Chapter 18 #2
“Yeah, she’s visiting her mother for the week, don’t even get me started on that situation, so it’s just me and this little guy in the apartment,” she says with a smile, scratching under his chin.
She’s been living with her roommate now for almost two years, and Borris is the terrier Lorraine allegedly adopted after working at an animal shelter for only a week.
“Do you mind taking him out to pee? He became skittish in the last two blocks, but I’m certain he needs to tinkle.” Romi looks pointedly at Lorenzo.
Lorenzo and Borris stare at one another. “You want me to walk him?”
“Just around the block.” Romi does a circle with her finger.
“While we have some girl chat. I get there’s a honeymoon smoochy period and all, but you don’t want to be clingy or toxic, right?
” she says with her hand on her hip. “Don’t want us getting bored with you so quickly.
Looks don’t hold up as much as you would think. ”
Lorenzo’s eyebrows rise. “You certainly don’t care about what you say, do you?”
Romi casually shrugs as she leans over the counter, her shirt stating, No. You do it.
“No,” she says flatly. “Oh, I got you an iced tea,” she says, noticing the one already on the counter. “But I guess this will be mine then.” She takes a large slurp as she looks at Lorenzo expectantly.
He’s not going to leave.
He never does.
No matter how much we argue or fight, he’s forever at my side.
He leans in, and every hair on my arms rises, an immediate flashback of the night in the changing room comes to mind. “I’m locking the door behind me. I won’t be long. Call me if you need anything.”
My jaw drops as I watch him leave. Is he actually giving me… a moment of space?
“Wow. I don’t want to know what dirty talk he was whispering in your ear to make your jaw drop like that,” Romi comments as we watch him leave.
He does exactly as he stated, except I’m not surprised when he only walks back and forth in front of the store, seemingly encouraging the small terrier to urinate.
Romi blows out a whistle. “I didn’t realize he was helping you around the store as well. Remind me what he does for work again.” She leans in as I bend over to finish cleaning the mess we’d created.
Guilt slices through me. Romi’s been my best friend since childhood. She knows most of my secrets, but this is one I can’t share with her, especially when it’s not mine to tell.
“Investments and a lot of real estate. Nothing exciting,” I say, trying to sound as calm as possible.
Her gaze narrows. “You’re not pregnant, are you?”
“Wh-what? No!” I stammer. My God, we haven’t even had sex yet.
Yet.
That ominous word has me shaking my head.
“Not pregnant, just taking things slow. My father’s not too happy about it. He doesn’t think Lorenzo is the best candidate to date a Taylor, and has organized for me to meet with some guy on Friday for a date.”
Romi pulls a face. “And you’re actually going to go? You can’t be serious, Lily. Lorenzo is clearly besotted with you. And to be honest, I haven’t seen you this lively for a while. What does Lorenzo think of it?”
“This was your punishment, Sunshine. At least now, when you’re on that date, wearing this dress, your own cum smeared on the inside from where I ate you out, you’ll be thinking of me.” Liquid warmth trickles into my core at the memory of his words.
“He hasn’t said much about it,” I lie.
“Hmmm. He doesn’t strike me as the laid-back type.”
“Well, I hardly think it’ll be a forever thing,” I reply quietly. Ara said it’d be easier to be under the pretense of a fake relationship, but it's me who will have to have the awkward conversations explaining why we supposedly didn’t work out when all of this passes.
“You never know. I like his vibe. Maybe he’ll give you the courage to seriously step up to your father. I know it’s hard,” she says softly as she places her hand on top of mine, her silent insinuation tangible.
There are so many things Romi knows about my family, yet so many things I keep to myself. But despite her quirky, aloof demeanor, she’s always been very observant. Must be the artist in her.
“You’ve been acting strange lately,” she notes.
My shoulders sag because I don’t like lying to her, but I don’t even know how to articulate half of what’s happening.
If I say it out loud, I’ll sound like a crazy person.
“There’s just a lot happening. That’s all.
” I’m trying to cover for lies upon lies.
Tired of their weight and how sticky they feel, as if they’re keeping me stuck in place.
