“Noah said he’d never seen this side of Abel. I don’t think even Hector had seen this side of his brother. My God, Nellie, as terrified as I was that you might not make it, I was more scared for him than myself. For someone who’s so damn reserved, he held nothing back. Even before we knew you were in the hospital, we all saw the desperation in his eyes, and once we found out, he just fell apart.”
It almost hurt Nellie to imagine what he must’ve gone through. The last thing she remembered before passing out at the hotel was thinking he’d been seriously injured, and that had nearly ripped her heart out. She couldn’t even imagine being told he might not make it.
Finding out where she was and why was a big enough shocker, but finding out she was pregnant was a surprise that she still had mixed feelings about. The baby seemed to be doing well as far as the doctors could tell, but it’d be weeks until they found out if it’d suffered any damage. Abel, on the other hand, was ecstatic and very optimistic that the baby would be just fine.
Before Nellie could respond to Roni, Abel was at the door with a big smile. “You ready to go home?”
“Yes,” she smiled back. God was she ever.
Roni gave Nellie a quick side look, and Nellie knew what she was thinking: Thank God he hadn’t heard her. The nurse had already given her all her take home instructions for the rest of her recovery. One of the biggest things they harped on was rest and no stress. Abel was already making sure of it. The doctor had suggested maybe hiring some in-home care for the first week so that she could stay in bed as much as possible.
Abel wouldn’t hear of it. He said he’d wait on her hand and foot himself. Already, he wasn’t letting her lift a thing. He reached for the small duffle bag that she was holding.
“Abel, I think I got this.”
He gave her a look lifting an eyebrow, and she grudgingly handed it over.
Roni laughed. “Oh, she’s a stubborn one, Abel. I think you’re gonna have your hands full all week.”
“It’s what I’m most looking forward to.” He winked, moving out of the way so they could exit first.
~*~
Hector, who’d flown back to Los Angeles the day Nellie had woken up, was waiting for them at the airport. No one had heard from Abel since the fight. Even Andy didn’t know where he was. Abel wasn’t over being irritated with Andy just yet. Noah had told Andy the only thing Abel had allowed him to: that he was taking time off and to reschedule any appearances or interviews he had for the next few weeks. As far as he knew, no one but the immediate family had a clue where he and Nellie were or that Nellie had even been in the hospital. He was planning on keeping it that way for a while. The only other person he’d told was Felix when he called to check on Abel. Felix immediately offered his private jet so they wouldn’t have to fly commercial and deal with the pain-in-the-ass paparazzi at the bigger airports.
Now that the pool house was fully remodeled, Abel brought Nellie home with him. She’d be recovering there since he lived in a gated community and his home was far more private and secluded than hers. With the scandal still going strong, he was certain the paparazzi were already camped out on her street. He wasn’t having it.
They reached his house, and Hector pulled all the way to the back so Nellie wouldn’t have to walk far.
“So I never got the story,” Hector said to Nellie as he and Abel began unloading the trunk. “What were you doing in Henderson?”
Abel already knew. She’d told him she’d gone there to get away from the media, but they hadn’t discussed why she hadn’t trusted that he wouldn’t be upset with her. He hadn’t wanted to go there with her yet. He did have every intention of asking her later, because this media crap wasn’t going to go away, especially now that he’d won. He didn’t want any more issues arising because of the media attention, so he needed to get a few things straight with her. And once word got out that she was pregnant, they’d be all over it—the disrespectful vultures—no doubt raising the question of whether the baby was his or Sam’s.
Even with the photos of her entering Sam’s hotel room and of them kissing that night, he never even considered the possibility. He had blind faith in Nellie now. He wouldn’t even entertain the idea that this baby was anyone else’s but his. The very thought that anyone might suggest so had him grinding his teeth already.
Nellie glanced at Abel for a moment before addressing Hector’s question. “I needed to get away. Andy said I’d be mobbed.” She turned to Abel, her expression a bit worried. “But even then I was willing to deal with the press, until Andy told me how disgusted you were with me and that you really didn’t want me there—”
“He told you that?” Hector and Abel spoke at the same time, and they each sounded equally revolted.
