Lorenzo
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. He’d been second guessing himself from the moment he’d bought the first one. When he took that one back, he hadn’t even replaced it. Then after a couple of days he’d gone back and bought this one. He knew it was soon, but he wanted to do this, and he’d finally convinced himself it wasn’t such a big deal.
Now the deer-in-the-headlights expression on her face had him rethinking it again. His heart had been getting a major workout since he’d met this girl, and this morning was no exception, from the moment he raced to get everything set up on the balcony before she was done in the bathroom to the moment he realized not only had she been in there long enough for him to do so she’d been on her phone the whole time. But he’d let that go without asking too much because he had to. Since his conversation with Vince this past week he’d been doing his damnedest to take his brother’s advice and not fuck this up. It wasn’t fair to Olivia and Vince was right. It’d be just a matter of time before she got sick of his perverse suspicions, but his heart had gone into overdrive nonetheless.
Now this.
He swallowed hard, taking the seat next to her, and placed the small box with the tiny bow in front of her. “Before you open it, I wanna explain something.”
Her stunned eyes had gone from the small box back up to his, and the alarmed look in them wasn’t missed, so he spoke faster because he knew what she must be thinking.
“All this time I’ve been kicking myself for the way I handled that first night. When I decided I wanted to plan this . . .” He glanced around and out the balcony for a moment. “I wanted a do-over so we could forget that first night and make this one be the one we remembered forever as our first time together. I also wanted you to have something more than just the lovemaking and memories to reflect on from today. So I got you a little something. It’s nothing big or anything; it was just supposed to be something that represented change. I was so fucking obsessed with making sure our first memory of being together would change—a new beginning.” He took a deep breath then went on. “Then I talked to Vince about it. I know you would’ve preferred me not to tell him about our first time, but he’s my only brother and best friend, and we tell each other just about everything.”
Olivia reached out and touched his hand, caressing it softly. “It’s okay. I love how close you and your brother are.”
She smiled that beautiful smile: the one Lorenzo didn’t even want to admit he was already in love with. Suddenly, giving her the gift didn’t feel like such a bad idea.
“If my sister were older,” she said, “and I wasn’t afraid of setting a bad example, I would’ve told her too.”
Unable to hold back anymore, Lorenzo leaned in and kissed her a little longer than he first planned, but it couldn’t be helped. Suddenly he was even surer about the gift, but he wanted to finish explaining it.
He licked his lips after kissing her then went on. “So I originally got you something with a butterfly. I just wanted to get you something cute, and butterflies represent change. Transition. A new beginning.” He smirked then chuckled. “I swear I haven’t always been this corny. I think you just bring it out in me.”
Wasn’t that the truth? He never put so much thought into anything like this with Linda. Even when he’d asked her to marry him, it was on a whim and he’d sort of blurted it out.
Olivia laughed, glancing down at the box curiously, the stunned expression now gone. Clearly the mention of a corny little butterfly gift had calmed her. He wouldn’t be getting down on his knee after only three weeks, as he was sure she’d been dreading. Though three weeks was probably too soon for even something this insignificant compared to an engagement ring. He’d been with Linda over five months before he’d bought her a piece of jewelry. Even then it was only because it was her birthday. And while what he’d gotten Linda was more expensive than this, the thought behind this was so much deeper than anything he’d ever given Linda, including her engagement ring. But just as he couldn’t explain the incredible enchantment he’d felt for Liv, he couldn’t explain why this felt so right, despite how soon he was doing this.
“So when I told Vince about it, he made me think about something that I hadn’t put much thought into. If things hadn’t happened the way they did, I might not . . .” He stopped because he caught himself. “No, I know I wouldn’t be here with you right now. I’m gonna be honest with you. The entire past three weeks one thought kept popping up in my head. And that’s that I can’t believe I’m actually doing this. After my breakup with my ex, I swore I wouldn’t be doing the relationship thing for at least a few years if ever. I was adamant as shit about it too. Vince knew it more than anyone, and he pointed out something else to me. He thought it was funny, but it got me thinking. If I hadn’t met you that night the way I did . . .”
She tilted her head curiously as he knew she might, so as she reached for another sip of her coffee, he tried to think of a way to explain it without sounding like a dick.
