PEACHY

11 (ANDY)

Please forgive me, I know not what I do
Please forgive me, I can't stop loving you
Don't deny me, this pain I'm going through

*

*unedited*

My heart is broken. I had to leave Peach's room. I have tears streaming down my face and messy hair sticking to the tears. I sit on the stairs and take a deep breath. I run my fingers through my hair.

"What do I do?" I mutter to myself.

Footsteps start coming up the stairs gaining my attention. I look down and see Matteo walking up. He keeps his gaze on his feet as he passes me. I turn to the side and watch him go into Peach's room. I quietly stand up and walk to the doorway and lean against the wall.

"Peach," Matteo mutters.

"Yes?" Peach murmurs.

"I'm sorry for scaring you and for my outburst. It was uncalled for. Will you forgive me?" Matteo asks.

"Why should I? You don't love me," Peach replies.

My heart shattered once more as tears continue to fall down my face. I put my hand over my mouth so I don't make a sound.

"I never said I don't love you, Peach. You are mine as I am yours. I wasn't thinking when I said those hurtful things to you and your mom. I would love to be your dad for the rest of my life and when I die," Matteo replies.

"Please, don't hurt my mommy's feelings. She's cried enough for one day. She just wants to be loved like I want to be loved," Peach says.

"Well, I can love her as I love you if she'll let me," Matteo says.

"Why wouldn't she love you?" Peach asks.

"Because I have done some messed up things in my past, Bella," Matteo replies.

"She forgives me when I mess things up so she should forgive you for messing up," Peach says with a little joy in her voice.

I push myself off the wall and quietly walk into her room undetected. "Maybe, one day, Cara Mia," Matteo replies.

I wipe the remaining tears off my checks and smiles a little. Matteo towers over Peach but her energy is bigger than his. She can project any feeling and everyone would know it. It's something I can barely do but I don't know about Matteo.

"Let's go find mommy so you can apologize to her!" Peach says with excitement laced in her voice.

I cross my arms over my chest and wait for them to look at me. Matteo turns around and sees me. Sorrow flashes through his eyes as he looks me up and down. Peach stands there watching us.

"I'm sorry, Andy, I didn't mean what I said. It was very uncalled for. I shouldn't have attacked you and her like that," Matteo blurts out. "Can I see your arm?"

I look down at my arm and frown as the bruise shows clearly through my skin. I look back at Matteo and slowly walk to him. I hold my arm up and he lightly grabs it. He runs his thumb over my bruise making me jerk a little.

"I'm sorry. Let me take you and Peach out for dinner," Matteo says.

"We can go tomorrow. She needs rest and I need to finish unpacking," I respond.

"Can I hug you?" Matteo asks.

I slowly nod. Matteo lets go of my arm and pulls me into a hug. He kisses the top of my head and holds me tightly against him. At this moment, everything felt right and in place again. Two small hands pry our legs apart and stand in between us. I look down at Peach and she smiles at me.

"I want to be apart of the hug!" Peach semi screams.

Matteo pulls away from me and picks Peach up. Matteo pulls me to him and Peach. Peach kisses the top of my head then Matteo's cheek.

"Everything feels right and in place again," Matteo blurts out.

"I second that."

After our heartbreaking moment with Peach, Matteo went back downstairs and we finished settling in. Peach is asleep in her room and I am standing in my shower letting the water run down my back. I look down at my right thigh and feel my tattoo.

My tattoo is a peach with a rose and a stem wrapped around the peach. Right under the peach and rose is Peach's birthday. I got it for my twentieth birthday. The bathroom door squeaks open but I ignore it.

I turn around and let the water hit my face. The shower door slides open then closes. Hands snake around my waist and pull me into a hard chest. "One last time for old times sake?" Matteo's voice fills the air.

I move away from him and turn around to face him. "If we are ever going to be anything, we need time to marinate and get into a routine. We shouldn't be together at this point but maybe we could later on. Right now, I just want to start working and get Peach in school," I reply. "If you can wait for me, actually get to know me, then we can go from there."

"Okay, understandable. Let's just focus on Peach and how we are going to co-parent," Matteo responds. "Can we still fuck though?"

I giggle and nod. Matteo pushes me up against the wall. Water streams down his toned chest. I put my hand on his chest and smile to myself.

"Your dick is poking me."