Nellie glanced back and forth from them, looking confused. “Well, yeah, with the scandal being out of control, he said it was best if I stayed away from you.”
Feeling his insides go straight to a boiling point, Abel saw red. “That son of a—”
“So all this,” Hector asked, pulling out his phone, “might’ve been avoided—you ending up in the hospital and my brother nearly losing his mind—because this fucker told you to stay away and he said Abel didn’t want to see you?”
Nellie stared at Hector, her eyes widening, and Abel remembered the doctor’s orders—no stress. “It’s cool, babe.” He slipped his hand into hers in an attempt to appear calm. “I never said I didn’t want to see you, but everything’s fine now.”
“Andy, where you at?” Hector spoke into his phone a bit deliberately, though Abel could tell he was making an effort to mask his anger. “Yeah, yeah, everything’s fine. He’s just taking a break. But he wanted me to go over some things with you. Can you meet me at 5th Street right now?” He paused for a second.” Cool, see you there in a few.”
Hector glanced down at the bags on the floor. “You got this, Abel?”
“Yeah, I got it,” Abel said.
Hector kissed Nellie on the cheek. “I’m glad you’re better.” Then he turned to Abel. “Don’t worry about Andy,” he said, waving his phone at him, already walking away. “I’ll take care of him. You wanted his ass fired anyway, right?”
Abel nodded, a little worried about what exactly his hothead brother had in mind. “Yeah, but hey . . .” Hector turned around to look at him, still walking backwards. “Don’t get arrested.”
Hector smirked. “I gotta fly out to Maryland with Charlee tomorrow. She’d kill me if I got locked up.” He wiggled his fingers in the air. “Might have a few bruised knuckles on our trip, but I won’t get arrested.”
Nellie turned to Abel. “He’s not really gonna fight Andy, is he?”
Despite his insides still being lit, Abel had to laugh. “Are you kidding me? Hector will be lucky if he gets two jabs at Andy before the guy goes down. You have seen my brother’s left hook, haven’t you?” Her beautiful eyes opened wider, and Abel smiled, kissing her. He didn’t mean to upset her. “Don’t worry, babe. That’s why he asked him to meet him at 5th Street. There’s an onsite first response guy at all times and a ton of first aid kits. They’ll ice Andy and clean him up a little before throwing him out on his ass.”
He wouldn’t mention that it was a good thing Hector was taking care of this and not him. If it were Abel, Andy’s life would be in serious risk. He didn’t need to worry her about what he might do to the guy if he ever saw him again.
Once in the house, Abel led her straight to the bedroom where she’d remain for the rest of the week. He fluffed up her pillows and pulled up the comforter. “There you go, princess. That’s your place for the rest of the week.”
“I can rest on the sofa, too, you know. I don’t have to stay in bed all week.” Abel lifted a brow, his smile dissolving. “Okay, okay,” she said, slipping off her shoes and climbed in. “Mmm,” she said as she lay down. “If I’d known how comfortable your bed was, I wouldn’t have argued.”
Abel covered her and then lay down next to her. “Speaking of
my bed,” he said, taking her hand, “with a baby on the way now, we need to discuss our living arrangements. I don’t want you and the baby living away from me. This place is a good size for a bachelor, but I don’t think it’s gonna cut it for a family.”
“You can move in with me,” she offered with a smile.
It amazed Abel that just a week ago he’d been afraid to mention wanting to be exclusive and now they were talking about moving in together—being a family.
“I wouldn’t mind your place, but it’s way too accessible to the public.” He played with her fingers. “It’s one thing for them to follow us around and try to get photos. Even that I don’t have much patience for. But this is my kid we’re talking about now. “He touched her belly softly, feeling a knot in his throat already, and he hoped this emotional wussy shit would pass soon, because it was getting ridiculous. “My ass would end up in jail so fast if they messed with this little guy or girl.”
