Love Me One More Time (Nick and Alaia) novel Chapter 11

Alaia

I entered the house and when I couldn’t find my little ones anywhere, I went up to my room.

There I saw them sound asleep. I smiled. My little ones looked like angels when they were sleeping. I noticed Loli was reading a book with an adorable cover: a man was proposing to a woman.

The title was MARRIED TO THE BILLIONAIRE. She was engrossed in it. I’d have to ask her about it when the kids woke up.

I greeted her and silently told her I was going to freshen up and change.

“You can go downstairs. I’ll take care of the kids,” I told her when I was ready. She nodded.

I settled slowly onto the bed, with the laptop in my hand. When I settled, I opened a chat with Ash, who wasn’t home. I told her I was going to Los Angeles in a few days and then started browsing real estate websites. I wanted to find a house as soon as possible. I looked at several houses for a while until I found the perfect one for my children. It had big gardens and was surrounded by trees. I’d been thinking of renting, but it was for sale, so I’d have to buy it. I quickly emailed Ignacio to take care of everything and to have someone furnish it with the essentials. I’d do the rest when I get there. I also asked him to set up the office I’d be using in L.A. I wanted a space for my children there. All their family was here; they’d only have me there, so I didn’t want to be separated from them or for them to be affected by the move.

A while later, Ash messaged me that she was coming over. She just got home from a business meeting. I just told her to come up to the room immediately.

“Hi,” Ash said, entering silently.

“Hi,” I smiled, and she came closer. I showed her the house. She said it was beautiful. I put the laptop aside and stood up.

We went up to my terrace and settled in a spot where we could see my children.

“What’s this about you having to go back to Los Angeles? I came as soon as I got your message,” she said, worried.

“It’s an important project, and I have to go back in five days,” I said, watching the water falling from the fountain into the pool.

“But what about the father of those little dumplings? Come on, you haven’t wanted to talk to me about the jerk who got you pregnant, but I’m sure something really bad must have happened for you to decide to come to the UK and be a single mother. Besides, we’ve never seen the creep around here,” she said, crossing her arms.

I sighed. “I know, but there’s no need for that, Ash. I mean I honestly do not care about him already. If my father didn’t have this privileged position, for sure we were in a secluded place away from everyone. I would make sure that we would have everything that we need there. I do not care about him anymore even if I meet him again with his wife, I just don’t care.”

“Good lord!” she exclaimed, her eyes widened.

I chuckled and just shook my head. “Hey, stop. It’s not a big deal, I told her.

She pressed her lips together and sighed. “Fine. But you know what, I think I’ll go with you for a couple of weeks. It’ll be fun, and I don’t want to be here, depressed about you and my babies.”

Her words cheered me up. I loved the idea of her going with us. She was like the sister that I never had.

“That would be perfect!” I explained We hugged excitedly and jumped up and down like little girls.

“But, I want you to tell me the story of that… sperm donor,” she said and winked. My mouth parted a bit. She just wouldn’t give it up.

In the end, I sighed and shook my head. Well, I guess it was time to tell her. I mean it was not that she was different anyway.

“Okay,” I said, ready to tell her. I think it was time already.

However, I saw Noah sit up on the bed and start calling me. I walked over to him, and Ash followed me.

“Mommy,” Noah whispered, rubbing his eyes

“My love,” I said affectionately, taking him in my arms. He rested his little head on my shoulder.

“Auntie Ashy,” he said sleepily, smiling at her aunt. Ash took his hand. It wasn’t long before Alana woke up. She lifted her head and gave us a beautiful smile, then sat on my other leg. Ash talked excitedly about our upcoming trip, and my children smiled as they watched their aunt’s expressions.

Finally, tomorrow we will be on our flight to Los Angeles. We prepared my luggage and the children’s. I made sure to pack everything we were going to need. Loli would come with us, and so was Ash. Valentino was heartbroken about our trip and hadn’t left my cousin’s house so he could see us as much as possible before we left.

“Darling,” my mother said, opening the door as I put away my jewelry.

“Mom, I thought you were coming in two weeks,” I said, hugging her.

“Grandma,” Noah said, smiling happily to see his grandmother. Alana, of course, let out an excited squeal.

“Oh, my babies, how much you’ve grown in such a few days.” She knelt before them, hugging and kissing them.

“Honey, what’s this about you going to Los Angeles? I found out this morning and took a flight back immediately,” she scolded me.

“Mom, I didn’t want to ruin your vacation. I’m sure you’ll be able to reach me when I’m there.” I put away a diamond necklace my father had given me for my last birthday.

“No, no, no, darling.”

“No, no, no, no,” Alana shook her head, imitating her grandmother, which made my mother smile.

“We’ll be in this together, too. I can’t let you go back to Los Angeles without me. They’re there.

What if they find out about their existence?” She took the children’s hands. They were distracted by the clothes we were going to donate so they weren’t paying attention to us.

“Mom, I’m not afraid of them, and I’ve always been willing to give everything for them.” I looked at my children. “Now more than ever, I’m ready to protect them from anyone who wants to hurt them.”

“I know, Ash, but Tino’s right. Kurt has crossed the line.”

“It is obvious that the stores are still in his name,” he said. When Ash graduated from college, Kurt opened three stores for his daughter. My cousin was delighted.

“They are. I was waiting to receive my inheritance to pay him back every last money. I have savings, but it’s not enough. I always thought about paying back the money he invested, but I never imagined this would happen.” She threw herself down on the bed, and Tino and I joined her.

“How much is it? I can help you,” I said.

“No, Ali, there’s no need. I have a plan. There are a few months to go before I receive our grandmother’s inheritance,” she said.

“Our?” I frowned.

“Our grandparents‘ mothers left a trust for us, their grandchildren. At that time, I was the only one born. She died shortly after. She was sick. However, she made sure to leave an initial amount that would be invested at the birth of each grandchild, and we would receive it when we turn twenty–six.” I nodded. “I’m sure you’ll get it too. It’s something our parents have to do with the law firm in charge. Uncle wouldn’t leave you out,” Ash said. Great! Another secret.

“Lovely, very lovely. Now tell her about the crazy thing that’s happened to you,” Tino said angrily, and Ash rolled her eyes.

“Well, I’m going to Los Angeles until I need to receive the money. I’ll design the collection there. The season and the inheritance will happen around the same time, so it’s all good,” she said calmly. It seemed like Tino was the most worried, and he wasn’t the one being forced to get married.

“Ash, your father will know you left with me. LA will be the first place he’ll look for you,” I said, propping myself up on my side on the bed to look at them.

“Don’t worry, Ali. Ash has a plan, too,” Tino said with a heavy sigh.

“I know, that’s why I’m going to become Tino. I’ll be a boy while I’m in Los Angeles.”

“Oh my God, this is killing me,” Tino said, fanning himself with his hand.

“Ash, do you realize what you’re saying?” I said incredulously.

“I do,” she said, nodding and smiling. “It’s going to be very, very fun. I’m going to be a gay guy. I’m going to become Asher. My father is homophobic…”

“Tell me about it,” Tino said, grimacing. “He doesn’t speak to me when he goes to see Ash.”

“I’m sorry, darling, but it’s true. My father will never come near me while I’m in Los Angeles because I will look like a gay guy. Look on the bright side: I’ll be with the kids, with you, and you’ll introduce me as part of your team. Tino will come every month so we can go over the designs, and that’s it. Everything will be fine,” she said very sweetly.

“I think it’s crazy. It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard, but I’ll support you completely,” I said and sighed. She hugged me.

“And so will I, even though I hate you both right now for leaving me alone,” Tino complained and we just laughed.