Chapter 11 #2
Lorenzo snorts out a laugh. “You never know. This crazy chick convinced me to marry her without a prenup.” He raises a brow. “She might be planning to take me for half of everything.”
From his playful tone, I know it’s only meant as a joke, but what he says still rubs me the wrong way.
“I wouldn’t do that,” I say, locking eyes with him so he knows I’m serious.
“There’s a reason why I’m still a virgin.
I have no desire to be in a relationship.
My focus is on fashion design and graduating from college.
I want to design clothes and one day open my own boutique and eventually start my own clothing line.
“My mother’s entire purpose in life was to bag a rich man to take care of her, and that will never be me.
What I did in the Bahamas to save my life was the hardest thing I’d ever done, and I can assure you that as soon as I’m safe, I’ll gladly sign off on the annulment and walk away without anything but my life. ”
Lorenzo stares at me for several seconds before he says, “Still?”
“Huh?” I ask in confusion.
“You said there’s a reason you’re still a virgin.”
Oh shit. I swallow thickly, taking a moment to gain my composure. I’ve never actually had to lie to him, and maybe it’s stupid, but I don’t want to start now.
“You know what I mean,” I say vaguely. “My point is, I don’t want anything from you besides the safety being here provides. And as soon as that Leysa chick is gone, I’ll be out of your hair, and you’ll never have to see me again.”
Lorenzo nods in understanding. “Don’t worry. Matteo is determined to find her. And he won’t stop until she’s been taken down. It shouldn’t be too long before you can put this entire ordeal behind you.”
“That’s the hope.”
“If you drop this pacifier again …” I mock glare at Leo, who’s babbling away in his high chair, chomping on tiny pieces of fruit that I cut up for him.
After I rinse the pacifier off, I set it on the counter since he doesn’t need it anymore.
“If only there was a way to make sure it didn’t fall …” And then an idea strikes.
My stuff arrived this morning, and while I haven’t gone through it all, I know my sewing stuff is in there.
I run to my room, grab the kit and supplies, and hurry back.
While Leo eats and watches a show, I sew the design that came to me. And then, because I’m extra when it comes to fashion, I grab the little monkey stuffie I saw on his shelf and sew it on.
“You are going to be the cutest baby on the block,” I tell Leo as I finish the last stitch.
Once it’s done, I grab the pacifier and slip it through the loop I made so it won’t come out. Then, after cleaning Leo, I lift him from the high chair and bring him over to the couch. I had an adjustable clip that I used when resizing clothes, so I used that to attach it to his outfit.
“What are you doing?” Lorenzo barks, making me jump.
“I had this idea …” I hold up the pacifier holder, ready to explain when Lorenzo cuts me off.
“My kid isn’t your accessory to decorate. He’s a living, breathing baby. If you want a baby doll, go buy one at the damn store.”
He snatches Leo from me, and I glance at him in shock. The past several days, it’s felt like we’ve come to some sort of truce. And while he’s still grumpy, it’s not usually aimed directly at me.
“I don’t think he’s a baby doll,” I tell him.
“I made this for him.” I hold up the pacifier holder and step over to him.
“He keeps dropping his pacifier, and then we have to wash it, so I made this. It holds the pacifier on one end and clips to his outfit on the other. And because anyone hanging out with me needs to be fashionable, I sewed this cute little monkey onto it.”
I clip it onto Leo’s onesie, and when he tries to grab it, it holds, and he gives up trying to throw it, instead popping the pacifier into his mouth.
“You made that?” Lorenzo questions.
“My stuff arrived today, which included my sewing supplies.” I shrug. “I happen to think it’s a brilliant idea.”
“It is,” he agrees. “I’m sorry. His mom … she loved to shop and thought buying him clothes made up for the lack of attention and love she gave him. When I saw you accessorizing him, I jumped to the wrong conclusion.”
“It’s okay. We all have a past.”
He fingers the monkey. “This is cute.”
“Right?” I beam. “I should totally trademark it.”
“You could.” He smirks. “If it wasn’t already done.”
“What?” I gasp.
Lorenzo walks out of the room and comes back a minute later, holding an ugly plastic clip. “This is for the pacifier. Dani bought it for him, but I always forget to use it.”
“Well, shit.” I sigh. “Guess I won’t be getting rich off my idea after all.” I eye the ugly pacifier holder and then glance at the one I made. “But you have to admit, mine is way more stylish.”
Lorenzo chuckles. “It definitely is.” He makes a show of throwing the plastic clip into the other room. “Fuck that shit. We prefer the monkey clip.”
His playful gaze meets mine, and my stomach does some weird somersault that has me chanting to myself, Do not fall for the grumpy single dad. It will not end well.