Rodrigo shrugged. "Nothing's changed. Only that I get to see her every second of the day. Aren't you bored of me yet babe?"
"Oh I am veryyy bored." Ximena answered sarcastically. "Can you believe it? He doesn't even want to spice it up with some handcuffs."
My eyes widened and I choked on air. "There are kids here!"
Marco chuckled and shook his head. "You guys are crazy. I'll go back to mom and dad, they brought a lot of food there."
"Can you leave the old man alone? He's trying to earn mom's forgiveness." Ximena said as she braided Amari's hair.
"What did he do again?" Marco asked.
"He forgot Poker's birthday."
I laughed as I remembered that Poker was their dog. Marco laughed too and said; "Mom is always so extra."
"She has always been like that. Anyways can you bring some snacks over here. I'm starving." Ximena said as she look up at Marco and Rodrigo. "Please?"
They both shook their heads and muttered something along the lines of 'being lazy' and 'such a princess' before they walked to the picnic table where all the food was.
When they were out of earshot Ximena patted the seat next to her and motioned me to sit. "How is with you and my brother?"
I gulped, but decided to gave her my honest answer. "You know what he did Ximmy---,"
"Oh I do and I hate him so much for it! I don't know why he can be so selfish and reckless sometimes."
"But---," I said my voice cracking, "I forgave him, but it's going to take a while to trust him again."
Ximena smiled faintly at me. "I'm so happy that you forgave him. He was a wreck you know. After you left." She paused to take a deep breath. "It was heartbreaking to see him like that, but I also knew how you felt after you saw those pictures. Trust me, I've been there, I've felt it."
"What are you trying to tell me?" I asked quietly. "That I should just go back to him and forget what happened? It's not that easy Ximmy. He hurt me badly."
"I don't ask you to do that, Jillian. No pressure at all. I just want to say that he truly loves you. The past was a mistake. A stupid dumb mistake. What I'm trying to say is that one day I hope you can give him a chance again." Ximena smiled in the distance as if she could already see Marco and I being together. "And... I want to have more Amari's. Damn, I grew so attached to her."
I laughed at the last part. "Why don't you and Rodrigo make one?"
Ximena stared at me in horror. "What?! Popping a human out of my...?! Nope, nope, nope. Not ready yet for that!"
This time I laughed out loud. "Geez Ximmy, you make it seem like it's that bad."
She looked confused at me. "It isn't?"
"Well actually it is." I answered truthfully.
"See that's what I mean. But Rodrigo wants a whole soccer team." She rolled her eyes as she said that. "The more, the merrier he said."
"What did you tell him?"
"I asked him if I looked like a make-a-baby machine to him." She answered sarcastically and laughed. Then she looked around and leaned into me and whispered, "But honestly I always wanted to have a house full of children."
..........
It was already late at night when we drove back home. The ride home was quiet, because Amari was sleeping in my hands. She looked so tired after a whole afternoon of playing and singing with her aunt, uncle, and grandparents.
When we arrived home Marco opened the door for me and took Amari from me. He carried her inside and tucked her in as I was standing in the doorway watching them.
So peaceful. So perfect even though it wasn't.
After he turned the air conditioning on he walked back outside and closed the door behind him. "Thank you." I said as I walked him out. "For bringing us to your family picnic."
He smiled and kissed the knuckles of my hand. "Anything for my Princess and Pudding."
My heart squeezed when he said that. "Marco I'm---,
"It's okay." He whispered softly, letting go of my hand. "It's okay. I will take things slowly, but I promise that I'll get my family back." He walked back to his car and turned around flashing me a bright smile.
"No matter what!"
Jillian Malik P.O.V
"You're not going back to that douchebag! I don't approve !"
Aunt Lydia yelled in the speaker, I had to hold my phone away from my ear for a second. Geez, this woman.
"Tía," I sighed, massaging my temples. "I forgave him and Amari needs her father. I cannot keep her away from him."
"I don't care if you forgave him!" She hissed angrily. "He will never get my blessings. Not over my dead body!"
I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand. Amari who was playing in the corner, looked up at me confused. "Don't say that tía, you should learn how to forgive people. Life is too short," I took a deep breath and continued, "People deserve second chances."
Aunt Lydia scoffed and in the background I heard the shuffling of chairs. "So you tell me that rapists and murderers deserve second chances. For someone who graduated with a bachelor degree you sure are dumb if it comes to love."
"Tía !," I was so tired of her mocking me. Yes, I get it, she doesn't like Marco anymore. She hated him and called him a manwhore. She couldn't believe what he did to me and she was so close to mutilate his balls. Good thing he lived in the states and she lived in Barcelona.
"You cannot compare a cheater to a rapist or murderer. That's like comparing a house and a chicken. I know he kissed that woman, but---," I paused for a second, "He's my soulmate, tía. We are meant to be."
The laugh that I heard from the other side of the line sounded so false, I wanted to vomit. "Soulmate?! Do you even hear yourself, child! He's nothing but a cheating bastard. Once a cheater, always a cheater. He will do it again!"
"Be reasonable tía!" I yelled through the speaker. Amari looked up at me and there was fear in her eyes. I hurriedly walked over to her and said in a soothing voice: "It's okay, princess. I'm not mad at you. I'll be back in a minute okay? Stay in the bedroom."