Fired Up

Valeria's POV

I didn't expect him to show up. I didn't expect any of this.

It was a quiet afternoon in Madrid. The sun was shining through the windows, casting soft light across the room where Mateo and I were. He had just come back from his art class and was excitedly telling me about his day, his words rushing out as he always did. I was half-listening, my mind wandering, when the doorbell rang.

I wasn't expecting anyone. I stood up to check the door, and to my surprise, it wasn't the usual delivery or a friend. I opened the door to find Lewis standing there, looking a little unsure of himself but still wearing that charming smile of his.

"Hi, Valeria," he said softly. "I... uh, I got your address from Toto. I wanted to surprise you. I hope that's okay."

I blinked in shock. I hadn't told him where I lived. I didn't expect him to just show up like this.

Before I could even respond, I heard small footsteps running up behind me. Mateo had come to see who it was. When he saw Lewis standing at the door, his eyes widened. He didn't speak right away, just stared at the stranger.

Lewis noticed Mateo's hesitation and immediately crouched down, offering a warm smile. "Hey there. I'm Lewis," he said kindly, his tone soft, like he was trying to make this easy.

Mateo continued staring, his tiny hand gripping mine a little tighter. I kneeled down beside him, gently placing my hand on his shoulder. "Mateo, this is a friend of mine. His name is Lewis. It's okay."

Mateo was still cautious, but he slowly nodded, not taking his eyes off Lewis.

Lewis, sensing Mateo's discomfort, gave him a reassuring smile. "It's nice to meet you, Mateo." Then, he turned to me, his expression softening. "I hope I didn't catch you off guard. I just wanted to stop by and say hi... if that's okay."

I nodded, still a bit surprised, but I stepped aside to let him in. As we walked toward the living room, Mateo still lingered by the door, watching Lewis carefully. I could tell he was trying to figure out who this man was and what he was doing here. He wasn't sure what to make of this sudden guest, but I wasn't about to introduce him as anything more than a friend, not yet.

Lewis, clearly not wanting to make things awkward, turned to me with a gentle smile. "This is a beautiful home you have here, Valeria."

I glanced around, feeling a bit more self-conscious now that Lewis was here. "Thank you. It's where Mateo and I feel most at home."

"Mateo?" he asked, his voice light and curious. "Is he your nephew?"

I shook my head quickly. "No, he's my son," I said, my voice soft but proud. I still wasn't entirely sure how I felt about Lewis being here, and I definitely didn't want to go into detail about him yet.

Lewis's eyes widened slightly, but he didn't push it. "Your son," he repeated thoughtfully. "Well, he's lucky to have you."

I smiled, though it was a little bittersweet. Mateo was playing in the yard by now, and the sound of his laughter brought a warmth to my chest.

We moved to sit on the couch just outside the balcony, where I could keep an eye on him. The yard was quiet, the only sound being the playful bark of our dog as Mateo ran around with him.

"So, what brings you to Madrid, Lewis?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation going, though I was still trying to process everything. He had just shown up out of the blue, after all.

Lewis gave me a playful grin. "Honestly? I just wanted to see you again."

His words caught me off guard, and I didn't know how to respond to that, so I just smiled a little, trying to keep things casual. "I'm glad you came."

We talked for a while about everything from the Grand Prix to our favorite places in Madrid, but all the while, I was aware of the fact that I hadn't told him about Mateo yet. I couldn't help but feel like there was a strange weight to the conversation, a quiet tension I couldn't place.

Lewis's POV

I glanced at Valeria, watching her as she sat down beside me on the couch, her eyes following Mateo outside. The yard was peaceful, and Mateo seemed to be enjoying himself, running around with the dog.

I cleared my throat, breaking the silence. "So... Mateo," I began, my curiosity getting the best of me. "Is Alejandro his father?"

Valeria's eyes flickered, just for a second, and I caught the change in her expression. She didn't immediately answer, but I could tell she was processing the question. She was always so composed, but there was a hint of something—maybe hesitation or protectiveness—that made me wonder what kind of relationship she had with Alejandro.

After a beat, she looked at me, her voice calm but firm. "Alejandro is his father," she said. There was a pause before she added, "But things are complicated."

I nodded, sensing that there was more to the story than she was willing to share just yet. I didn't want to press her, but I also couldn't help but feel a tug of concern for her. There was something in the way she spoke about Alejandro, something that told me their past wasn't easy, that it carried weight.

"I understand," I replied softly. "I won't ask you to explain anything you don't want to. I just wanted to know." I leaned back, trying to keep the conversation light, but my mind couldn't help but race with questions. The more I learned about her, the more layers I uncovered, but it seemed like every answer led to more questions.

For a moment, we sat in silence, the only sound the occasional bark from the dog as Mateo played outside. I could feel the weight of the air between us—tension mixed with curiosity, yet a sense of respect. I liked how things were unfolding, even if it was slow.

"You're okay?" I asked, the words slipping out before I could stop them. I wasn't sure if it was the right question, but I needed to know. I needed to know she was okay.

Valeria's gaze met mine, and for a split second, I saw vulnerability in her eyes. She smiled faintly, but it was a guarded one. "I'm okay," she said softly, her voice tinged with something unreadable. "I just... need to make sure Mateo is okay."

I nodded, understanding all too well the depth of a mother's love. "Of course," I said, my voice quiet, a little more serious than before.

We fell into another brief silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable. I was starting to understand that she didn't need to share everything with me right away. She'd open up when she was ready.

But the more time I spent with her, the more I wanted to learn, not just about her but about her life, about Mateo, about everything that made her so... intriguing. And if I had anything to say about it, I'd be there for whatever came next.