Chapter Fifty Lorenzo
CHAPTER FIFTY
Lorenzo
T he meeting with the reporter was all Lily’s idea. When she first mentioned it, I was against the suggestion given my past experiences with the media. But seeing as the Wisteria Weekly is a far cry from the easily influenced Nevada Sun , I go along with her plan.
If I want to win, I need to make the most of every opportunity, which is why I invited Nicole over to my house for an official interview. Lily is the ultimate hostess, apologizing on Daisy’s behalf when she nearly sends Nicole into a wall, and I can picture her doing the same for years to come.
Thinking about Lily and our future seems to be happening more often than not lately. It’s clear I love her, and therapy has only further cemented the idea in my head, although I haven’t wanted to admit it aloud, but I’m done lying to myself.
Besides her smile and laugh, I love how compassionate and patient she is, and I admire how she doesn’t back down from her promise, even though I can tell it is difficult for her to spend time with me each week.
I love the way she has turned my home into her own without knowing it, and I love how easily she fits into my life like she’s always had a place in it.
And once Nicole leaves, I’ll tell her that.
It takes me ten minutes to determine that Nicole is nothing like the Nevada Sun reporter, and I should’ve assumed as much because Lily would never put me in that kind of position to begin with.
Once we get past the pleasantries, Nicole pulls out a notepad and her phone. “I appreciate you both taking time out of your Saturday to meet with me. I’m still catching up on a few things after I got sick last week.”
She hits the record button on her phone.
“No worries.” Lily smiles.
“We appreciate you wanting to speak with us.” I reach for Lily’s hand and lace our fingers together.
Nicole glances at our clasped hands before looking up with a smile. “Lily’s told me so much about you.”
“All good things,” Lily adds. “Except for you not being a Detroit Lion’s fan.”
Nicole places her palm against her heart. “I’m still processing that one.”
“How much will it cost me to have that fact excluded from the article?” I tease.
She grins. “Are you kidding? That’s making it onto the front page.”
“There goes the election…”
The reporter laughs. “While we’re on the subject, let’s talk more about that. What pushed you into running?”
I consider repeating the generic statement Willow and I have gone over what feels to be a hundred times, but I offer a new one instead.
“I believe the town is facing a hypothetical fork in the road, and it is up to them to decide which path to take. Both can lead toward prosperity—where one brings money and wealth to a select few while the other allows for a higher quality of life for everyone. I’ve been clear about where I stand, which is why I’d rather step up now and fight for a town I believe in than sit back and wish I did something about it later. ”
Nicole writes down notes while I speak.
“And with Lily’s shop on the line, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t give this campaign my all.”
Lily squeezes my hand, and I look over to find her staring at me with a wobbly smile.
“Thank you,” she says.
Nicole glances back and forth at us before asking, “Your shop is on Lavender Lane, right?”
“Yes,” Lily replies, her voice dejected.
“That’s quite the coincidence that the Ludlows chose that street, then.” Nicole jots more notes down with a frown.
I scoff. “I don’t believe in those.”
“Neither do I,” she replies, and I like her even more.
“Will you tell me more about this architect firm they hired?”
I go into detail about the firm, and then Nicole asks me about Trevor’s biggest sticking point: Vittori Holdings.
“Do you still keep in contact with your family?”
“No. It’s not a subject I like to talk about,” I add. “While I care for my cousins, it’s no secret that my uncle and I parted ways on bad terms, so I’ve had to cut myself off from everyone to protect my peace, and anyone with complex family dynamics can probably relate to that.”
The reporter writes down a few more notes before asking, “Is that why you sold your Vittori Holdings shares, or were there other factors at play?”
“Yes to both of your questions. No one wakes up one day and leaves a billion-dollar company without justifiable cause, so my decision was a long time coming, and my uncle’s choice to tear down my father’s legacy was the final straw.
All those rumors about me selling my shares because the investors weren’t happy with me were false.
The company’s value didn’t tank solely because of business choices I played a part in making, although people were quick to make me the scapegoat.
“Long story short: My values didn’t align with that of the company’s CEO, who unfortunately is my uncle.
Of course he took my departure personally.
He expected me to fall in line with the other board members, but I refused to be part of a company that prioritizes greed over morals.
I’d rather stay true to myself than become a sellout, so I left. ”
Lily’s eyes soften at the corners. I wish I could read her thoughts, if only to know what brought out that look from her.
Nicole’s pen flies across her notepad. “It’s a different kind of loyalty.”
“Exactly,” I reply.
Trevor let the town assume I wasn’t loyal, and I’m correcting the narrative. By the time Nicole is done, he will look like the ass while I keep coming out on top, hopefully with Lily by my side.
Nicole glances up. “If you don’t mind me asking, what brought your parents to Lake Wisteria originally?”
I explain my mom’s childhood briefly and my parents meeting in Vegas before saying, “After my parents got married, my mom wanted to leave Vegas, and since my dad’s biggest priority was to make her happy, they ended up moving.”
She nods. “And then you followed in their footsteps.”
“It felt like the right path to take.”
“Imagine if you hadn’t.” She glances back and forth between Lily and me.
“I don’t like to think about it.” I kiss the back of Lily’s hand, not for show but for comfort.
Nicole raises her brow. “I’m curious—you could’ve moved anywhere in the world after selling your Vittori Holdings shares, but you chose to come back here. Why is that?”
“There was something about Lake Wisteria that felt…right. So, I took a chance and moved back, and soon enough, it started to feel like home . Not only because of the town and the people in it but because of one specific person.”
I look at Lily while I say the last part so she knows I’m speaking to her as her boyfriend rather than a fake fiancé.