“You see, since I’d sworn off relationships, Vince knew I’d decided the only girls I’d be doing any socializing with were the ones I knew would be strictly one-nighters with no strings attached. That left out nice girls with any potential of wanting anything more.” Her eyebrow went up, but the corner of her lip tugged, so for now it felt safe to go on cautiously. “If I’d met you, say, at Janks’ funeral or any other gathering of my cousins or yours, you would’ve been beyond out. With Romero being your cousin, even a one-night thing with you would’ve been completely out of the question. And since I wasn’t considering relationships, there’s no way anything between us would’ve ever happened.” He picked up the box and began to open it then stopped. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this since Vince planted the seed, but even he agreed.” He stared at the box for a moment then glanced up at her. “Do you believe in fate, Liv?”
Her eyes widened a bit “You mean like if I hadn’t decided for the first time in my life to go out in search of a one-night stand that I might not have met you that night?”
Lorenzo smiled. She knew exactly where he was going with this. “Yeah, that makes it even more eerie. Both our circumstances put us there that night. Regardless of how badly it ended, it’s the only reason why we’re here together right now. Of that I’m certain. What are the odds—?”
“Oh my God, Lorenzo” she said suddenly, touching his arm. “I don’t know how many times that very thought ran through my mind every time I kept running into you. What are the odds?”
“Slim,” he said, opening the box, and pulled out the delicate red-braided thread bracelet that linked to a silver heart in the middle. “I took the butterfly back after talking to Vince. We both agreed that the way our first chance encounter went down was the only reason you and I are together now. More than anyone he knew how dead set I was against even considering doing the relationship thing. It’s why he suggested you and I go grab the beers that night at his place when he normally would’ve suggested he and I go while you and Rosie stayed back. Rosie had mentioned to him in the bedroom that maybe you and I would hit it off.” He chuckled, glancing down at the bracelet. “But he never expected for us to walk back in holding hands.”
Liv laughed, and the more he searched those beautiful eyes, took in her sweet smile, and more importantly welcomed what she did to him, the surer he was about this. He continued without hesitation.
“After I took the other bracelet back, the one with the butterfly, I’d decided against giving you any jewelry this soon. Not that I minded, I just didn’t want you to think that I was getting ahead of myself so soon. Then I remembered something I’d overheard my dad talk about on more than one occasion in the past—the red thread of fate—so I looked it up.”
She’d been staring at the bracelet still in his hands and her head shot up brows pinched together. “I’ve heard of that. Is that what this is?” she asked, reaching for it.
“Do you know what it means?”
Quiet for a moment, her expression was a strange one. “Yeah, a little. Margie, my friend back home, was all into proverbs and stuff. She’s the one who actually talked about it once. It’s an old Chinese proverb, right?”
“Yeah.” He smiled then explained it briefly.
His parents had always believed in and talked to him and Vince about things like the power of thought, fate, and their lives being predestined. It was why, years ago when his brother had been considered missing in action in the Middle East after the rest of his entire platoon had died, he’d urged Rosie not to give up hope when it seemed so hopeless. He’d said that the power of thought would bring Vince home, and to this day Lorenzo still believed it had.
The red thread of fate was symbolic for an invisible thread that connected those destined to meet regardless of circumstances. It was believed that the thread could tangle or even stretch but would never break.
“The proverb doesn’t specify,” he said as he brought the bracelet around Liv’s delicate wrist, “whether it’s not supposed to stretch or break only before the two meet or even afterward. I’d like to believe it means it’ll never break. If two people were meant to be, then to me that would mean forever.” He closed the clasp on the bracelet and smiled at how perfectly it fit her. Glancing up at her, his heart swelled when he saw a tear trickle down her cheek. Although he didn’t like to see her so emotional, it still made him smile. “Don’t cry, baby.”
“You’re perfect,” she whispered, shaking her head. “Too perfect. It scares me. I feel like I’m gonna ruin this somehow.”
He pressed his lips together at the thought. There was only one thing she could do that would ruin this, and he wouldn’t even go there. That’s not what she meant. She was just being emotional. Before he could respond to that, she wiped the tear away and smiled.
