Chapter 48 Sophia
“ M om, that box is heavy. Let me do it,” I say, grabbing the box labeled POTS AND PANS from her hands.
She scrunches her nose. “I think I liked it better when you were in Chicago.”
I gasp dramatically. “I’m offended!”
Mom pulls me into a side-hug, laughing. “I’m lying. It’s nice having you here.”
I shake my head, feigning a pout as I carry the box out to the moving truck. It’s been a little over two months since I came back home. I managed to land a waitressing job downtown about a month in. The hours are tough, but the tips make it worth it. It’s not a forever thing—just temporary—but it’s given me the chance to move us out of this house faster than I expected.
In between the chaos of packing and working, Mom and I have had some real conversations, the kind we didn’t get to have when I was always busy in Chicago and always worrying about her. It feels good, like we’re making up for lost time. While working at Vogue Elite wasn’t the best experience, it helped me discover I actually enjoy the editing and proofing side of journalism. So once we’re all settled in the new place, I’m going to start looking for a new job. There are a lot of remote opportunities, but even if a good one requires moving, Mom’s on board with relocating. There’s nothing for us here except bitter memories of my father, and now that we’re moving out, that’s all they will remain as—memories.
I’ve thought about going back to Chicago someday, but the idea of being in the same city as Lorenzo is still too painful. I don’t hold a grudge for how he reacted when everything went down. I’ve come to understand Lorenzo has always been private for a reason, and when things got tough, his instinct was to assume the worst. That’s all he’s ever known. But the memories...they’re still too fresh. Too raw for me to go back to the city.
I’d be lying if I said I don’t think of him, because I do. Every day. And even though it’s been so long since I last saw him, the feelings haven’t faded. I’m still deeply, madly in love with Lorenzo. There’s no denying I miss him—terribly.
But it doesn’t change anything. We were doomed from the start. We were always going to end in heartbreak, because that’s all I’ve ever known.
“Where do you want these boxes?” Matteo’s voice calls out.
Somehow, the girls convinced the guys to help me move. Damian offered to pay for a moving company, but Aria and Isabella wanted to spend time with me, so they dragged the guys along. I’m still not sure how they managed it. I guess love really conquers all.
“Those are donations. Just put them in my car,” I shout back .
Damian walks out with a couple of boxes, setting them down with a grunt. “I think that’s the last of it.”
“Thanks, guys. Dinner’s on me tonight,” I offer.
He shrugs casually. “No need. You know we’d do anything for you, right?” His pointed look throws me off guard.
I cross my arms, raising a brow. “And here I thought you hated me.”
“He doesn’t hate anyone,” Matteo cuts in with a smirk. “He just looks like he’s got a pole stuck up his ass.”
Damian smacks Matteo on the back of the head. “Shut up.”
Matteo rubs his head, wincing. “Hate it when you do that.”
“Then stop talking nonsense.”
“Hey.” I lift my chin at Matteo, changing the subject. “How’s it going with the missus?”
He scrubs his face and lets out a long sigh.
I wince. “That bad?”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “Not bad at all. Just an adjustment now that I’ve moved in.”
“I can’t believe she let you move in. Her place is like a personal temple.”
He gives me a knowing look. “Exactly. The place is ridiculously small, but hey, whatever the wifey wants, she gets.”
Damian fake coughs, muttering, “Pussy-whipped.”
Matteo glares at him. “Like you’re one to talk.”
The girls and my mom come out of the house with the last few items. Aria walks straight into Damian’s arms for a tight hug, while Isabella throws daggers at Matteo with her eyes as she heads toward my car. Whatever’s going on between them, I don’t get it. But hey, there’s a fine line between love and hate, and I’m positive those two will be crossing it at any time.
“The guys are going to drop the stuff at the apartment, and we’ll go to the hotel and have some fun. Yeah?” Aria says, linking our arms as we walk to my car.
“I’m going with the guys, too, want to get my room settled tonight,” Mom says, waving her hand as she gets into the truck.
I look at Aria with a frown, shaking my head. “I have to be there to help them unload.”
Aria waves her hand dismissively. “They can handle that. You are going to the hotel with us. You can’t say no to a bride; it’s bad luck!”
“How long are you going to keep using that excuse?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“You’d be happy to know we’re getting married in December.” Aria beams.
I stop dead in my tracks. “Wait. That’s in like two months! How are we going to have time to plan?”
