Marcellius Fierri [Book #1]

Chapter 24

Mia's POV (Three days later)
I didn't get any sleep last night, or any night since Marcellius left. I couldn't. Not with an angry Marcellius still out there. I've tried getting a hold of him, but no answer. I can't tell if he's actually busy, or simply ignoring me.

"He'll come around nuora(daughter in-law)," Mama Fierri tells me, placing a comforting hand on mine. I look up from my phone and give her a small smile.

I've been waiting for him to call, text, anything but nothing. I thought maybe giving him his space would help, but it's done nothing but make me ask a question I hope doesn't come true.

Are we over?

"It's been three days cara(dear), don't you think it's time you gave yourself a break?"

"I just don't want him to leave me," I tell her, my voice cracking and my eyes filled with tears. My vision is blurry and all I can think about is everything coming to an end before it even really began.

"Marcellius may be upset, but he doesn't give up when things go bad. He's a fighter, as are you. Which is why I know you two are meant for each other. No one fights for anything, especially those you care about like you two do." She was right.

After everything we've been through so far, we have continued to stick by each other's side. We always find our way back to one another, both as friends and lovers. "Just give it time. You two will find your way." She gives me an assuring smile before looking up at someone near me.

Glancing back, I roll my eyes when I see Selene. I haven't talked to her since she got here. Before all of this, I was actually looking forward to meeting her.

Now, I have no interest in getting to know her. Mama Fierri glares at me, motioning for me to speak. I shake my head, looking down at my phone.

She makes a tsk sound with her teeth before greeting Selene. "Good morning Selene. Did you sleep okay?"

"Yes, I feel quite refreshed madre(mamma/mother). Thank you for letting me and Miko stay here."

"Of course cara(dear). You two are famiglia(family); a Fierri."

They both smile at each other and I take that as my cue to leave. Standing up, I can feel their eyes on me as I take my leave.

Disappearing into the basement, I join Dante and Cesare on the couch. They're too busy playing their game console to notice my presence.

Today was the first day I called in sick. Leah was happy to take over for me, while I sulked at the Fierri's. It wasn't like I was lying. I did feel sick. I haven't been able to keep any food down, and or get much sleep. My eyes are puffy and red from all the crying, and my head won't stop throbbing.

Cesare looks over at me, flinching at the sight of me. He's looking at me as if he's just now seeing me fully since the day Marcellius left for California. "Damn Mia, you look horrible as hell."

"I feel horrible."

"I'm guessing you and Marcel still aren't talking." He turns his attention back to his game. He's playing some shooting game and Dante's losing pretty badly. They were having a contest to see how many kills they could achieve in a single game.

I don't understand the attachment the male species has for their video games. They treat it like it's a relationship, which I find weird and worth checking into therapy for.

"My brother's not the type to hold grudges for long since he deals with the source of his anger pretty quickly." Well he sure did this time.

"He's a hothead, but he'll come around. Now if you had ended up with Nic, you wouldn't be so lucky. The man can hold grudges forever. He's still mad about the time I peed all over his Thomas the train set." I raise a brow in question. "I was barely two years old! He's lucky I didn't shit all over that ugly ass toy."

"Okay...thanks for the pep talk."

"You're welcome Mia," he says with a cheesy smile as if his weird advice actually helped me. He starts standing up and shouting at Dante about how he got almost thirty kills.

Leaving, I decide to just go and take a nap. I was in much need of a nap anyway. I've barely gotten any sleep the last couple of days. I mean Marcellius isn't even here and he's still managed to keep me up at night.

God, I missed him.

Heading back up to our room, I climb into the bed and bring Marcellius' pillow to my chest. Clutching the pillow tightly, I inhale his manly scent. Closing my eyes, I just lie there and think about all the moments we've shared in and out of the room.

My eyes flutter open, a knock at the door, startling me. Sitting up, I say, "come in" without bothering to check to see who it is first. In comes the last person I expected to see.

Selene.

She walks in, holding her head up, confidence emanating from her pores. "I think it's time we address the elephant in the room."

I wasn't in the mood as she just interrupted my chances of finally getting some sleep, but I nod in agreement anyway. I mean she was right. This talk was long overdue and much needed to clear the air between us.

The tension was starting to get a little thick in the air. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, she joins me, keeping a reasonable distance between us.

"I'm not in love with Marcellius. What we had has long since expired." She holds up her hand, revealing a shiny and very expensive looking diamond encrusted ring. I messed up big time. "I'm engaged to the love of my life, and have been for almost a year now."

"Does Marcel know?"

She nods. "He's known about my fiancé for almost seven years now." I was off, way off. I completely misinterpreted the situation between them, made incorrect assumptions, and acted like a foolish child, all because I was jealous of the family and love they shared for one another.

Especially the love they share for their son. I see now why Marcellius acted the way he did. I was in the wrong and what I said was highly insensitive. He could have lost his family.

Damn.

"I feel so stupid. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I should've respected your relationship better. I can see that he loves you, and that's rare for him. You will make him very happy," she says with a kind smile. "And hopefully enough that he'll stop being such a grumpy ass grandpa and smile more."

I thank her, and she and I both burst into a fit of laughter. Selene's an amazing woman and I have nothing, but respect for the mother of my boyfriend's son.

I was so wrong about her, wrong about everything. There was no need for me to be jealous. Marcellius has made it clear that I'm his and he's mine. I just hope he still feels that way when he returns.

"Girl, tell me about the fiancé who gave you this big ass rock on your finger." She holds out her hand once more, allowing me to examine the beautiful piece of jewelry. I could see that this was the beginning of great, long lasting friendship.