There was a knock at the front door, and Abel already knew who it was. He was surprised it took her this long. “That,” he laughed, pointing toward the door as he got up, “is another reason why we can’t live here.” He shook his head. “I love my mom, but she can be a little on the overbearing side. And soon,” he lowered his voice, “there will be another one just like her living in that front house. My aunt’s moving in next month.”
Abel saw her try to smile without reaction, but he didn’t miss the way her eyes widened. He’d get his mom in and out ASAP because now that he knew Nellie didn’t object to moving in with him, he could really talk to her about his other plans.
~*~
Of course, Abel had been right. It was his mom and she came bearing gifts. Freshly made sopa de fideo was the first. She said it was easy on the stomach in case her appetite wasn’t one-hundred percent yet and she used the pasta shaped as letters. “It was Abel and Hector’s favorite when they were kids.” She smiled as she set the tray with the bowl of sopa in front of Nellie. “But even now Hector still asks for his sopa all the time. Charlee even asked me to show her how to make it. It’s very easy.” She lifted her brows at Nellie.
Nellie smiled knowingly. “It was one of my favorites growing up, too, Mrs. Ayala. My mom taught me and my siblings early on how to make it.”
Mrs. Ayala waved her hand in front of her. “Oh, no, I told you already. It’s Carolina, but you can call me Caro.”
Smiling, Nellie nodded and glanced up at Abel, who was leaning against the doorway watching them with a cautious smile. Caro sat down on the bed next to Nellie and touched her forehead. “How are you feeling? You look a lot better.”
“I feel a lot better.” Nellie nodded.
“Mijo,” Caro looked around then up at Abel, “I meant to bring a box I had for Nellie, but I must’ve left it on the kitchen counter when I grabbed the sopa. If it’s not there, then maybe it’s in my room on my dresser. Go get it and bring it to me, por favor.”
Abel started off, and Caro seemed to wait until she heard the front door close. She reached into the front pocket of her apron and pulled out a small box. “He’s not gonna find it, but I wanted a moment alone with you.” Caro smiled and looked down at the box in her hand. “My late husband had only one brother. Like my sons, they were very close. My husband was the older of the two and also the first to fall in love. My mother-in-law, who’s also passed now, sat me down one day after I’d been dating her son for some time and told me she knew I owned her son’s heart. She’d waited until she was sure and gave me this.”
Caro tugged at the heart-shaped stone pendant hanging around her neck. “It’s Fire Agate. I personally don’t believe that gemstones have healing powers or promote well-being, but she was one of those people who did, and she said this particular stone was supposed to deflect ill wishing and harm.” Caro waved her hand in front of her with a smirk. “But she also said it represented her son’s heart. She’d waited until she was certain I owned his completely and wanted me to have it. She said her mother-in-law had done the same with her. She later gave one to my sister-in-law when my brother-in-law fell in love. I really liked the gesture and always said I would do the same one day.”
Caro opened the small box with two heart-shaped stone pendants much like hers on chains. She pulled one out and smiled. “I bought these years ago, one for each of my boy’s hearts.” As their eyes met, Nellie forced herself to hold in the emotion she’d begun to feel. “The only reason I haven’t given Charlee hers is because Hector is still so young.” She shook her head and laughed. “But I can see now that I’ve been in denial all this time. That güerita owns his heart completely. She has for some time. And you . . .” She smiled, touching Nellie’s face. “I’ll admit I had my reservations in the beginning.” She shrugged. “Noah and Roni are living proof that age has no bearing on true love. And how can I not be pleased that my Abel has found someone who makes him so incredibly happy? It almost scares me how hard he’s fallen.” She patted then squeezed Nellie’s knee over the blankets. “Please, promise me you’ll never hurt him.”
“Never,” Nellie whispered, barely able to speak because she was so choked up.
Shaking her head, Caro exhaled before continuing. “And please take care of yourself. My God, when you were in the hospital, for the first time in my life, I had no idea how to console my son. I’d never seen him so desperate.”
With her heart once again aching for what she’d put Abel through, Nellie nodded and inhaled deeply before speaking. “I promise. My asthma hasn’t gotten that bad in a long time. For the most part, I know how to keep it under control. The circumstances this time were just . . .”