“Relax.” She laughs. “We’re having a small ceremony in Italy, only close friends and family. Turns out planning is too damn stressful.”
I shriek with excitement and hug her tightly. “I can’t believe you’re officially becoming Mrs. Romano,” I groan, overwhelmed. “I can’t believe both of my best friends are married ladies!”
“You could be in the same boat…” she singsongs, teasing me.
“Yeah? Do you see any prospects lining up?” I rest a hand on my hip, feeling the familiar pang of disappointment. “Besides, you know me.”
“Have you heard from him?” Aria’s tone shifts, becoming more serious .
I shrug, avoiding her gaze. “No.” Not that I expected anything from him, anyway. We said what we needed to say.
“I’m sure you’ll hear from him.” Aria shrugs, her tone laced with a conviction I wish I could believe. My best friend has always managed to see the good in everything, and while I’m all for that, I don’t think that’s the case. Sure, Lorenzo and I had a lot in common and a connection I’ve never had with anyone before, but that can only get you so far.
You just keep lying to yourself, even though you know if he were right in front of you, you would give him another chance.
I’ve thought about that a lot. I miss his friendship and the way he cared for me. I miss laughing every time he guessed the title of the show or movie I’m quoting. I miss our conversations and how everything flowed between us so easily, like we were always meant to find each other and pick up where we left off in a past life.
It’s funny to think when I met him I didn’t believe in destiny, thought it was a fairy tale. And in a way, it may still be. But now, after experiencing what it was like to fall in love with the last person I thought possible, destiny seems like a real possibility. Falling in love with him felt like discovering a piece of myself I didn’t know was missing. And even though that piece was ripped out of me, I wouldn’t change a thing. The memories will live in my head for the rest of my life, and I can’t help but feel grateful for them.
The last thing I wanted to do was go out, but the girls insisted on making a whole day out of it. I’m talking spa, manicures and pedicures, the whole nine yards. I’m trying not to dwell on the fact that, once they leave, it’ll just be Mom and me again. So, I’m soaking up every last moment with my best friends.
“Is curling my hair really necessary? It’s only dinner, Aria.”
“When was the last time we all got ready like this and actually had fun? When did you become such a buzzkill?” Aria teases.
“She misses Lorenzo, and it’s making her miserable,” Isabella adds, applying her lipstick.
I glare at her playfully. “Careful, Mrs. Carter , don’t get on my bad side.”
Isabella rolls her eyes, leaning against the sink. “That joke’s getting old.”
“How’s married life treating you?” Aria wiggles her eyebrows.
Isabella presses her lips together and shrugs, still refusing to give us any details.
As we continue getting ready, music playing in the background, I have to admit I’m starting to enjoy myself. I used to love nights like these, laughing with my friends, getting all dressed up. I know it’ll feel different once they leave, but little by little, I want to get out there again, start building a life outside of work.
When we’re finally ready, we head downstairs and hop into an Uber. The ride is quick, and as I step out of the car, I pause when the girls don’t follow me.
Instead, Isabella rolls the window down and smirks. “I want to point out this wasn’t my idea.”
“Why aren’t you guys getting out? ”
Aria’s head pops out next to Isabella’s. “Have fun! Love you!” she says before the car speeds off.
I groan in frustration, pulling my phone out to fire off a long, annoyed text to Aria, when a deep, raspy voice behind me stops me in my tracks.
“Hi, Blue.”
There’s only one person who calls me that. My heart catches in my throat, and I turn around to see Lorenzo standing there. He looks painfully handsome in a dark-gray suit that fits him in all the right places paired with a white dress shirt, a few buttons undone. He’s grown a bit of a beard now, neatly trimmed, and the look suits him more than I care to admit. His hair is styled lazily, just how I like it.
I swallow hard, my pulse quickening as our eyes meet. “What are you doing here?”
He eats the distance between us, and with each step, I feel my heart beating harder and harder. Without a word, he hands me a small bouquet of purple Madagascar Periwinkles and a letter in my mom’s handwriting.
“What’s this?”
He rubs the back of his neck, shrugging with a shy smile. “Read it first.”
With a frown, I open the letter.
Honey,
You’ve grown into a woman I’m incredibly proud of. You’ve always been the best daughter anyone could ask for—loyal, kind, and endlessly selfless, always putting others ahead of yourself .
But it’s time for a change.