“Do you know that I almost walked out of that bar that night?” she asked as he stared at her beautiful still-flooded eyes and shook his head. “I was about to when you sat down next to me. I’d changed my mind about going through with it. Like I said last night, being with a stranger was something I never thought I’d go through with. That night I confirmed it. I couldn’t. I’d never be able to explain to my siblings why I’d taken the risk. Then you sat down next to me. For whatever reason, I felt safe with you, and you weren’t even this nice back then.” She laughed softly, but Lorenzo frowned, so she reached over and squeezed his hand in hers. “But I understand now why you didn’t want to be. If I’d been drawn to you, even with you trying to be so emotionally disconnected that night, can you imagine if you’d been any nicer?” She leaned in and kissed his lips softly. “Even with you trying to be unlikable, it didn’t work. I was breathless and felt a connection with you before you ever touched me.” She glanced back down at the bracelet. “This is perfect. I love it.”
“If this is meant to be,” Lorenzo said, squeezing her hand and feeling beyond a doubt now that this was meant to be, despite how soon this was, “then we don’t have to worry about either of us ruining anything. I’m glad you like it. I think it’s perfect too.”
She brought her hand to her mouth, and for a second he thought she might tear up again, but instead she smiled big then threw her arms around his neck. Lorenzo chuckled as the words “I love you” nearly escaped him, but he refrained. Giving her the bracelet had already felt like a big enough risk. He had to slow down.
The moment she loosened her hold he pulled back to regard her. “Eat up,” he said, kissing her nose. “We have a full day ahead of us.”
Her eyes opened wide again. “We do?”
“Yep.” He smiled then leaned in and kissed her much longer than he had all morning.
The sweet taste of chocolate and coffee had never been such a turn on. When he finally pulled away, he licked his lips, smiling at the thoughts already invading his mind.
“That is, of course, after we try out a few more of the beds in this house.”
Seeing the twinkle in her widening eyes only made him want to kiss her again, and he dove right back in.
~*~
Olivia
Hours after Olivia had been home she was still walking on air. She was so glad now that Lorenzo had planned it all because she didn’t think she could’ve planned their “do-over” any more perfectly than he had: yesterday’s stroll then dinner in Little Italy, the beach house, the flowers. Then today he topped it off with a kayak tour of the La Jolla Shores caves. Olivia should’ve known he’d be taking her there after he’d been so surprised that she lived this close to them for over two years and had never been.
They’d ended their day with a nice early dinner on the pier and then sat giggling and smooching as a cartoonist on the pier doodled their likenesses. The smiles on their faces, even in the doodled picture, were perfect representations of how they’d both been feeling all this time. He’d even captured Lorenzo’s rugged scruffy look since Olivia had asked him not to shave before they left the beach house that morning. Even touching his unshaven face was a huge turn on.
Sitting home now that the day was over, she only wished she didn’t feel so compelled to call Margie to see what was going on. Olivia had a feeling it might put a damper on her otherwise perfect day.
If Margie hadn’t gone so above and beyond to be there for her during one of the most horrific times in Olivia’s life, she might consider ignoring her text. But she couldn’t. Until Margie fell for Jay, she’d been the best friend anyone could ever have. She’d been incredibly sad to hear about Olivia moving away. She even offered to talk to her parents so they’d let her stay with them, but Olivia had known Isaiah wouldn’t hear of it. Her dad had offered to at least take Emi off his hands when their mother passed and Isaiah was left with the responsibility of his siblings. Her dad said he could bring her out to live with him, but Isaiah wouldn’t have it. The one thing he vowed when they were without their mom so suddenly was that they’d stick together—always. At least until they were all old enough or ready to start their own families.
Without waiting for it to get any later, Olivia decided to contact Margie. Even though Olivia had spent all day yesterday and today with Lorenzo, she knew he’d be calling her in a couple hours. When he’d dropped her off and kissed her as if he hadn’t kissed her in ages, he said the one thing she’d been thinking the whole weekend.
“Jesus, I can’t get enough of you. I’ll call you as soon as I get home.”
He had to check in with Vince at work, and then, because he’d been neglecting the gym opting to spend time with her instead, he was going to put in at least an hour there before heading home.
