The Only Exception

Part One - Chapter Twenty-Four: The Birthday Party

“Feliz cumpleaños,” Shakira said as she pressed a kiss to Lionel’s cheek, she stepped back as she smiled sweetly at the footballer knowing that today was a special day for him.

Lucia was loyally by his side wearing a black and white neck pencil dress with lace detail paired with black heeled sandals, she had organised the small get-together for her husband’s twenty-sixth birthday wanting to do something special for him.

“Gracias,” Lionel said with a nod of his head as he smiled softly at the singer, he knew that she felt a little guilty that Lucia had gotten a stomach bug of Milan but Lucia had made a wonderful recovery.

Lionel glanced around the room that had been rented out for his birthday party, it was in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel’s new restaurant and Lucia had certainly out done herself.

“Lucy, you have certainly out done yourself,” Gerard said amazed that Lucia had managed to pull this off, she had been married to Lionel for nine weeks now but Lucia was certainly making a good impression on the rest of the WAGs.

Lucia shrugged her shoulders as Lionel wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close to him, she glanced at him as she relaxed into his touch knowing they had to act that they were a happy newlywed couple.

“I am hiring you to throw Milan’s first birthday party,” Shakira said with a nod of her head, she was in awe of the room and how much Lucia had been able to pull off without any help from anyone else.

Lucia laughed softly and nodded her head knowing that Shakira meant it even if the little boy was only five months old; she could see that the singer wasn’t going to let this go anytime soon.

***

Gerard sipped on his drink as he sat down next to Lionel as he watched Lucia chat with his own girlfriend, he knew that there was something going on with his best friend.

“You want to tell me what is going on?” Gerard asked as he leant back against the bar, he knew his friend had sworn not to love another woman after Antonella but there was something different about Lionel since Lucia had been ill.

Lionel glanced at his friend knowing that Gerard was one of the few people that really knew him and was actually aware of why he had married his wife.

“I think I have feelings for Lia,” Lionel murmured as he watched Lucia talk with some of his friends, he swallowed knowing that since she had been ill he hadn’t looked at her the same.

Gerard raised an eyebrow at his best friend, he had known that this would happen eventually and he was glad that his friend had realised that he did have feelings for Lucia before it was too late.

“I don’t know what is going on… I get jealous when I see her with other men, I was really worried about her when she was ill,” Lionel said as he shook his head, his brown eyes not leaving Lucia as she talked happily across the room from him.

Gerard smirked as he realised that Lionel hadn’t noticed that he had fallen for Lucia, he had known for a while that the blonde was in love with Lionel and he had clearly fallen for her in return now.

The two were silent for a moment as Lionel’s words sunk in, they both knew that there would be consequences for what the argentine had just admitted.

“Whether you like it or not… you have fallen for her Leo,” Gerard mumbled as he looked at his friend, he wasn’t sure how Lionel would react to what he had said.

Lionel swallowed as he turned to look completely at Gerard, his heart beating rapidly in his chest as he slowly realised that his friend was right.

“It’s not a bad thing Leo, you both deserve to be happy,” Gerard said as he patted Lionel on the shoulder as he got to his feet, he didn’t want anyone to overhear them and he knew that Shakira would be pleased to hear that Lionel had finally come to his senses.

Lionel looked at his friend as he walked away knowing that Gerard was right, he did deserve to be happy and so did Lucia; he sighed as he got to his feet knowing that he could handle being in love with his wife.

Lionel headed over to Lucia who was talking with Anna Iniesta and wrapped an arm around her and pull her close to him.

Anna flashed the couple a smile before she moved away to find her own husband, she knew that they would want to talk privately.

“You okay?” Lucia asked as she turned to face Lionel, she looked at him concerned as she brushed some hair from her face; she could see that his talk with Gerard had changed something about him.

Lionel nodded his head as he offered her a weak smile, he really wasn’t sure of himself anymore especially since he knew that Gerard was right; he had fallen in love with his wife.

“I’m fine… Gracias for throwing this party,” Lionel said, he looked around the room knowing that he hadn’t thanked her yet. Lucia nodded her head as she realised that Lionel hadn’t released her yet and she couldn’t help but smile about that fact.

Lionel took a shaky breath as he chewed on his lip, he really didn’t know how he was going to approach Lucia about his realisation and he had a feeling it was going to take some time before he was ready to do so.

***

“Gracias again,” Lionel said as they stepped into their home, he smiled as Poppy hurried down the stairs to greet them; he had felt guilty when they had left her home alone with all of the doors shut so she didn’t pee in them.

Lucia shook her head as she leant against the wall to remove her heels, she chuckled as she caught Lionel staring at her bottom; she laughed softly making him blush as he realised that she had caught him.

“It wasn’t a problem Leo,” Lucia said as she picked her heels up from the floor, she almost sighed in relief since her feet had been aching and she was glad to have them off.

Lionel nodded his head as he eyed her long tanned legs, he couldn’t help but remember them being tangled with his in passion.

Lucia walked towards Lionel and smiled at him softly as she pressed a kiss to his cheek, she lingered for a moment longer than she should have before she pulled away.

“Feliz cumpleaños Leo,” Lucia whispered to him as she offered Lionel a small smile, she knew that he wasn’t going to tell her what she wanted to hear but she was willing to forget about it for now.

Lionel opened his mouth to say something as the doorbell rang, he frowned as he turned to look at the door wondering who could be calling at this hour.

“Buenas noches,” Lucia said as she quickly hurried up the stairs with Poppy on her heels, there was nothing that Lionel could say to her that would take away how she felt.

Lionel sighed as he wanted her go before he moved to answer the door, he already disliked whoever was at the door for interrupting the moment he’d had with Lucia.

Lionel ran a tired hand through his hair as he opened the front door, his jaw dropping at the sight of the one woman that he had never thought that he would see again.

“Hola Leo, Feliz cumpleaños,” Antonella as she smiled nervously at her ex-boyfriend, she had known that she was taking a big risk in coming to see him but she had heard he’d married another woman and had to come see him.