Lucrecia spent most of the day close to Valerio and not to close to Polo's moms. Luckily they were taken by Cayetana and the baby she was expecting, so they didn't pay too much attention to anyone but her and Carla. Lucrecia stayed alone for a moment because Valerio had to go to say hi to Polo's moms, and she didn't want to go there. She couldn't face them. She was not ready. She watched him from across the yard and she didn't hear Ander approach her.
''Just so you know, they are not your competition… They are gay…for each other… No one is coming close to your man.''
Lucrecia smirked.
''I was wondering when you would sneak up.''
''Oh, I can leave… There are far more pleasant people here.''
''Really? Name at least one?''
He smirked at her.
''Omar?''
''You are sleeping with him… You have to say that.''
''Fine, I will exclude Omar… There are some amazing people even without him.''
''Maybe, but you love me more.''
''I do…''
''You see…''
They hugged and he smiled at her.
''Where are you staying? Omar wants us to have lunch together so you can explain why you disappeared from NY.''
''In a mansion.''
''You are back with your parents?''
''No, Valerio bought me a house.''
''Really?''
''Yes, it's in the same neighborhood , but it's bigger than the house where I lived with my parents.''
''Wow! So it pays off to be Valerio's object of lust.''
She just winked at him.
''I do not want to know what else you've got thanks to sleeping with him.''
''I wouldn't either if I were you.''
''I need time to get used to it. It's not every day that your friend comes with info you came with at that bar.''
''You are still in that?''
''Yes, I am still processing.''
''Well, I'll leave you to it.''
''Please don't!''
She had to laugh at that comment and terrified face he had. She knew where Ander's mind left and she found it entertaining how he was terrified and ashamed of imagining Lu and Valerio in bed.
Omar joined them soon and he had million questions for Lucrecia. She couldn't answer all of them but she promised she will give him all the answers. She invited him and Ander to come to the house for dinner. She texted them the address and Omar was surprised to see that she was again at the very fancy zip code.
''How is this possible? You are back with your family?''
''Not really… I have a house.''
''How? You were broke…''
''Well, I was, but someone else wasn't.''
''I don't get it Lu.''
''You will tomorrow.''
Ander just smirked at the idea of how confused Omar would be and how long it would take him to connect the dots that Lu and Valerio are a bit more than siblings. He loved his boyfriend very much, but to this day he was fascinated with how he doesn't notice things. For Omar to comprehend that two of them are together, he would have to walk in on them having sex…with no covers…so he is sure he saw them having sex.
''Fine, see you tomorrow and you better have good explanation.''
''Oh, it will be…''
She noticed Valerio waving at her and she knew it was time for them to leave.
''I am going now. See you tomorrow.''
''See you girl.''
They said good byes and Val and Lu left Polo's house. The ride home was silent. Lucrecia and Valerio were still processing this day, each for their own reasons. Lucrecia was the one responsible for his death and Valerio was his former lover who stood by Lu and was one of the first to suggest they all touch the bottle and make up the story. She was not jealous of Polo anymore, but she still had her moments when she wished she didn't have to share Valerio with anyone. They went to bed early and just held one another. They both needed that safety and felling that they would be ok.
In the morning Lucrecia woke up first and went to the kitchen to see what they have in the fridge. She made a list of things she would need to buy for the dinner with Ander and Omar. She made pancakes and cut some fruit and that's when Valerio showed up. He was in his robe and she knew he was on the way to the pool.
''Good morning gorgeous.''
''Good morning Val.''
They shared a kiss and he looked at the plate in front of him and smiled.
''I didn't like waking up alone, but I guess you are forgiven now.''
''Oh, really?''
''Yes, a bit forgiven…''
''And what do I have to do for full forgiveness?''
He smirked and whispered sweet nothings in her hear. She smirked back and smacked his hand.
''That will have to wait. I invited Ander and Omar for dinner tonight.''
''Do you want me here or you want the house to yourselves?''