Olivia texted her old friend to let her know she had time to talk now if she wanted to call her. She didn’t want Margie interrupting her later when she’d be on the phone with Lorenzo. Fortunately, within minutes, her phone rang and Olivia braced herself when she saw it was Margie.
“Hey,” she said, plopping down on her bed.
“Hey,” Margie said, and Olivia heard it immediately in her voice. Margie was crying. “Thanks for not ignoring me.”
Olivia sat up, scooting up to lean her back on the headrest of her bed, her heart already hurting for her friend. “Yeah, of course, Margie. What’s wrong?”
“First of all, let me just apologize for being the worst best friend in the history of the world,” Margie said with a sniffle. “I knew you and Jay were long over and that you didn’t want anything to do with him anymore, and I told myself that so I could justify giving into the temptation of being with him, but it was wrong and I knew it all along.”
Olivia gripped her phone a little tighter when she heard Margie break down. “It’s okay,” she assured her, unbelievably feeling guilty now for having been so hard on her friend. “Trust me, Margie, I know how manipulative he can be. I’m sure he didn’t make it easy for you to not want to give in.”
“He didn’t,” Margie agreed immediately, still crying and sniffling. “I swear to you I held off for months. But I was so lonely here without you, and you know it’d always just been the two of us. Well, the three of us if you count all the times Jay hung out with us, but I never told you this because how could I? I’d always had a secret crush on him. So hanging out with him by myself when you left was nice, but even then I told myself no matter what I’d never let anything happen between us, but he started flirting and then saying really sweet things to me. Things I knew weren’t true. Like that he’d always had a crush on me too. This was before I admitted to having one on him. Ollie, I always knew how crazy he was about you. I saw it in the way he looked at you and in the way he touched you even when he didn’t think I was watching. Which was most of the time because if you were around I was invisible to him. Utterly invisible.”
“So what happened?” Olivia asked, not wanting to hear any more about Jay being crazy about her.
If the guy had been as crazy about her as he’d always claimed—as Margie had always and apparently was still making him out to be—he wouldn’t have toyed with her as he had for so long. He wouldn’t have hurt her time after time. He wouldn’t have taken advantage of the fact that he knew how crazy she’d been about him back then and talked her into doing some of the things he had. Judging by his cocky text that morning, Olivia knew he still thought she’d fall for his bullshit.
Her friend inhaled deeply then went on. “For months the flirting went back and forth. I knew I should’ve just stayed away from him altogether, but he was all I had in the form of friends. We’d just be hanging out, and then we started making out until we were eventually sleeping together.”
Margie went quiet and Olivia knew why. It hadn’t even dawned on her until now. During the time that Margie had kept talking to Olivia even while she was already sleeping with Jay, she’d told her about losing her virginity, but she’d claimed she met someone. Now that Margie admitted that she hadn’t made any new friends, Olivia knew.
Just as Olivia had, Margie had lost her virginity to Jay.
“What about David, the guy—?”
“There was no David,” Margie retorted immediately. “I made him up. I wasn’t even gonna tell you about losing my virginity, but Jay insisted I should.”
“What? Why?”
“Because he said he thought you might be getting suspicious about us. He said you’d made a comment.”
Instantly, Olivia remembered that. It was one of the first things that had come to mind when she’d seen the status change on his social media. She remembered months earlier talking to him on the phone, and when he’d mentioned once again that he’d hung out with Margie, Olivia had a moment of weakness and gave into the twinge of jealousy. Ironically, she’d been jealous of their friendship: that Margie and Jay still had each other while her workaholic ass barely had time to sleep and check her social media. She’d said something to the effect of “Well, aren’t you two the happy little couple these days?”
Now that Margie mentioned it, Olivia did remember thinking he’d been a little too defensive about it. It actually stayed on her mind for a few days until Margie called to tell her about the guy she’d met and was thinking of giving up her virginity to. Before that call, Margie hadn’t even mentioned the guy she’d supposedly met and been talking to for some time. Margie had told Olivia she hadn’t mentioned anything to her because she didn’t want to jinx it until she thought things were going somewhere. Olivia had believed her so easily because why would her best friend lie to her about something like that?
“Wow,” Olivia said, feeling a little annoyed at Margie again. “And here I bought it hook, line, and sinker.”
