Chapter 33 Lorenzo
T he constant sound of a phone ringing wakes me from the best sleep I’ve ever had. At some point during the night, Sophia turned around and clung to me like a koala. She’s resting her head on my chest with her arms and legs wrapped around me now. And fuck, this feels… meant to be. I’ve never stayed over or slept next to anyone. Never really saw the point. And I have the feeling if I were to do this with anyone else, it wouldn’t feel the same.
With a deep, satiated sigh I tighten my grip around Sophia, inhaling her intoxicating, summery scent I’ve grown to obsess over. I close my eyes again, wanting to stay here a moment longer, but the ringing sound takes me out of it again. It’s coming from the nightstand where her phone is being charged.
“Blue,” I whisper, giving her cheek a soft peck. “Wake up.”
She groans, turning the other way and putting the pillow on top of her head. “Go away.”
A laugh bubbles out of me as I carefully remove the pillow. She’s definitely not a morning person. “Your phone has been ringing nonstop.”
She turns around, opening her eyes slightly. They’re puffy, and her hair is all over the place in the cutest way possible. I don’t understand how she manages to look beautiful just waking up, but damn, she does. Painfully so. With a yawn, she reaches for her phone that’s currently pinging with nonstop text notifications. And before I know it, she is darting out of bed with tense shoulders as her hands shake while dialing someone.
“Hey,” she says, her voice trembling as she addresses the person on the other end.
I frown, waving my hand to get her attention and mouth, What’s wrong?
She doesn’t respond and turns away, her shoulders still tense. As she brushes her hair back, her fingers thread through it, holding it in place while she nods nonstop to whatever the person on the other end of the line is saying.
“Okay. Okay,” she replies, her voice on the verge of breaking. “I’ll be there as soon as possible.” Then hangs up and turns around. Her eyes are red, tears threatening to escape her, but she doesn’t let them. “You need to go.”
I stand and make my way toward her, placing my hands on her forearms and caressing them. “Hey, hey,” I say, trying to get her to look at me. “What’s going on?”
“Please leave. I-I don’t want you to see me like this, and I gotta go to Kentucky,” she whispers shakily, taking a step back abruptly and avoiding my gaze.
The vulnerability in her voice makes my heart crack. Like hell I’m going to leave. She’s got another thing coming if she thinks I’m ever going to walk away from her, especially when she’s so distraught.
I grab her chin and force her to look at me. Her blue eyes are gray and dull. A tear streams down her face, and I quickly wipe it away with the pad of my thumb. “If you stop pushing me away, maybe I can help.”
She bites her lip, contemplating. “My mom had a pretty big panic attack. She’s at the hospital, and I need to get there and figure out what the hell happened.” She takes in a sharp breath. “And go into solving mode, like I always do.”
This is the second time I’ve seen her this freaked, and it always has to do with her family. She’s a closed book; sometimes it can be hard to get a read on her. Not that it stops me. I know a little better by now. She tries to put on this brave face and these fake smiles, even when she doesn’t particularly feel like that all the time. I’m the last person to judge, because I know how it feels to create a false sense of positivity to hide the thoughts that keep you awake at night.
I walk over to where my clothes are, fish out my phone, and fire a quick text to my assistant. “We’ll take my jet. It can be ready in an hour, so pack a bag, I’ll go home and pack, too. We’ll stay however long, whatever you need,” I say quickly as I’m putting on my clothes.
“No.” She shakes her head. “I can’t ask this of you.”
I stalk toward her again, grasping the nape of her neck. “You’re not asking. I’m offering. Let me help ,” I plead. “Let me take care of you, okay?”
She has no idea I would drop anything to help her. She has no idea that for me, the lines have been quickly blurring, and even though all she wants from me is a fuck buddy, a friend, I would do anything for her.
She hesitates for a moment before replying. “Okay.”
“Good.” I wrap my arms around her and embrace her, dropping a soft kiss on her forehead. “Everything will be okay.”
I say this to her, trying to calm her nerves. But honestly? I’m saying it to myself, too. My heart clenches painfully, and the storm of emotions I don’t understand leaves me, for the first time in my life, uncertain.
We’re taking the steps to get onto my jet. Sophia has been quiet, and I’ve been on back-to-back phone calls rearranging a few things so I can have the rest of the week off.
“What do you mean you’re not coming? This is the meeting of the year, Lorenzo,” Amos says, aggravated.