“You always used to talk to me,” she says, sounding concerned.
“So, when you need me, you let me know, yeah? Promise me.” The ends of her deep-red hair brush her shoulders, and I think about all the ways she’s growing while I feel left behind.
Her paintings are getting notice, and she’s often traveling for her artistic pursuits.
And I’ve remained here in my store, creating a safe haven, but perhaps I’ve become too reliant on its comfort.
“Promise. But you don’t have to worry about me. If anything, I’m worried about Sienna. Has she spoken to you lately?”
“Nice deflection, not,” she says, but lets it go, shrugging. “No, she hasn’t spoken to me, but something is definitely up with her and Michael.”
I throw the paper towels into the trash after soaking up the water on the floor. “Maybe I should do something for her. I want to make sure she’s okay and—”
“Or you can focus on yourself for once,” Romi cuts in. “You’re always doing that. Offering to help others first and putting yourself on the back burner. Don’t pretend like this last year hasn’t been weighing on you as well.”
I don’t know what to say to that. It’s what I’ve always done, and I never thought it was necessarily a bad thing. Well, not until as of late.
“Maybe this is good for you.” She hooks a thumb in Lorenzo’s direction. “It’s time you focus on yourself, Lily. We’re all old enough now. If Sienna needs us, she’ll come to us. So for now, focus on yourself.”
The bell jingles, and Lorenzo looks unimpressed as the tiny terrier gazes up at him. “For such a tiny dog, he certainly shits a lot, and he got some on my shoe.” He points at his shoe.
Romi bites her bottom lip and turns, and we both burst into laughter.
“Oh, that’s so weird. I thought he just needed to pee. Anyway, I’d better leave you two love birds. But just so you know, I’ll be stealing her away for a night out soon, and to make it clear, you’re not invited,” she says, poking her tongue at him and taking Borris.
I wonder if Romi knew who Lorenzo truly was, if she'd be as bold to poke her tongue out at him. Most likely. She’s always been fearless in her own way. It’s why I was always drawn to her.
“Bye, kids, and don’t be in a mad rush to have any babies soon. It’s bad enough we have to deal with Luca’s mood swings while Ara’s pregnant, let alone yours, as well.” She gives Lorenzo a pointed look, and his gaze narrows.
She chuckles as she closes the door behind her. “What’s this about babies?” he demands the moment she's gone.
I shake my head because it’s just like Romi to leave such a lasting impression. But she also doesn’t joke with those she doesn’t like, which means that for whatever reason, Romi approves of Lorenzo.
But it doesn’t shift the reality that none of this is real. “It’s nothing,” I say, refocusing on the bouquet in front of me. “She likes to joke a lot.”
I can sense the intensity of his gaze, a feeling I still haven’t gotten used to.
I don’t think I ever will. And even if I did, he’ll be long gone by then.
Soon, they'll get to the bottom of this threat that I’m starting to believe isn’t even real.
As the weeks have passed, the memory of that day has slowly receded, and it doesn’t hold as much of its terrifying power over me anymore.
“Any news on the hitmen?” I ask curiously.
“No leads yet,” Lorenzo replies.
I steal a glance at him as he stares down at his phone. I haven’t seen him sleep, even when I’ve peeked in on him at all hours of the night and morning. He seems to be forever working, and I wonder if it’s all for my safety or if there’s something else to it entirely.
He looks up, those dark-brown eyes freezing me in place, and I’m taken back to the changing room.
I want him.
Can feel him all over my body, even when he’s not touching me.
His gaze drops to my lips, and I know he’s thinking the same. But when he steps forward, he bypasses me, heading into the back room instead, and I feel the icy rejection in his wake.
My jaw clenches. It's infuriating that I’m longing for a man that I shouldn’t be. The sexual tension is insufferable. But even worse than that is the constant rejection and acute realization that this will never be anything more.
The red velvet box catches my eye, and I’m yet again reminded I’m facing bigger issues than Lorenzo Moretti, even if he takes up more space in my mind than I’ve willingly given him.