''Ander knows about us.''
''What?''
''I told him everything a bit before I came back…''
Valerio was still in shock she told anyone.
''How did that happen?''
''Let's say I was very drunk and I overshared.''
He smirked and she hit him with a rag.
''I wish I was fly on the wall at that moment.''
''And Ander wishes he could forget what he heard.''
''And Omar?''
''He has no idea… I will tell him tonight.''
''That would be fun.''
''Ander agreed with that. He is sure it would take few days for Omar to process what he will hear tonight.''
''Well, it's not your usual dinner conversation. ''I am sleeping with my brother is not a good conversation starter.''
''HALF BROTHER!''
He smirked again.
''Ok, my lioness… What do you want me to do?''
''We can finish the food… To to the pool for a minute or two…and then go to the store.''
''You are cooking?''
''Yes…''
''What are you making?''
''Something Mexican.''
''That narrows it.''
She just narrowed her eyes at him as a warning not to play smart with her.
''How about some beef and vegetables with spices and things like that?''
''Or you could make your famous chilly?''
''So, you invite guests and I have to cook? Lu, Lu… You are a bad girl.''
''Always…''
''Fine, I will make it. But it needs to cook for a long time…So, that means ahtat I am not having my morning dip and we are going to the store and butcher right away.''
''We can have that dip when you put chilly to be cooked?''
''I think that is possible scenario.''
Valerio and Lucrecia went back to their room and changed into their clothes. Ride to the store went by in two of them making endless list of groceries in Lu's phone.
''We are so domesticated.''
''I know… But I think all of the women who ever worked for us and cooked for us are proud of us now.''
''Why?''
''We can locate the store and know how to cook.''
''That is true… At least we learned something from them since our parents were epic fail.''
Lucrecia was silent for a moment.
''Are you ok Lu?''
''I don't know… I don't get what is going on?''
''Clue me in… Maybe I can help?''
''Look at us…. We all grew up filthy rich…and have parents who don't care. And Nadia's family is one of the modest ones…and they love their children very much…''
''Except her sister.''
''That is still sore subject for them.''
''I know… But it's true… They didn't help her when she needed them. Maybe her death and all that happened made them change and be there for Nadia and Omar… But their sister payed the price.''
''There are no perfect parents I guess…''
''No, there are not…Especially in our surrounding.''
''But why? I can't understand why?! They had all the means to be amazing parents. We have money, we had everything…And my mom couldn't be there for me…yours for you… My question is why is everything else more important than their kids?''
''Because I don't think we were wanted… We were supposed to be born, but not wanted to be born.''
''That makes sense.''
''I know.''
They parked in front of the shop and got in. Lucrecia noticed some people looking at them and few cameras snapping pictures. That was one of the ''perks'' of being part of the rich kids club she hated. She and Valerio kept their distance and behaved very sibling like. They were joking; they made fun of everything, but kept the physical distance. Lucrecia hated constant pretending. She was sure that soon their pictures would be in the gossip site. She was back from the US after many years of not setting a foot in Spain. It is a hot gossip in a way and she was aware of it. They got everything they needed and went back home. Valerio started cooking right away and Lucrecia sat across from him on a bar stool and watched him chop, cut and prepare everything for his famous chilly. She always found Valerio cooking sexy and hot. But, Ander would say she find him hot no matter what he does. She smiled at herself imagining Ander teasing her in her head.
He noticed that small smirk on her face and lifted his brow.
''It's nothing Val… Just me being silly.''
''I love when you are silly, so please do share…''
''I think you are incredibly sexy when you cook…''
He just winked at her.
''That's why I cook… I know you like it… If I am not wrong….you are biggest fan of me cooking naked.''
''I agree… But after that one time we agreed that apron is a good idea too… That oil was splashing everywhere and you screaming ouch… every two second was not a turn on…''
''Yes, but later… When I was carving those melons…''
''That was hot…''
''And do you know what else was hot Ms. Thing?''
