chapter Ten
Secret Calls
Lorenzo
I was still in shock at how everything was working out for me. The other night in the kitchen, I thought my father was going to chew me a new one. Instead, he told me that Mr. La Marcello had called about Victoria and me.
He didn’t like the fact that we were going to spring the arrangement on her without notice. He felt she had been through enough in the last couple of days. Maria had told him she’d seen me when he was in the confessional. It seems she also told him about the way I looked at Victoria.
She suggested he pick me as her escort. He told my father that he agreed with her to keep her out of things. On top of that, Big Sal had told him about seeing us talk outside the cathedral. Apparently, Victoria not being able to focus on anything but me swayed things in my favor.
Venny decided maybe we should just move things along naturally. All the coincidences were there. So why not? My father agreed because he wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep me from her, now that I had seen her. It was driving him mad that I kept running into her.
I was still grounded for a few more days to prove a point. However, I would be given back all my keys on Thursday, after my so-called graduation dinner. Victoria went right along with me this afternoon, when I told her she was my girlfriend and she had no choice.
I needed nothing but my last name to get around her father. The funniest part is, she thought she was questioning me about someone else taking her away from me. She had no idea that someone else has always been me.
It was icing on the cake when she texted me to ask me to come to her cousin’s party. I had fallen asleep and didn’t see when the text came in. I hoped she didn’t think I didn’t want to come.
I know Chris will be game for a party, even though I’ve been ignoring him the last three days. I’ll see him tomorrow at finals. He’ll get over it. Especially when I offer him a party and a chance at revenge. I still haven’t forgotten about Sabrina.
I smiled, just waiting for my girlfriend to call, so I could listen to her voice. Angie had to go home by now. I hoped she didn’t fall asleep.
I decided to watch a movie to keep from sending her the text I was itching to send. As I scanned my movie drawer, I heard my phone ring behind me. I shut the drawer and went to answer the phone.
“Hey, Beautiful,” I crooned at her.
“One day it won’t be me, then what,” she laughed into the phone.
“Good question. Depends on who it is,” I throw back at her.
“Hey, you will never believe the conversation I just had. My father came to tell me I can go get my permit tomorrow. Then he told me we’re invited to your house on Thursday. He said I need to be nice to you and on my best behavior. Is that funny or what?” She laughed almost hysterically.
It was very funny. I laughed quietly, as I heard someone passing by outside my room. “Very funny, so do you promise to be nice to me? I’ll tell if you’re not,” I teased.
She giggled. “How can I not be nice to you? Lorenzo?”
“Yes,” I said with pleasure to hear her call my name.
“I can’t wait to see you. Do you think your dad will like me?” My father liking her was the least of her worries.
“Mm, I can’t wait to see you too. Why wouldn’t he? I do, that’s all that matters,” I reassured her.
“My father said your dad wants to meet me. He said a lot that I don’t understand,” she replied thoughtfully. I wanted to distract those thoughts.
“Did anybody ever tell you, you worry too much?”
“No. Fine, next topic. Angie made me promise to ask you to bring your friend, Chris, with you to the party,” she said sounding a little irritated.
I snorted at that one. “No problem, Chris is my best friend. I don’t go many places without him. Can I ask you something?”
“Yeah,” she answered in a sweet voice.
“Can I take you to the party? I mean I want to come to your house and pick you up,” I explained.
“Oh. I don’t know. I mean my father said he likes you, but I’m still not sure about anything he said. It sort of sounds like he’s willing to let me go out with you, but I’m not sure.” Her voice came through anxious.
“How about this? If you say, yes. I’ll get your dad to say yes, on Thursday. Promise,” I offered. I was sure I’d have no trouble getting Venny to say yes.
“Yes,” she replied quickly.
I laughed at how quickly she gave in. We must have talked for an hour after that. This time was different we talked about things we liked and places we have been.
I told her about my growing pile of college acceptance letters and how I still had not picked a grad school yet. We talked about the party I’d be throwing next.
“I want you there,” I breathed into the phone. “I want my girl with me.”
I smiled as her gasp came through the line. “If I can. I will,” she said softly.
Victoria had questions of her own. “Tell me about your ex-girlfriends,” she said after we circled a few other topics.
“Why? They have nothing to do with you. I don’t think you want to hear about them,” I chuckled.
“Yeah, okay. You might be right,” she relented.
I smirked at her cute reply. I’ve never felt so comfortable talking to anyone before. It hadn’t crossed my mind once that Victoria is only sixteen going on seventeen. It felt like talking to someone I’d known all my life. We were just filling in the gaps of our memories.
“Lorenzo?”
“Umm, Victoria, I love the way you say my name. Sometimes I forget you speak Italian. It’s funny how you have an accent when you say it.” I was so sleepy, I didn’t realize I was moaning my words until she giggled. “What?” I asked, “What’s so funny?”
“You’re tired, go to sleep,” she ordered.
“I’m fine,” I said, trying to sound awake.
“No, you’re not, you have to take a final tomorrow, so do I. I’ll call you when I get home,” she demanded in a gentle voice.
“Fine, I’ll hang up if you promise to dream about me.”
“Promise, I was planning to anyway,” she said seductively.
“Goodnight, Beautiful,” I crooned.
“Goodnight, Lorenzo,” she sang back. I was out of it before I hung up.