It’s time to let yourself be loved, and I think Lorenzo might be exactly what you need. I’ll be honest—he was an idiot, that much is clear. But it took real courage for him to come to me and ask for help. I know life hasn’t been easy for you, and I didn’t set the best example when it comes to love, but don’t let that hold you back from the happiness you deserve.
I’m writing to tell you one thing: listen to him with an open heart and mind.
It’s time to start putting yourself first.
Love,
Mom
I close the letter, my eyes locking with his. “You went to my mother?”
He shrugs, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “If anyone could convince you to hear me out, it was her.”
I cross my arms, silently urging him to keep talking. He’s right, and it’s moments like this that remind me why ending things with him hurt so much. No one knows me like he does.
He rubs a hand over his face, sighing deeply. “There’s a reason I didn’t come back for you these past two months. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to—it’s because I knew, in order to deserve you, I had to become the kind of man worthy of you.” He pauses for a moment, letting the weight of his words settle between us. “I was an idiot. I jumped to conclusions, because I was raised to believe people who get close to you always have an agenda.”
My heart aches. Not for Lorenzo, the man standing before me, but for the boy he used to be—the one who was raised in a cold, ruthless world. The one who never knew a mother’s love and had a father who only cared about one thing. It must have been lonely, and when you don’t know what is like outside of that, it’s easy to create a wall so tall, believing it’s there to protect you, when instead it just makes you more lonely.
“In a messed-up way,” he continues, his voice softer now, “I convinced myself you wrote that article because I needed a reason to push you away. I thought you were settling by being with me. You’re strong, Sophia. You’re fierce and capable, and you deserve someone who can take care of you, someone you can rely on.” His breath catches, voice trembling slightly. “You are, without question, the most incredible person I’ve ever met. You deserve the world, and no words could ever fully explain just how much.”
His words tighten something in my chest. I know he means every one of them, and that’s what makes it so hard.
“Lorenzo,” I say, struggling to keep my voice steady. “You broke my heart.”
“I know.” He steps closer, gently taking my hand in his. “And I want to spend the rest of my life making it up to you.” His back straightens as he squares his shoulders, determination in his eyes. “I quit Vortex four weeks ago.”
My eyes widen in surprise.
“And I took care of Max. I know you’re going to say it wasn’t my place, but it was. My job is to protect you, to take care of you. What he did was wrong. I have no regrets.”
My breath catches slightly. I’m at a loss for words, my head spinning too fast as I try my best to catch up .
After a beat of silence, his voice lowers. “You asked me once if I’d ever been in love. Ask me again.”
“Lorenzo—”
“Ask me again,” he insists, his gaze never leaving mine.
I sigh, my shoulders slumping as I give in. “Have you ever been in love?”
His hand cups my cheek, thumb brushing lightly across my skin as he leans in, eyes full of emotion. “Yes,” he whispers. “I see everything so clearly now. A part of me knew since the day you walked into my life that this was the only possible outcome. I’m in love with you, Sophia Annette Evans. I just didn’t know how to see it or how to handle it. I didn’t know how to let myself have something real. But there was never any question—my heart has always belonged to you.”
The walls I’ve tried to build around my heart these past two months start to crumble at his confession, each word breaking through my defenses.
He absently licks his lips, his gaze never leaving mine. “I want to be the person you’ve always dreamed of. Build a life with you. Grow old together. I want it all—the kids, the house with the white picket fence, family dinners on Sundays.” He takes a shaky breath. “I want the kind of normal that only exists with you.”
He looks down for a moment, shaking his head before meeting my gaze again, his voice breaking, heavy with vulnerability. “You once said the idea of someone taking care of you felt strange, but that’s where you’re wrong. Because I’m here, Blue. I’m right here, with my heart and arms open, ready to take care of you.” He pauses for a moment. “Just…please, stay. Don’t walk away from me.”
“I can’t believe you remembered that,” I say, my breath catching .
“I remember everything. Making you happy—that’s my job.” He smiles. “So, what do you say?”
“That’s a lot of promises, Ace.”
He gives me a small, knowing smirk. “Not promises. Guarantees,” he replies confidently.
“I want to believe you, Lorenzo. I really do.” I pause, my eyes flicking away as I press my lips together. “But words...they’re just words.”
“What if I show you instead?”
I let out a small, skeptical laugh. “How do you plan on doing that?”
“Do you trust me?”
Strangely, despite everything…I do. Deep down, I always have. I simply nod, and without another word, he grabs my hand.
“Where are we going?”
He looks at me with a knowing smile. “Back where you belong.”