Page 123 of Broken Deal

“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.”

---