Page 6 of Angel's Forever

In a flash, Hudson threw his arms around him. I had never seen him so caring toward Nico. I knew they loved each other, but Nico was always the touchy-feely person, not Hudson. He just held him as the tears fell down Nico’s face. I knew they needed some time together, and the meal we were going to have was simple for just me to cook, so I made a decision I hoped would help both of them.

“Look, there is still just over an hour before Gino is due here. Why don’t you go upstairs together and talk, without me around? You both look like you need it. If you aren’t down before Gino comes, I’ll come and get you.”

Hudson looked at me and smiled. He knew I was just trying to get them to connect again. They were probably both hurting inside. Hudson got up from where he was kneeling and held out his hand, but Nico didn’t move an inch. I could tell he was really hurting inside at what he thought he had done to Hudson. I looked at Hudson and could see the pain in his eyes as well. I got up from my seat and kneeled in front of Nico, deciding to use my Italian to bring him out of his slump.

“Nico, mio principe. Ti prego, guardami.” Nico, my prince. Please look at me.

As soon as I said the words, he raised his head to look at me. Even after all this time, I had never used my Italian that much. I knew a lot more than he thought I did, and that one phrase was enough to shock him into looking at me. What he said next surprised me, though.

“You really think I am your prince?”

I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his before I continued. “Yes. I am your princess, so you are my prince. Now please go and talk things through with Hudson. You can’t throw everything away because of your feelings for Gino. You both need to sit down together, alone, without me as a distraction.”

He gave me a sad smile and nodded. I got up from the floor and held out my hand for him to get up, which he did. I turned to Hudson and reached up to give him a kiss on the lips.

“Now behave, and don’t act like a child. Talk things through.”

I tried to sound as serious as possible, but I think I failed dismally because both Hudson and Nico started to laugh. It was good to hear them both laughing after what we had just heard, and it gave me hope for our future. With that, they both walked out of the living room together. I walked out into the kitchen to start getting everything ready for dinner. I could grab a shower when it was in the oven.

Hudson

I WALKED UPSTAIRS with Nico in total silence. It wasn’t because I had nothing to say, but because I wasn’t sure how to say it. How did I explain to Nico how I was feeling right now, without adding to the pain he was already feeling?

I knew he regretted what had happened, but he had still allowed himself to kiss Gino. He knew it would hurt me; however, he had still allowed it to happen. I guessed it was my own fault for suggesting for him to speak to Gino and tell him the truth.

I decided to go into Nico’s bedroom to talk. I thought he would feel more comfortable in there than my own. I walked over to the bed and sat down, waiting to see what Nico would do. He stood in the doorway, not moving, his eyes cast down to the floor. I could see the tears running down his face.

“Babe, please come and sit next to me. We need to talk.”

His eyes shot up to mine. “How can you call me that after what I have just done? I betrayed our relationship, Hud. I kissed another man. A man who is meant to be my friend and underboss. How can you still love me after that?”

I could tell he was hurting inside, but so was I. I was hurt over what he had done, even though I should have known it would happen after I sent him to tell Gino about his feelings. The only way we would sort this out was by talking to each other and telling each other our true feelings.

“Nico, please don’t argue. Just sit down next to me so we can talk.”

He slowly walked over and sat down next to me, the tears still pouring down his face. I was desperate to put my arms around him and hold him, but that wouldn’t get us anywhere and was probably how he had ended up kissing Gino in the first place. He sat there for a moment in silence.

“I’m so sorry, Hud. I know how much I’ve hurt you. I couldn’t help myself. Hearing him tell me how much he loved me and Rosa, but that he was going to walk away from us… Something inside me snapped. It wasn’t until he stopped me and I walked out of the apartment that I realized what I had done. You really don’t need to make me feel any worse by what you have to say, because I feel like a complete bastard right now. I don’t deserve your love.”

I hated listening to the pain and torment he was feeling right now, but he had to let it all out. He had to say everything he needed to say and not hold it in. Holding in that kind of pain could kill you. I sat there for a moment waiting to see if he would say any more, but he just sat there shaking with tears falling from his eyes.

“Nico, look at me.” I waited for him to turn and look into my eyes. I could feel the tears forming in my own as the hurt I had been feeling finally bubbled over. “I’m not going to lie to you. You have wounded me with what you did. However, I have to take some of the blame. After all, I told you to tell Gino the truth. I should have known this would have happened.”

Nico looked at me as I sat there crying. I could tell he was itching to comfort me, but still worried about how I would react. We both knew it would take us a while to work through this together, but it wasn’t worth us throwing away the relationship we both had, especially when we were going to ask Gino to join us.

I leaned forward and pulled Nico against me, lying down onto the bed so we were next to each other. I placed his head on my chest and held him to me. We lay there for a moment before he moved and looked up at me. I leaned down and pressed my lips to his.

It may have seemed strange to kiss him after a kiss being the reason for our pain, but we both needed it. We’d made the first move to heal ourselves. It would take a while, but I knew we would get through this.

GABRIELLA-ROSE

I’D TAKEN A SHOWER and dressed in a comfortable pair of leggings and a baggy t-shirt. I wanted it to appear that this was a friendly evening and act as though it was any other evening. I had checked on dinner and all was good. The bread was cut and the salad was made. I also had bottles of red and white wine ready to be consumed. I had a feeling we were going to need it. I looked up at the clock and saw it was nearly seven and Gino would be arriving at any minute. As Hudson and Nico still weren’t downstairs, I decided to head up to find out how long they would be.

I was just about to walk up the stairs when there was a knock at the door. At first, I wondered who it would be, as I knew Gino had a key. I walked over to the door and found him standing outside, waiting to be let in.

Did he not feel comfortable letting himself in now? I opened the door and was just about to greet him when he spoke.

“I didn’t feel comfortable letting myself in after what happened. How is Nico?”