“I’m sorry,” Margie whispered. “But even then I knew it in my gut, Ollie. I knew he still cared about you far more than he’s ever cared about me. And even though you’d asked me to keep certain things from him because you didn’t want him knowing your business, you know what he’s like. You know how persuasive he can be. A few of those times he got it out of me, and as much as he tried to hide it deep down, I could see it bothered him. So I knew he didn’t want you to know because he was afraid you’d cut him off. That’s why I was so shocked when he tagged me on his status change. We both knew you’d see it. I was at work at the time. So I texted him to ask him what the hell, and all he said was if you asked anything to just tell you everything.”
Olivia nearly gasped when it hit her. She brought her hand to her forehead. It never occurred to her because she’d told Margie about the client who’d been asking her out and she was actually considering it. That was just a few weeks before Jay changed his status update. She had noticed his questions about her social life had gotten a little more personal, but she would’ve never imagined it was because Margie had told him anything. She thought he was just being nosey again. The day before he changed his status she’d made the comment that she’d decided it was time to be more social, and he’d asked what that meant, but she wouldn’t elaborate.
Is that why he’d done it?
“So what did he do? You said you were so wrong about him in your text.”
“I’ve been such a pathetic and delusional idiot,” Margie said, and Olivia heard her voice break again. “I knew it all along, Ollie. But I convinced myself that because you were so far away and because you sincerely never wanted anything to do with him again that he might actually give up on you and take the next best thing. I mean, seriously, how pathetic is that? I was willing to settle for being his consolation prize.”
It was a bittersweet eye-opener. Jay had always known about Margie’s social awkwardness. Olivia had never told him, but she was certain he’d figured it out on his own that Margie was even more virginal than Olivia had been when he’d gotten a hold of her. Olivia had at least gone to her prom and, ironically because of Jay, was comfortable with flirting. Margie was a bookworm with zero social skills when it came to boys, but she’d always told Olivia she was fine with that. Yet even hearing all this didn’t prepare her for what Margie dropped on her next.
“I’m pregnant,” she said then cried softly as Olivia’s stomach took a complete nose dive, not because she was upset that Margie was pregnant with Jay’s baby. She’d meant it even before she’d met Lorenzo, but she couldn’t say it with enough conviction now. She felt nothing but disgust for Jay.
But her heart did hurt for Margie because she knew exactly why she was crying so much. Instantly it was clear why her best friend needed her right now. And her heart was breaking for her.
“Oh, honey,” she whispered, sitting up and off the side of her bed, feeling choked up herself. “I know your parents will be upset at first, but—”
“Jay’s insisting I have an abortion.”
Olivia gasped, not that she had anything against abortion. She was pro-choice all the way. But Margie’s family would be upset enough that she’d had sex before wedlock. An abortion would be catastrophic. This was something she knew even Margie, who was far more open-minded than her parents, felt very strongly about. It went against every fiber of her being and was the one thing Olivia and Margie had long ago agreed to disagree on.
“Margie, he can’t force you to.”
“He’s in love with you, Ollie,” Margie said as she continued to sniffle, making Olivia squeeze her eyes shut. Margie’s voice went even higher pitched when she spoke again. “Always has been and he admitted it yesterday when I told him I was pregnant. He said his heart will always belong to you, and while he didn’t admit it, I know now he was just using me to get to you. When I told him how you’d called me immediately to ask about his status change and then later how you stopped returning my calls and texts, I could see it in his face, hear it in his voice. He was happy. Even though you stopped returning his calls too, I could tell it gave him hope you still had feelings for him. Yesterday, he told me what I’d known all along. He has every intention of getting you back. He claims all he needs is for you to hear him out, and he said . . .”
Olivia held her breath as Margie whimpered softly. “It doesn’t matter what he says or thinks, Margie. I’m over him.”
“He knows how much I’ve missed you,” Margie said with a newfound vehemence. “How much it’s hurt me to have lost your friendship. How much you mean to me, and he always assured me that eventually you’d come around, but now he says if I have this baby there will be no chance for any of us to reconcile. That it would be an end-all.”
“He’s lying,” Olivia tried to assure her. “Just like he still thinks he and I have a chance. It’s not true.”
