Fighting for Us - Bella Emy Page 0,47

with a super-hot guy who’s a UFC Heavyweight Champion?” She chuckles. “Oh my God. I still can’t believe you’re dating Lorenzo Trevano. Do you know how many women would kill to be in your shoes? Me included.”

I let out a short laugh. “I guess. I mean, yeah, it’s awesome he’s this hotshot, but the part of it that makes it the best of all is he’s this super sweet guy… like no joke. And he’s a great dad. His daughter is the cutest thing around with big blue eyes and long dark curls. She seriously looks like a porcelain doll.”

“I wasn’t even aware he had a daughter. How old is she again?” she asks.

“Five.” Thoughts of the day I met Gianna come crashing into the front of my mind. She is so precious. To think, Lorenzo is raising her all on his own. He did so well. Okay, yes, he said he has family to help, but I’m sure they’re not always around. He lives alone with her, so when she’s sick or wakes up in the middle of the night from a nightmare, he’s the one there for her. He’s the one who cooks and takes care of her mostly.

But if this thing with him goes any further… If he and I actually get to the next step with one another, will I be able to fill the shoes of stepmother? Yeah, I know I’m thinking way ahead in the future and it would mean we’re married, but I have to consider it as a possibility, maybe. I have to take it into consideration because being with someone who already has a child is important. I know Gianna means the world to him, so if he’s going to be with me, he’s trusting me to be around her and with her. And that, I know, is the most important thing to him.

Will I be able to be a mother?

I’ve always wanted kids and have pictured my life as one day becoming a mom, but it was under different circumstances. I’d be married and my husband and I would have a kid together. I never imagined I’d be with someone who already has a daughter from a previous relationship.

Or marriage.

I can’t believe he was married. Am I ever going to measure up to who his wife was? I know nothing about her, but I can only imagine how hard it was on him when she passed. Is this something I want to get myself into? Am I ready to give my heart to someone who’s loved and lost someone so dear to him?

I rise from the bed and leave the bedroom. If I want to be on time, I need to hurry, and my hair still needs help. I enter the bathroom and wrap my first section onto the curling iron. Good thing I had turned it on a few minutes ago, and thank God for AirPods. Knowing me, I probably would end up burning myself if I had to be on the phone and use the iron at the same time.

“See, that is amazing. I’m so happy for you, girl. If I thought he was no good, I would have told you. But he’s a great guy, so I’m telling you to go for it. You’re only scared because of what happened in your past relationships. You will overcome it once you keep getting to know him.”

Do I tell her I’m also scared because I feel I may not be enough due to him loving someone else a long time ago? No, probably not. It’s a discussion for another time. I place another section of hair around the iron and hold it steady for a few seconds. I take the conversation to safer grounds than my thoughts. “And that’s the thing, Dani… I feel like I’ve known him for so long.”

“Damn, I miss being in love and feeling that way.” She lets out a soft chuckle. “Anyway, I have to run, girl. I’m about to start my shift. Are you coming in tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there.”

“Okay, I’ll see you then. Text me later with details!”

I chuckle. “Will do. Bye, girl.”

We hang up the phone, and I continue fixing my hair. Another fifteen minutes or so and I should be all ready to go.

I swallow thickly and step out of the car. The time has finally come to see him, and I’ve been considering turning right back around and going home.

I adjust the hood attached to my coat as a