Three Little Heartbeats

Chapter 9: Unspoken Words

The sound of Sandro's name flashing across her phone screen sent a wave of panic through Rafhaela's entire body. Her heart raced as she stared at the device, his familiar number glowing up at her. She had been waiting for this moment, dreading it and anticipating it all at once, but now that it was happening, her mind went blank.

Her hand hovered over the phone, the silence in the room broken only by the vibrating buzz of the call. Rafhaela's thumb twitched, itching to swipe and answer, to hear his voice and, for a moment, forget the weight of the secrets between them. But fear rooted her to the spot.

She didn't know what to say.

So, she let the call ring out, her heart sinking as it went to voicemail. The guilt washed over her, stronger and heavier than before. She hated herself for avoiding him, but what could she possibly tell him?

*I'm pregnant. With triplets. And you don't even know.*

No. That wasn't something she could just blurt out in a conversation. Not after all these months of silence.

Alexia sighed and placed her phone down on the coffee table, pulling her knees to her chest despite the discomfort of her growing belly. She leaned back into the couch, her mind spiraling with thoughts of Sandro—of the life they had shared in those whirlwind months. It seemed like a lifetime ago, the spark between them igniting faster than she had ever experienced with anyone. But then reality had come crashing down, and they had both returned to their respective worlds—his in the spotlight, hers in quiet obscurity.

And now, she was hiding. Hiding from him, from the truth, from the life they could have had together.

Her phone buzzed again, this time with a text.

"Lex, can we talk? Please."

She stared at the words on the screen, her heart heavy with indecision. Sandro wasn't the type to give up easily, and she knew that sooner or later, he would keep trying until he got through to her. But how could she explain everything that had happened since they last spoke? How could she tell him that their brief love affair had turned into something far more complicated?

Another buzz.

"I miss you."

The words made her chest tighten. She missed him too, more than she wanted to admit. But every time she thought about answering him, about hearing his voice, the fear came rushing back. What if he didn't want this? What if he felt trapped by the news of the pregnancy? What if he resented her for keeping it from him for so long?

As much as she missed him, as much as she longed to hear him say those words out loud, she couldn't bring herself to face the possibility of his rejection.

The doorbell rang, breaking through her thoughts, and Rafhaela nearly jumped from the couch in surprise. She hadn't been expecting anyone. Her heart raced as she moved to the door, half-expecting to find Sandro on the other side. But when she opened it, she was met with the familiar sight of Leah, standing there with a bag of groceries and a concerned expression.

"I come bearing snacks and support," Leah said with a smile, holding up the bag.

Alexia managed a weak smile and stepped aside to let her in. She was grateful for Leah's presence, especially on days like this when her thoughts seemed to spiral out of control. Leah had been a constant in her life since the pregnancy, checking in on her, making sure she wasn't completely isolating herself.

Leah set the bag down on the kitchen counter and glanced at Alexia, her brow furrowing as she took in the tension in her friend's face.

"You look like you've seen a ghost. What's going on?"

Alexia sighed and sank back onto the couch, her hand instinctively resting on her belly. "Sandro called."

Leah raised an eyebrow as she sat beside her. "Did you answer?"

Alexia shook her head. "No. I let it go to voicemail. And then he texted me."

Leah's face softened with understanding. "What did he say?"

"He wants to talk," Alexia murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "He said he misses me."

Leah let out a small sigh, leaning back against the couch. "So, what's stopping you? Why don't you talk to him?"

Alexia chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes fixed on the floor. She didn't know how to explain it, how to put her fears into words. It wasn't just about the pregnancy—it was about everything. The distance, the media, his career. Their worlds felt so far apart now, and she didn't know if there was any way to bridge that gap.

"I don't know what to say," Alexia admitted finally. "I've kept this from him for so long. What if he hates me for it? What if he doesn't want this—doesn't want us?"

Leah was quiet for a moment, her gaze thoughtful. "Lex, you won't know unless you talk to him. You can't keep avoiding this forever. He has a right to know, and you deserve to stop carrying this burden on your own."

Alexia's eyes filled with tears, and she blinked them back quickly. "But what if telling him ruins everything? What if he doesn't want to be part of this? I don't want to drag him into a life he didn't ask for."

Leah reached out and took Alexia's hand, squeezing it gently. "You're not dragging him into anything. You both made choices, and this is the result of those choices. But that doesn't mean it has to end badly. Sandro deserves the chance to know his children, and you deserve the chance to be honest with him. You can't make his decision for him, Lex. You have to give him the chance to decide."

Alexia's chest tightened with emotion, and she closed her eyes, letting Leah's words sink in. She knew her friend was right, but it didn't make the prospect of telling Sandro any less terrifying.

Her phone buzzed again, and both women glanced at it.

"That him again?" Leah asked softly.

Alexia nodded, picking up the phone to check the message.

"Lex, I'm in the city for a few days. Can we meet? I just want to talk."

Her heart pounded in her chest as she stared at the message. Sandro was in Los Angeles. He was here, just a few miles away, waiting for her to answer.

"He's here," Alexia whispered, her voice trembling.

Leah's eyes widened. "Here? In New York?"

Alexia nodded again, her hands shaking slightly. "He wants to meet."

Leah's grip on her hand tightened. "You have to tell him, Lex. This is your chance."

The room felt too small, the walls closing in on her as she stared at the message. She knew Leah was right—this was her opportunity to come clean, to finally tell Sandro the truth. But the fear that had kept her silent for so long still held her captive.

She took a deep breath, her mind racing with a thousand unspoken words.

Was she ready to face Sandro? Was she ready to tell him everything?

The buzzing phone in her hand reminded her that time was running out. Eventually, Sandro would demand answers. And when that moment came, she couldn't avoid him any longer.

But for now, the weight of those unspoken words held her back.

With trembling fingers, Alexia typed a reply.

"I need more time."

She hit send before she could change her mind, knowing that eventually, time would run out.

And when it did, there would be no more hiding.