leo, I am so sorry." She stood up and left the room. I watched her walk out but I said nothing.
She left me alone as I finished looking through the albums; his birthdays, holidays, everything. Once I was finished, I laid the books on the coffee table in front of me and poured some coffee. I stood and walked around the large room as I sipped at my cup. I stopped when I saw a small row of DVD’s with white labels. They were labeled Anthony Charles Fiorello with dates written on them. I grabbed the first one. It was labeled twenty-eight weeks to nine months old. I clenched it to my chest and slipped it into my jacket before Chloe realized that I had taken it.
I was still standing there, looking at the DVDs, when I heard her return.
"I will have copies of those made for you as well," she said as she cleaned up the coffee tray and retreated to the kitchen.
"I should get going." I placed the coffee cup on the counter between the TV room and the kitchen.
"Okay."
She walked me toward the front door.
"Are you moving soon?" I asked and nodded toward the boxes.
"Oh, I…um…haven’t found a place yet, but I have been looking. Most of these boxes are things that will be moved into Dom’s family storage. I’m not looking at places as large as this one." She half smiled.
I gave her some neighborhoods to look into and she thanked me before we said our goodbyes.
Once I got home I put the DVD in immediately and sat back on my couch. At first it was dark, but then there was what looked like the ultrasound photo with movement. It was a recording of the ultrasound and below it said twenty eight weeks. I watched my son flitter and flop, he even kicked a leg. It was the most wonderful thing that I had ever watched. Next, was footage of an extremely large Chloe who was sitting in bed with the caption ‘third week of bed re
st’. Chloe had been on bed rest? I could hear Domenico asking her questions as she sat there, rolling her eyes at him and laughing. That should have been me. I felt the tears come again.
By the end of the DVD, I was a blubbering mess on my couch, having seen Tony immediately after he had been born and was in Chloe’s arms. Him in Domenico’s arms, his first months at home, and even Chloe breast feeding him. That image made me long for her even more than I already did. I copied the DVD before I returned it and watched it once a day.
After a month and a half of visiting Tony at his home, Chloe decided that it would be okay if I started to take him overnight for a few nights at a time. I was beyond thrilled and Tony seemed excited, though very nervous. I had Elaine decorate my spare room for him. It was all light blue with a sports motif, a race car bed and football shaped toy box.
The first night I couldn’t get him to sleep. Chloe ended up coming over to help me with him. She left soon after he was asleep. Seeing her with Tony, in my home, really made my heart ache and it took everything I had not to force her to stay here with us. Needless to say, I fell asleep watching the DVD that night.
Months passed and the arrangement started to take its full effect. I currently had Anthony for the month and Chloe would get him one night during the week and on the weekends. When Chloe and Tony moved into their new home, which was only ten minutes from me, she had started working at the label to keep herself busy. We even ended up working together a few times, though Aron seemed to do the most interaction with me. I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t disappointed.
Tonight was the launch party for New Seduction, Scarlett’s band. Mack Production and Bel Suono, Domenico’s, well, now, Chloe’s label, would all be in attendance. New Seduction was already popular in the local market and the branching out was gaining speed. They looked to be a huge success for everyone.
Mina and my mother were watching Tony at her place for the weekend, since both Chloe and I would need to be in attendance for the party and for whatever meetings were established the next day.
Standing in the large space that Bel Suono had rented out for the night, I was amazed at the decorating and large screens that were showing videos of New Seduction performing, as well as a photo slideshow of the group. I was fidgeting with the tie of the black suit that Mina had picked out for me when I felt a hand slide across the top of my shoulders and across the back of my neck. I turned around quickly.
"Scarlett," I sighed.
"Leo," she said with a large grin.
"Well, it’s finally here, your and the band’s night," I smiled at her. "Congratulations"
"Thank you," she smiled and winked at me. "You know that none of this would have been possible without you. You are the best producer out there, Leo." I hadn’t forgotten that her hand was still resting on my shoulder as she moved in closer to my body.
"Scarlett," I groaned. "You know that this," I motioned between her and I, "is not going to happen."
She stuck out her bottom lip.
"You’re no fun, Leo," she giggled. Then she smacked me on the ass as she walked off. I shook my head.
On my way over to get a drink, I was completely knocked off my feet. Chloe was standing above a flight of stairs, arm wrapped with a large, dark haired man. She was wearing a dark blue, floor-length gown that completely took my breath away. It looked like it was silk or satin and the fit was astounding. It was so close to her body without being tight, it was fantastic. I wanted to yank the thin straps away from her shoulders and watch the material slip down her bare skin. I shivered at the thought and licked my lips. The front of the dress was a low-cut V that showed just the swell of her flesh above her breasts.
As if that wasn’t enough to make my pants uncomfortable, she turned around. I groaned internally and clenched my eyes shut to gain composure. If I thought the front was a crime, the back of the dress was just illegal. Those thin straps crossed her perfect back and the dress had a low V at the base of her back, so low that one finger slipped in would place you between the perfect cheeks of her glorious ass.
Luckily, Aron stepped in my line of sight and started to discuss New Seduction and other business. We headed over to the drinks and then settled at a table to talk more.
