Chapter Twenty-One Lorenzo
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Lorenzo
I ’m in the middle of wrapping up a phone call with the head architect at Morrison and Holmes—the architecture firm Lily mentioned being involved with the Lavender Lane project—when Manny strolls into the empty office space that I turned into my campaign headquarters.
He takes a seat near the front entrance and pulls out his phone after I hold up a finger and tell him to wait.
“Are you still there, Mr. Vittori?” the architect asks.
“Yes. Sorry about that. I just wanted to say I appreciate how forthcoming you’ve been during this call.
” I can’t find it in me to smile. Despite the huge win for my campaign and the upcoming mayoral debate, my stomach is in knots from this conversation, and it has nothing to do with lying to get information out of the Ludlows’ architects.
I hate to admit it, but my uncle was correct when he said if the price is right, people will always talk, and turns out the architects at Morrison and Holmes are loyal to a paycheck rather than a person.
Their lack of integrity absolves me of any guilt I’d feel from lying to them about my Vittori Holdings connections or the made-up project they’ll get to bid on.
“We look forward to working together,” the woman says.
“We’ll keep in touch.” I hang up and wave Manny into my office.
My campaign volunteers are used to Manny stopping by unannounced, so they ignore him as he walks past their desks and heads straight toward mine located in the back of the office space.
The little chip on his front tooth is on full display, and his brown eyes crinkle at the corners from how wide he smiles at me.
He holds a bouquet of flowers out for me to grab. “Here.”
“Don’t tell me these are for me,” I deadpan before assessing his choice of flowers like he’s a contestant on some show.
“You owe me seventy-five bucks.”
“What for?”
“Your girlfriend’s flowers aren’t cheap.”
“She should’ve charged you double for bothering her.”
He laughs as he takes a seat beside my desk. “I didn’t bother her.”
I shoot him a look. He’s been hounding me about her for the last few weeks, and I’ve avoided planning any kind of outing together.
“At least I hope I didn’t. But I needed to take matters into my own hands since you haven’t introduced us yet.”
“Have you forgotten that you two already know each other from school?”
“Yeah, but she doesn’t know me as Manny, your best friend.”
“I prefer to call you Manny, the pain in my ass.”
“Well, at least you always have stand-up comedy if the political stuff doesn’t work out.”
I glare.
He grins. “Kidding!”
I lean back in my desk chair and cross my arms. “So how did it go?”
“Great! She suggested we all go out for drinks tomorrow.”
“We?”
“You, me, Lily, and that sweet employee of hers, Jane .” He says her name in a wistful way.
I pull out my phone and text Lily, who unfortunately confirms Manny is telling the truth. To avoid him for a little longer, I reply to her message.
ME
Isn’t it a bad idea to invite your employee on a double date?
LILY
I can tell you didn’t grow up in a small town.
ME
What does that have to do with anything?
LILY
When you see two people hit it off, you do everything possible to make it happen.
ME
By “it,” you mean…?
LILY
Love, Lorenzo. Do try to keep up with me here.
ME
Florist. True-crime junkie. Matchmaker. What’s next?
I don’t catch myself smiling at my phone until Manny punches me in the shoulder.
“What was that for?” I rub the sore spot.
“Being rude and ignoring my company.”
I exhale, relieved he didn’t see her latest text. “Now that I have a date planned tomorrow, I should get back to work before I fall behind.”
“Can’t you take a break?”
I motion toward the stack of earnings reports I have to review from a dentist who would like to sell her office in town and retire. “Only if you want me to cancel.”
“In that case, stop being lazy and get to it! My soulmate waits for no one.”
Manny decided to park his car at my house so I could drive us both to the Historic District, where Lily and Jane are meeting us at a new speakeasy bar.
They’re making a big deal out of celebrating the end of strawberry season with special drinks and a live band who also played last weekend at the festival.
The drive is a short one, especially when Manny spent the entirety of it going over answers to possible questions Jane might ask him. I’ve never seen him this nervous before, and I have no idea how to calm his fraying nerves.
“How do I look?” Manny asks as I park in a lot not too far from the bar.
I have a hard time responding to his question because his short-sleeve, button-down shirt is one I’d never be caught wearing.
The tiny strawberry pattern might be on-brand with the rest of the town’s favorite fruit, but that doesn’t make it a fashionable choice, so I stick with a basic “You look fine.”
He gapes at me. “Fine? Might as well tell me to go change while you’re at it.”
I squint at the busy pattern. “I mean, I wouldn’t be against it.”
His eyes turn to slits. “Can we swap?”
“Swap what?”
“Shirts.” He motions toward my white button-down with the sleeves rolled up.
I shut my car off to end the conversation. “No.”
He holds his hands up like he’s praying. “Please, Lorenzo? You have a girlfriend already, so it’s not like you need to impress anyone, but me…”
He stares at his shirt like he can’t believe he ever thought it was a good idea.
“I can’t go in there and embarrass myself.”
“It’s not that bad.”
He pops open the mirror and checks himself out. “God. Why did I ever let my mom talk me into wearing this?”
“A little word of advice? Hold off on admitting your mom still helps pick out your clothes.”
“How else can I explain this fashion choice?”
“Town spirit?”
He claps his hands together. “Yes! Town spirit! Which is why you have to wear it as the man who’s running for mayor.”
I choke on a laugh. “Good try, but no.”
“Okay. Forget about town spirit. Do it because I’m your best friend and you don’t want to see me blow my chance with one of the prettiest girls around.
Because I don’t want to be single anymore, Lorenzo.
It’s lonely as hell, and I’m ready for the next phase in my life.
I’ve been ready for a while, but dating here is hard. ”
I stare at him without blinking. “You’re serious.”
“Of course I’m serious, but it’s not like you’d understand since you have Lily.”
Except you don’t have her, do you?
“Maybe we could head back to my house so I can change?” He checks his watch and curses. “No. Being late is even worse.” His groan fills the car.
I shouldn’t say yes. If I were anything like my uncle or cousins, I would stick to my original answer and tell him no, but then I think about what that would look like for him should I refuse to help him out.
Manny is a good guy. He goes out of his way to check on me even when I don’t do the same, and he’s decent at blackjack and poker after I taught him a few tricks.
Even though we are complete opposites, I like his company, and the thought of upsetting him enough to risk losing it makes my throat tighten.
Maybe Lily was right, because the thought of being alone is more than tiring.
It’s unsettling .
When I first moved to Lake Wisteria, I never cared about making friends, but now I’m thinking about what could happen should I upset the only real one I have.
Not a risk I’m willing to take.
Selfishness has always been my default setting, but tonight I am choosing to put someone else first while receiving nothing but their company in return. All because Lily is right and I am tired of being alone.
And I have no idea what to do with that new piece of information about myself.