I roll my eyes—thankfully, we’re talking on the phone, so he can’t see the disinterested look on my face. Taking my usual seat, I pat the one across from me, silently inviting her to sit there. The jet is big enough for us to have our own space, but where’s the fun in that? I’d rather spend the whole ride looking at her.
“I think you all can manage without me,” I retort dryly.
I knew missing this meeting was going to be an issue. Every year, we look over applications together to accept new members. New billionaires are rising every day around the world, but not all of them are worthy of holding the 24K gold–plated Vortex card—their words, not mine. I’ve always believed we’re losing a lot of revenue opportunities by being so picky. But for them, it’s not about the money, it’s about the important connections we gain from accepting new members. It’s all bullshit and nepotism at its finest.
“Lorenzo,” He warns.
“Amos,” I snap, my patience wearing thin. “I called you as a courtesy. I’m not asking. I’m telling you an emergency came up, and I won’t be assisting.”
“You and I are going to have a conversation about your future as part of this board when you get back.”
“Looking forward to it,” I reply with a sharp, humorless laugh and hang up, throwing my phone on the seat next to me. Have them kick me out of the board if they want. I’ll throw a fucking parade when they do.
“I’m sorry this whole thing is causing you so many issues,” she whispers. I hate the way she says it like everything is her fault.
I lean forward, placing my hands on her thighs and starting to caress them. “Hey, this is not your fault. If anything, can I thank you for getting me out of that meeting?” I joke, trying to ease the tension.
She laughs softly, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “You’re welcome, I guess.”
“Look at me.” She has been avoiding my eyes the whole ride here. While I miss her smile, I’m thankful she’s allowing herself to be vulnerable enough to show me this side of her. I know it must be killing her. But she should know by now I will never judge her.
“It’s already embarrassing enough you have to see me like this. But knowing I’m causing so many issues…” She sighs, contemplating her next words. “I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you.”
I stand from my seat and crouch in front of her. My hand reaches for a strand of her hair, tucking it behind her ear before caressing her cheek with my thumb. “Don’t you dare thank me. There is no other place I’d rather be.” I give her a soft quick kiss, and even though this is probably crossing the rules we’ve set, I can’t bring myself to care. I want to show her how much it means to me to be here for her. Supporting her however she needs. “Have you heard anything else?”
She shakes her head without a word.
The stewardess approaches. “Mr. Mancini, the plane is ready for take-off.”
I nod, getting back in my seat. “Can you bring a blanket, please? Thanks.”
I reach for Sophia’s seatbelt and put it on her. There’s something so simple yet rewarding about making sure she’s safe. Looking after her has become second nature for me, and I don’t know how to deal with it. How do you take care of a woman as strong as Sophia? A woman who is as stubborn as they come and determined to do everything alone? I’m not sure, but I’ll keep trying, even if she continues to push me away.
The stewardess comes back with the blanket, and I place it on top of Sophia, making sure she’s tucked and warm, then sit back down.
“Lorenzo, stop babying me. I’m not some doll that’s going to break.” She shoots me a glare.
“I’m not babying you,” I challenge. Leave it to her to fight me the whole time. “Now take a nap. The flight to Nashville should be an hour and a half.”
“I’m not tired.”
I give her a pointed look. “If you say so.”
It doesn’t take long after we take off for Sophia to fall asleep. And all I can manage to do for the duration of the flight is look at her. Her hair in a messy bun, the tiny wild strands that are always bothering her peeking through. Her soft, parted lips as she snores softly. The slight frown she has, even though she’s sleeping.
This girl makes my heart ache for something I’ve never thought possible. What should be the summer of our lives is becoming something completely different. What started as a simple game to get closer to her to get my fix has become a lot more. There’s not enough time in the world for me to get her out of my system. Sophia has infiltrated my body and soul so deeply, I’m terrified for myself. For her. Because one thing is for certain—I don’t deserve this woman. She deserves someone who can be emotionally available and capable of loving. She needs someone who knows how to love, and that man is certainly not me. But I want to be selfish for a little while longer, hold her in my arms and give us the time of our lives before she can become another’s.
I don’t know how I’m going to let her go, but I will do it. Even if it kills me.
I may be a selfish motherfucker, but I will never stand in the way of the happiness she deserves. I would give Sophia the world, even if it meant not having her in mine.