Not long after my last eyeful, Chloe appeared at the table with the large, dark haired man. We stood as he helped her into her seat, the table going quiet. I was having trouble thinking with her being across from me looking like a Goddess.
"So, Lucien, are you enjoying the party?" Aron broke the silence.
"Yes. Chloe, has been very hospitable," he answered with a thick Italian accent. Who the hell was this guy?
"Lucien, this is Leo, he produced New Seduction’s CD," Aron added.
"Congratulations on the success." He stuck his hand out and I shook it quickly.
"Thank you." I turned my eyes onto Chloe who was now leaning toward Lucien and talking very animatedly. I wish that she talked like that to me again. We spoke, but it was never with the spirit that I loved about her and it was usually about schedules or Anthony.
When he wrapped his arm around her and leaned into her ear, I felt my stomach tighten and my fists clench, my breathing becoming ragged through my nose.
Who is this guy and why is he touching her? Touching the mother of my son, my Chloe? Just as I was about to reach a boiling point, a small, dark haired woman appeared, drawing my attention away.
"Lucien, Chloe, there you are," Chloe stood up and the woman kissed each of Chloe’s cheeks. Then she leaned down and kissed Lucien on the mouth. I was completely confused now and furrowed my brow.
Chloe sat back down and turned to Aron as he spoke. "Lisa, it is so good to see you again. How is the family?"
"Good, good," she spoke with a thick Italian accent as well.
"Leo," I turned to Aron when he addressed me. "This is Lisa, Lucien’s wife and Dom’s sister."
"Pleasure to meet you, Lisa," I took her hand and kissed it over the table, quickly.
"Finally…a gentleman, other than my husband and Aron, in this God forsaken country," she laughed and Chloe laughed with her.
A few hours later, I felt the need for fresh air. Heading to the patio through a set of doors, I bumped into Chloe, who was on her way back in with her cell phone in her hand. She raised her phone.
"Tony is sleeping. It seems that Mina wore him out." She smiled and put the phone back in her purse. She excused herself and started to go back inside when I heard a familiar slow song and grabbed her hand. I heard her gasp.
"Dance with me," I stated to her shocked and confused face.
"Um…Leo, I don’t think…" I cut her off by pulling her to me closely.
"Good. Don’t think, just do," I chuckled lightly as I wrapped my arm around her waist, lifted her other hand and started swaying to the music. After hesitating for a minute, she began to move with me.
I pulled her tighter to me and inhaled the scent that could make me fall to my knees. The electricity between us was still there. I could feel it coursing between us, igniting into sparks everywhere our bodies touched. I pulled her even closer and dropped her hand, wrapping my other arm around her waist.
"Chloe…"
"Don’t, Leo," I could hear the cracking in her voice.
"Please, let me just…"
"No, I can’t." She tried to pull away.
"Don’t run from me, Chloe." I lifted her face to me and kissed her easily, passionately.
She started to push away before finally giving way to her wants, reciprocating the kiss. As we separated to catch our breath, I placed my lips to her neck. The doors suddenly opened, halting my actions.
"Chloe," Aron’s voice rang out and Chloe moved away from me quickly.
"Y-yes?" She croaked out.
"Alex would like to meet with us for a moment." She looked at me briefly before heading toward Aron and taking his arm. I watched her go back into the party, running my hand through my hair.
What the hell was I doi
ng? Did I really think that Chloe and I would be….together again? I was out of my mind. I shook my head and rubbed the back of my neck. Then I covered my face with my hands and lightly rubbed. I could still smell her on my hands. Torture. I was torturing myself.
I knew exactly what I was doing.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Please
Chloe
I don’t know what I had been thinking. How could I let that have happened? Things were a mess as it is and kissing each other just made things more complicated. And what was going on with him? Why was he being so…he should be pissed and disgusted with me, not dancing with me and kissing me, was he crazy?
"Chloe?" I had been so lost in my own thoughts that I had missed most of the conversation going on between Alex and Aron.
"Oh, I’m so sorry." I cleared my head and battled for an excuse. "Is it starting to get really warm in here?" I fanned myself.
"Are you feeling okay?" Aron genuinely asked me. I couldn’t tell if he was just playing along with me or if he actually thought I didn’t feel well.
"I’m fine. Please, continue," I smiled.
The party had been winding down for the past hour, I had said my goodbyes to Lucien and Lisa twenty minutes ago and, now that I had said goodnight to Aron, I headed for my car. The driver was waiting and opened the door for me when I approached.
"Thank you," I smiled while I slid into the car.
As the door shut, I looked up in the car.
"Leo?"
He smirked.
"What are you doing?" I reached for the door handle. He quickly moved in beside me and grabbed my hand. "Let go, please."
"Not until we are moving." Just then, the car pulled away from the curb. He sat back and smiled, taking my other hand.
I pulled my hand away.
"What are you doing?"
"I’m doing things that I should have done a long time ago," he smiled and leaned toward me. His lips were temptingly close to mine, but I fought the urge and pushed him back easily. His face fell as he looked at me.
I moved to the other side of the car.
"Leo, you need to stop. This needs to stop."
All Grown Up Page 26