“He also said that if I care about either of you I’d abort because if anyone should know how much you two belong together it’s me. My having this baby would ruin any chance of you two working things out forever.”
Something about her defeated tone told Olivia that Margie actually believed his bullshit. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t be telling Olivia all this. She wouldn’t be crying about this or have even considered aborting. Not for a minute. Panicked by this, Olivia told her about Lorenzo. She told her how amazing he was and how she’d never—not even with Jay—felt what Lorenzo made her feel.
“But you’ve only known him for a few months,” Margie said, sounding skeptical. “You and Jay—”
“It doesn’t matter,” Olivia insisted, shaking her head. “I’m not even sure how to explain it, Margie, but you know what they say about fate, right? When you’re destined to be with someone, you know the minute you meet him he’s the one. I wasn’t even sure what it was when I first met him, but I felt it. I knew he was different, and he feels the same way. I’m crazy about him.”
“But—”
“Listen to me, Margie,” Olivia started with even more conviction.
She could tell already by the sound in Margie’s voice Jay had gotten to her, just as he’d convinced Olivia so many times in the past of whatever he wanted her to believe. He was toxic that way. He had this way of controlling her with his words, his eyes. Olivia shook her head again, ashamed that she’d once been so easily manipulated by him. But it made perfect sense. He probably knew all along that Margie was secretly pining for him and used that to his advantage. The bastard.
“Even if I weren’t crazy about Lorenzo, I would never go back to Jay,” she insisted with more certainty than ever. “He lost any chance he had with me a long time ago. You remember. I’d made up my mind months before we left Texas. Don’t let him do this. Don’t let him turn this on you. He and I not ever being together again has nothing to do with you or that baby. Whatever you decide, I’ll be here for you.”
They spoke for a while longer, and even though Margie said she believed her, Olivia was left with a bad feeling. Margie wasn’t completely convinced. Olivia was sure she knew why too. Her best friend likely found it impossible to believe that Olivia could truly be over Jay, especially since she’d been a firsthand witness to Olivia’s utter fixation with the guy.
By the time Lorenzo called, Olivia felt emotionally spent. She hated that Margie had taken her otherwise perfect day and practically ruined it. Revisiting the shameful memories of the person she vowed she’d left behind was not something she wanted to do now that she was feeling like a brand new person. That wasn’t her anymore, and she refused to let Jay ruin or even affect her relationship with Lorenzo. Hearing Lorenzo’s voice did, however, make her feel better.
They’d only been on the phone for a few minutes, and she’d thought she’d been doing a pretty good job of shaking off the uneasy mood Margie’s call had put her in. The last thing she wanted was to ruin this day for Lorenzo too. Telling him about Margie’s call would do that for sure. She was determined not to lie to him even by omission, and she knew he couldn’t possibly be mad at her, but it would definitely make for a tense conversation. So she’d decided to wait and tell him about it another time.
And then it happened. “What’s wrong?” he asked, but he didn’t sound overly concerned, so she didn’t panic just yet.
“What do you mean?” she asked as casually as she could.
“You sound a little down,” he said, still not too concerned. “You feeling okay?”
“Yeah,” she said again, trying to sound casual and a bit chipper even. “I’m just a little tired.”
“Then maybe I should let you go so you can get some sleep.”
“No, I’m good,” she said too quickly then bit her tongue and squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m lying in bed,” she explained, “so I’m resting. I can still talk to you. I want to.”
That last part was practically whispered because she was already having visions of Lorenzo’s intense stare, and now she was going to panic that this conversation just might happen. Geez, could she be any more transparent?
He was silent on the other end for a moment then spoke again. “What else did you do after you got home today?”
She’d already told him about finding the perfect place for each and every one of the flower arrangements they’d brought back from the beach house and how she’d told Emi all about yesterday, today, and the bracelet he’d given her.
“I talked on the phone,” she said her eyes still closed.
He was quiet again as if he knew he’d hit it on the nail. “With who?”
“Margie,” she said simply but still didn’t open her eyes.
“The one who’s seeing your ex now?”
“Yes.”
“Is this the first time you’ve talked to her since the day you found out about it?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me about it.”