“I know.” His mom agreed quickly. “I know.” She then handed Nellie the pendant. “Take this, Mija. His heart is yours forever. I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.” She laughed, looking down at the box with the other pendant. “Well, that, and who owns this one too.”
Nellie smiled, taking the pendant. And she had to agree that, as young as Hector and Charlee were, those two were definitely as hopelessly in love as Nellie now felt. She pulled the chain over her neck, feeling the sudden need to wear it. “Thank you, Caro. This means so much to me.” She knew now with complete certainty exactly what Charlee had been talking about. “I promise you. Your son owns my heart completely too.”
She hadn’t even heard the front door open, but Abel walked in just as Nellie and Caro were hugging. “I couldn’t find—” He stopped as he walked in, his expression somewhat concerned. “What did I miss here? Everything okay?”
“Everything is perfect,” Nellie said as Caro stood from the bed.
“I found it,” Caro held up the box to show Abel. “I forgot I slipped it in my apron pocket.
Abel eyed the box suspiciously then looked back at Nellie, who took one big satisfying spoonful of the sopa and grinned.
“That’s right.” Caro said as she began out the door.” Eat up so you can get all your strength back. I have to go get dinner started now.”
Abel lay down next to Nellie again, careful not to spill her fideo. “I told you she’d be taking over.”
“If the rest of her food is as good as this,” Nellie said as she wiped her mouth with a napkin, “I’m not complaining.”
“Oh, no!” Abel’s head fell back. “I should’ve known her cooking would win you over. That woman knows exactly what she’s doing. That’s how she got Charlee too.” Abel lifted his hands and made a buzzing sound as held them up in front of Nellie. “Tractor beam. She’s already sucking you in.”
Nellie laughed. He didn’t know the half of it. But she’d keep her conversation with his mom to herself for now. He’d notice the pendant eventually, and then she’d tell him. Right now, she was still feeling all warm fuzzy about what his mom had said to him. She didn’t want him making light of it and taking anything from it. Nellie had seen the look in his mother’s eyes—heard the emotion in her voice. This was no ploy to get on Nellie’s good side or “suck her in.” She’d meant every word she sa
id, and so had Nellie.
“But I do need to eat,” she smirked, dipping her spoon into the fideo. “You want me to get all my strength back, right?”
That wiped the silly smile off Abel’s face, and his eyes widened. “I don’t think that’s why she said it,” he said, already scooting closer and kissing her softly, “but I like how your thinking. Eat up, baby.”
Nellie did just as she was told because she was already having visions of breaking in her new bed.
***
By the end of the week, Nellie insisted that she felt one-hundred percent better from her asthma, but the morning sickness had kicked in pretty bad. Abel wasn’t letting her go anywhere.
Abel had been right about Hector being lucky to get two shots in on Andy before the guy went down. It was two shots exactly, one for each eye. Luckily for Andy, both Noah and Gio had been there to tear Hector off him. At first, Abel had laughed at the picture Noah texted him of Andy’s eyes swollen shut. But later, he worried Andy would press charges because, even though technically it’d happened in a boxing gym, neither of them had been in the ring and Hector hadn’t been wearing gloves.
Andy was going to press charges, but ended up dropping them when Felix threatened to drop him as his agent if he didn’t. Felix told Abel that his contract with Andy would be up after his fight anyway. He didn’t want to deal with a new agent with such a big fight coming, but once it was over he’d be cutting Andy off and finding another agent. For now, he’d make him think everything between the two of them was still business as usual.
Since Felix was in town, Nellie had assured Abel she’d be fine if he left her side for an hour or so to go have lunch with the guy. Her parents would be over anyway, and she knew that was the only reason he’d agreed to go. Her parents had hung out for a bit but had to go pick up Courtney at the airport. She’d gotten out of rehab today and was moving in with them.
Nellie was surprised to hear from her sister so soon, and she almost didn’t answer her call, afraid of what to expect. She hadn’t heard from Courtney in months, so she gave in and answered.
Abel (5th Street #4) Page 27