“Lily showed me what my life could look like, and it’s that vision that keeps me motivated.
It holds me accountable and pushes me to want the best for this town, both for her and the future family we want to raise here. ”
“That’s beautiful.” Nicole clears her throat, but I don’t take my eyes off Lily.
I watch the way her eyes water as what I said sinks in, and I know that I can’t go another day without telling her how I feel because doing so in front of strangers feels wrong.
She deserves all my words, even the ones she doesn’t want to hear, and tonight she’s going to hear them. Whether she decides to reciprocate them is up to her.
“I’m proud of you for meeting with the reporter,” Lily says once I return to the living room after seeing Nicole out.
“Really?”
She nods. “I know it was the last thing you wanted to do, but I think it’ll be good for the campaign.”
I take a seat beside her. Before she can protest, I pull her in before calling Daisy to take a seat on her other side.
She might let out a huff of disapproval, but the way she sinks into my side is promising.
I kiss the top of her head because I can’t resist. “Thank you. For all you’re doing to help me win. It means more to me than you’ll ever know.”
She pulls back all too soon, her face going blank. “We all benefit if you do.”
“Yeah, that’s true, but I like to think you also do it because you like me.”
“So?”
“So, it means all that much more to me.”
“Lorenzo…” she warns, but against what, I’m not entirely sure.
“Do you still like me?” I ask.
“I thought you didn’t like asking questions you already know the answer to.”
“I need to hear it,” I answer honestly.
“Why?”
“Because I’m losing my mind without you.”
“I’m right here.”
“Yes, but it’s not the same.” The knot in my stomach tightens. “I miss you.” I whisper it like a confession. “I miss you so damn much, Lily, and I didn’t think I was capable of missing someone this badly.”
“How is that even possible? I’ve seen you almost every day these last three weeks.” There is a hint of disbelief to her tone.
“Yeah, but things between us are not the same.”
She exhales slowly through her nose. “What did you expect would happen after the debate? Did you expect me to keep putting my heart on the line for someone who isn’t willing to do the same?”
“No, of course not. But I didn’t know how difficult it would be to watch you pull away.”
Her lips purse with distaste. “Don’t try to guilt-trip me.”
“I’m saying this because I’m trying to be open and honest about my feelings instead of keeping them to myself. That’s all.”
Yet you haven’t told her about your parents and Trevor yet.
I want to, but what if she thinks I’m only telling her now because I want her to forgive me?
Fuck . The thought of that happening makes my stomach turn.
“It doesn’t matter anymore. We’re done.” Her voice breaks at the end.
I should respect her boundaries, but I can’t. Not at the expense of losing her altogether.
I can see it happening slowly, right in front of my eyes, and if I don’t do something about it fast, it won’t matter whether I win or lose the election.
Because I would’ve already lost her, and the thought of that happening is unfathomable.
“If we’re done, then kiss me. Show me how unaffected you are by our connection—show me how much it doesn’t matter,” I taunt because screw it. Let her show me since she’s so big on actions.
She rears back. “What?”
“You heard me.” I pause. “Prove to me that we’re over, and I’ll never ask you about our relationship again.”
She shakes her head. “No.”
“No, you don’t want me to do that? Or no, you’re too scared to accept that we will never be over. We weren’t a year ago, and we sure as hell aren’t now.”
Her eyes spark with anger. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because I can’t let you go.”
“I never wanted you to.” Her confession sits heavy between us.
“Good, because I won’t.” I slide my hands through her hair, keeping her head in place. “I’m sorry for ever making you believe I could.”
Her eyes shut, and I lightly tug on her strands so she reopens them.
“I was a fool for thinking I could walk away. I’d rather spend the rest of my life in therapy, working through my personal issues if it means I get to come home to you every day.”
She shakes her head.
“You might not believe me now, but I won’t stop until you do,” I say with absolute certainty.
“I’m not running away or giving up if I lose the election, which is why I’ve started therapy now rather than later.
Because win or lose, I want to stay in this town and build a life together.
It won’t be easy. I won’t deny that, but I do know you’re worth it.
“A few months ago, I stupidly said you were too much for me, but the truth is, I’m the one who wasn’t enough. I’m still not, and I’m not sure I ever will be, but that won’t stop me from giving you my all, and I’m sorry that my actions made you question that.”
Her eyes water. “What if you change your mind?”
“I won’t. So long as you want to stay here, then I do too.”
“You need to stop saying all the right things.”
I hold her chin. “Why does that upset you so much?”
She looks up, giving me a clear view of her eyes welling with tears. “Because I don’t want to believe what you’re saying.”
I lean forward and tilt her head, leaving enough room for her to be in control of whether she wants to kiss me.
“What are my actions showing you, then?” I ask instead.
Her eyes drop to my mouth. “I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do.” I brush her bottom lip with my thumb.
She shakes her head.
“Did you read all my messages on the app?”
She hesitates before nodding.
“Then you know , Lily.”
Her chin wobbles. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Why?”
“Because I was tricked by your actions before, and I thought…” Her face turns progressively more red.
“You thought what?”
She tries to avoid my gaze, but I cradle her face and force her to look at me. “Tell me.”
“I thought you were falling in love with me,” she whispers.
“Ask me,” I command, and she shakes her head. “Ask me how I feel,” I repeat.
Her eyes screw shut. “I wouldn’t believe you anyway.”
Pain laces through my heart, sharp and all-consuming. It makes me want to lash out, but I hold back and refocus my energy into more productive emotions.
I cup the back of her head. “The only liar here is you , and I’ll prove it.”
I seal my mouth over hers before she can say anything else, and I won’t let her go until she finally accepts the truth once and for all.