Chapter 14
As I sat by the lake in the morning sun, I couldn’t stop my mind wandering back to last night. Just when I thought there was a little progress made, he slammed on the brakes and was back to being the same dick he was when we met.
My phone vibrated beside me, and I saw Robin’s name flash across the screen.
“You’re up early.” I laughed when I answered. Robin was a night owl. She hated early starts.
She groaned. “Tay’s brother is here. You know exactly how he is in the morning.”
“Ah, and how is my favourite little man, Jack?”
“Loud and lively.” She scoffed.
“Why don’t you and Tay bring him over today? I could use some girl time.” That was true. I genuinely could. I missed them.
“Won’t your husband mind?”
“I don’t know. I think he’s out today anyway.” I danced happily on the inside at the thought of not having to see him all day. “Besides, it’s my house too.”
“Valid point! We’ll be over at lunch?” The idea of getting together must have woken her up because she sounded more excited than she did a minute ago.
“Perfect, I’ll see you then.” I smiled, hanging up the phone.
I relaxed back on the grass, enjoying the peace and the rippling lake.
“Mornin’, A.” Emmet beamed as he sat down beside me.
“Morning.” I smiled, until I remembered he was the one who let me go last night, and that wouldn’t have gone without repercussions. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologise, A.” He responded, his grin a breath of fresh air. “It ain’t your fault, you just want to live a little, and hey, I don’t blame ya.”
“But didn’t Lorenzo have something to say about it?” I asked.
He gently nudged his arm into mine. “Lorenzo has been my mate for a long time, and I wouldn’t change that, but at the end of the day, he’s also my boss. I let him down.”
“I should have stayed.” I sighed.
“Nah, Red told me what was so important, so I’m glad you didn’t .”
“Why is he such a dick though?”
“You’ve grown up with men like Lorenzo, A. You know how much pressure they have on them.” He responded, his lips twisting into a smile at my previous question.
“So, you agree? He’s a dick?” I laughed.
He jumped to his feet. “I have to meet him and the guys. Please stay home today,” he pleaded, clasping his hands together as if begging me to listen.
“You have my word. Besides, the girls are coming over.”
“Well, have fun then.” He held up his hand in a wave before retreating towards the house.
Why couldn’t Lorenzo be as nice and easygoing as them?
As I sat outside by the lake with Robin, Tay, and Jack, I finally felt as though I was back at home. Even though this was anything but a home right now. It was a damn prison.
“Ana, why is this house so big?” Jack asked as he stared back at it. “Does one man need such a huge house?”
“No, others live here, too.” I ruffled his hair as he looked up at me.
“Cool. What are they like?” he pried.
“Everyone is friendly.” I crouched down to his level. “Although, one is a little mean.”
“I’ll knock that meanness right out of him!” he growled as he balled his fist.
“Yeah, I don’t think so,” Tay warned, shooting him a look he knew all too well.
“You’re mean, too.” He stuck out his tongue before he ran off to explore.
Jack was Tay’s little brother. He was nine years old and a bundle of energy. But he was adorable and loved to spend time with the three of us.
The girls turned their attention back to me. As if they were trying to read me, and it filled me with dread. I knew they wanted me to gush about Lorenzo and say how amazing he was but I couldn’t… He was a dick through and through, and even if I lied, nothing would change that.
“So, spill! How’s married life?” Robin quizzed, sipping her lemonade.
“Honestly?” I sighed. “There is nothing to spill. It’s awful.”
“Really?” Robin’s mouth dropped open, clearly not expecting that answer.
“He’s vile. I despise the man, and I wish I killed him when I had the chance.” I admitted.
“Now, I would have paid to see that.” Tay giggled as Robin narrowed her eyes at her.
Robin was a real believer in true love, so me not falling head over heels for Lorenzo wasn’t on her cards.
“To be honest, his attitude at the club was disgusting, acting as if he owns you.” Tay tutted. “No amount of free drinks will make up for his behaviour.”
“I know he didn’t exactly win us over with his first impression, but the more I think about it, the more I think he was just being protective of his wife.” Robin swooned. Fuck, she really loved herself a fairytale.
“There’s being protective and then there’s being whatever the fuck he was.” Tay scoffed with an eye roll.
“Alright, but maybe we should meet him properly before we judge.” Robin threw the suggestion out there as if I’d want that.
“All I’m saying is that man needs to do a lot of work before he becomes worthy of our girl.” Tay picked at her nail polish as she expressed her opinion.
“It’s just that this marriage isn’t what I pictured for myself. I never dreamed of marriage at all. I can’t even imagine loving someone like him.” I groaned, flopping down onto the grass.