''What?''
''The bet you lost in Japan…''
''We got really drunk and room was a mess after that much Sake…''
''But I enjoyed every single drop of it.''
She had a moment of blushing and then she just rolled her eyes at him.
''Maids were not happy following morning when they had to change the sheets.''
''At least you were not in the room when they did Lucrecia… You didn't get the eye!''
''I am sorry… I had to go back to my room… Mom wanted us to have spa day.''
''I forgot about that… Did it actually happen? I mean, Marta wanted to do a lot of things with you but somehow you ended up stood up…''
''…and in your bed every time, so don't complain….''
''I am not… I would never.''
''And when it comes to that day… No, we didn't have spa day, but we went shopping…''
''At least she spent some time with you.''
''And a lot of money.''
''That is not problem for Marta and our beloved father.''
Valerio put the pot on the stove and now it was time for it to cook for six hours on a low. He came to her and pulled her into a kiss…
''Parents were scumbags… But at least we had one another… Imagine how it would be if we didn't.''
She put her head on his chest and just inhaled smell of him, spices, wine and all that got mixed in the man she loved.
''No, I don't want to imagine the world where you don't exist… I've spent too many years living without you and I am not doing it again.''
''You are a sap Lu. But I love that about you… I love that raw moment where you are not trying to impress anyone or wearing one of your masks… I love you… The real Lucrecia… My baby girl…that very few people gets to see come out and play…And I wish that many more knew how amazing, smart and capable you are. You are far from being just a pretty face… You are…a force to be reckoned with…and that is what I love the most about you… All the layers on you…''
He made her cry again. She was so not used to hearing such beautiful things and hearing someone believe in her that much. She wiped her wet eyes and smiled at him.
''I love you.''
''I love you too Lu… So , so much…''
Their tender moment was interrupted by his phone. It was one of his big clients and Valerio went to his office to talk to him. Lucrecia stayed in the kitchen for a moment more and then went to the living room. She turned on TV and found a movie to watch. Valerio joined her soon and she cuddled up to him. Together they watched some stupid movie, but the truth was that they were not watching a movie. They were just enjoying being together and their little bubble. She was starting to regret inviting Ander and Omar to dinner… By doing that, she was bursting their bubble and letting someone from the ''outside'' in their little world… Valerio felt her tens a bit and she had pretty good idea what was bothering her.
''Hey, look at me.''
She looked at him and he gave her one of the smiles he has always given her to encourage her.
''It will be ok. Everything will be just fine… Don't worry…Ander and Omar love you very much… And I think they would be happy for us. Someone they care about is happy and at a good place in their life. There is no reason for them to judge… And I also know you want to share with them this part of you. This is something none of your friends got a chance to see. None of them saw how happy, loved and in love Lucrecia looks like…''
''Thank you.''
He just pulled her closer and held her tight. He couldn't tell her that at the moment he was trying to calm her down, he was with the same mess and questions in his head. Telling someone about them would make them vulnerable to the world, but he was willing to take the risk of her. In his eyes, she was worth every risk.
''Lu…''
''Yes?''
''I have to go to Barcelona for three days.''
She was surprised to hear that.
''What?''
''There are some parties I have to go to.''
''I can come with you.''
''You can come to Barcelona with me, but I would prefer if you stayed clear of the parties.''
''And why is that?''
''You are starting a serious job… I don't want anything to compromise you.''
''What is going to happen at those parties?''
''Lu, those will be parties for the rich and often decadent people. You don't need to be seen there… Please, stay here… I just want to keep you off the grid.''
She wanted to go there… She wanted to go with him, but she was reasonable enough to know he was right. With her UN job in Spain, she had to be careful what she does and who she is seen with and doing what.
''You are right… But I will miss you.''
''I will miss you too.'
They shared one more kiss and it was time for him to go back to kitchen and add some more things to his chilly. She was starting to get a bit excited about the dinner.