Page 11 of Lorenzo & Lily

Lorenzo’s jaw clenched. “No fucking way.”

Hector blinked at his fervent words. Once Lorenzo had pulled himself up from the depths of despair and hopelessness, once he’d finally stopped trying to fight the sadness and started living with the sadness, he’d made a vow never to succumb to that soul-numbing anguish again. He vowed that, if he felt that day was coming again, he would get help. And he had.

“Even if I didn’t have a kid now, there’s no fucking way I’m messing up my life again.”

“You still have nightmares?”

Lorenzo nodded. “Yeah. Had a rough one last night, woke up screaming. Lucky me, my brothers came down to visit last night and heard me. Now, they really won’t leave me alone, which is going to be tough with everything that’s going on right now.”

“Is it normal to still have nightmares? It’s been years.”

“It has been years, Perez, but what we went through doesn’t disappear. It takes time and a lot of fucking therapy. But it’s a lot fucking better now, and a lot more manageable, at least for me.”

Hector nodded; Lorenzo knew he still struggled with all of it, which was why he was currently at the MARC, even years after the incident. “What are you going to do?”

“See Lily and Liliana tonight, find out why she kept this from me, and get to know my daughter.”

“You tell your family yet?”

Lorenzo shook his head and Hector’s head jerked. “You told me before your family? Are you nuts?”

Lorenzo grinned. “No. Not today anyway.” His grin dimmed. “You get me, Hector. They don’t.”

“Some of your brothers served, too. They’d understand.”

Lorenzo gave him an even look. “There are other soldiers here, too. They understand what you’re going through, and would help if you’d let them.”

Hector’s lips tightened and his hand fisted around the shell. “Low,” he warned.

Lorenzo put his hands up and dipped his head down. “You know I’m not going to stop pushing you, but I’ll leave you alone. Or, I will if you eat something and take your goddamn meds.”

Hector gave the tray nearby a furtive glance, then turned his eyes on Lorenzo’s unyielding frame. Hector sighed, then leaned over and pulled the rolling tray closer with one hand. Lorenzo noticed his other hand tucking the shell underneath his thigh.

Hector tossed back the meds and washed them down with orange juice, before he removed the plastic food cover and began picking at his food.

“You have to actually eat something, not just shove it around your plate.”

Hector rolled his eyes, but speared a strawberry with his fork. “Is that an order, Captain?”

“If I thought you’d listen to my orders, I’d suggest something else.”

Hector’s fork paused mid-way to his mouth.

“But I won’t, so keep eating.”

Hector nodded. “When are you going to tell your family?” He shoved the fork in his mouth.

“Tomorrow. I need to convince Lily that they need to move into the castle first. Then, I’ll tell them.”

Hector finished chewing slowly, his brows drawn. “What about the king?”

Lorenzo’s father, King Gabriel, had recently suffered from a mild heart attack. It had come just days before Alex’s wedding, and had been a terrible shock. He’d never forget the way his father looked in a hospital bed. His parents probably had the same memories in reverse; Lorenzo had been bedridden when he’d returned from the mission. He thought of how he’d feel if his little Lily were in a hospital bed…his gut clenched and his heart ached.Best not to think about things like that.

Though his father was recovering and Alex had taken over his duties as Acting King, Lorenzo didn’t want the news to trigger another attack. Since his parents were currently fawning over their first granddaughter – or who they thought of as their first grandchild, his sister Arianna’s daughter – he didn’t think they’d mind an older grandchild.

“I think they’ll love my girl. I think it’s more the press I need to deal with. It’ll be easier to manage that once they’re living in the castle. There’ll be fewer eyes on them anyway.” He watched Hector continue to eat for a minute. Then, satisfied that Hector would likely finish at least part of his meal, he stood.

“You going to PT today?” he asked, referring to physical therapy that Hector usually skipped.

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