The girls laid down on either side of me, most likely understanding my mixture of sadness and annoyance at the situation.
“And what if all we ever do is play this stupid game of cat and mouse until we kill one another?” I asked, covering my eyes with my arm.
“Well, let’s just hope you’re the one that kills first.” Tay winked as she rested her hand on top of mine.
“Ana!” Jack shouted as he bounded up to us. “Can you show me where the bathroom is?”
“Of course, I can. Come on.” I pushed myself to my feet as he slid his hand into mine.
I led Jack into the kitchen as a flash of red hair caught my eye.
“Hey, Ana, who’s this little guy?” Red smiled from the garage doorway.
“This is my friend's little brother, Jack.” Jack waved excitedly and stared at the colour of Red’s hair.
“Nice to meet ya, Jack. I’m Red.”
“Like your hair, I get it.” He giggled.
“Exactly, it’s cool, huh?” Red patted the bun that sat on the top of his head and laughed as Jack nodded his head with enthusiasm.
“Ana, do you think my mom would let me do that?” he asked, his deep hazel eyes staring up at me.
“Hmm, maybe when you’re older.” I ruffled his hair as he pumped his fist in happiness.
“Right, I’d better get going. I got sh—I mean, things to do.” Red let out a relieved sigh that he caught himself from cursing.
“I love him!” Jack beamed. “Now, where is the bathroom?”
“It’s just down this corridor. Count five doors, and you’ll reach it.” I pointed him in the right direction.
“Got it! Wait here for me!” he said sweetly before hurrying off to count doors.
I sat on the bottom step of the stairs, picking at the frayed knees of my jeans. The afternoon with the girls was exactly what I needed. I knew they had different opinions of Lorenzo, and that was completely understandable. They didn’t know him, and I hoped they’d never truly want to, either.
“Ana?” Lorenzo appeared before me, catching me off guard. He must have been holed up in his office since returning home.
“Lorenzo,” I replied, matching his tone.
“Why are you sitting there?” he quizzed, looking genuinely confused.
“I’m just waiting for Jack.” The second I opened my mouth, it dawned on me that Lorenzo didn’t know who Jack was.
“And who the fuck is Jack?” he quizzed, his brows furrowing more with each word.
“That’s me. I’m Jack.” An overly confident Jack piped up from behind Lorenzo, causing his face to drop when he realised Jack was, in fact, a child.
Lorenzo turned. He stood beside me as he came face-to-face with an adorable little boy who flashed him a smile.
“You know you just said a swear word, right?” Jack scrunched his nose, looking exactly like Tay when he did. He furrowed his brows, challenging my husband.
“I just said a what?” The look on Lorenzo’s face was priceless. I had never seen him look so surprised and confused all at once.
“A swear word… You know, a really bad word.” Jack’s face relaxed a little, amused that Lorenzo didn’t understand.
“Well, forgive me, little man. I am sorry.” Holy shit, did he just apologise? I never thought I’d see the day.
“Do you have ice cream?” Jack asked with a sweet smile.
“I do, why do you ask?” Lorenzo crouched down onto the balls of his feet, his lips lifting ever so slightly at the corners.
“Well, I can forget the swear word if I can have some ice cream?” he whispered close to Lorenzo’s ear.
“Alright, you’ve got yourself a deal.” He held out his hand that was decorated with a variety of scars. “How many scoops?”
“I was thinking of nine. You know, because I’m nine.”
“Well, I didn’t know that, but I do now.” Lorenzo chuckled as Jack shook his hand.
They wandered through to the kitchen together while I followed behind.
Had someone asked me this morning how I would have envisioned Lorenzo today, I would never have pictured him like this. His crisp white shirt was rolled up to his elbows as he scooped endless flavours of ice cream into a sundae dish before decorating it with sprinkles and a chocolate flake.
“There you go, little man.” He slid the ice cream over to Jack, whose eyes lit up with delight.
“Woah, Ana, look! He added sprinkles. I like him.” He fist pumped the air before devouring his first spoonful.
"It's a good job she's married to me then," Lorenzo quipped with a mischievous grin, his eyes twinkling with humour.
“Yes! Good pick, Ana!” Jack hopped off the stool, heading back out to Tay.
I turned my attention to Lorenzo. He cocked his head to the side, watching me silently.
"I never knew you were such a softy," I teased, batting my eyelashes dramatically. My voice was light and filled with mock surprise.
“That’s because I’m not.” He scowled, muttering something else under his breath.
“Mhm, then explain to me why you melted faster than the ice cream did when Jack came around.” Winding him up came all too easy. “That was after you knew he was a child.” I laughed, barely holding it in.
“What was I supposed to think? You didn’t exactly make it clear, so I thought?—”