Page 99 of Broken Deal

“I don’t deserve her,” I whisper more to myself than them. “How can I love such a wonderful woman, when I don’t even know?—”

“Cut the bullshit, Lorenzo,” Ivy interrupts, her voice serious. She grabs my hand and squeezes it. “I’m so sick of hearing thisI don’t know how to lovespeech. You’re a wonderful man with a great heart. Or did you forget everything you’ve done for me?” She gives me a pointed look.

“You’re one of my best friends, it was the right thing to do,” I reply easily.

“You are unselfish and kind, always caring about others. Youdoknow how to love, and youdodeserve to be loved. It doesn’t matter how your upbringing was. That doesn’t define you,” Ivy urges. “It doesn’t matter that you didn’t grow up with a mom or that your dad was a manipulative asshole. Because despite all of that, you’ve become someone you should be proud of.”

I scoff at that. How can I be proud of myself? I feel like every day of my life I’m being drowned by the expectations my father left me. But no one knows that. No oneexceptSophia. That’s how much trust I have for her.

“I agree with her, man,” Matteo adds. “We’ve barely seen you this summer, but you look different. There’s a different light in you, and I think it has everything to do with the woman you’re trying to deny you love.”

They both look at Damian. Ivy bulges her eyes and tilts her head my way, as if saying,Aren’t you going to say something?

Damian lets out a long sigh, his hand reaching out and gripping my shoulder. “I know how you feel. When Aria walked into my life, I never thought I would end up here. You know more than everyone what I went through, and how unattached I became when it came to…feelings.”

He’s right. I witnessed firsthand how much of an asshole his father was. I never liked the man. I never understood what my auntever saw in that man. I witnessed how Damian changed after being belittled by his father. But I was also thankful to be a witness to how Aria changed him for the better. How love changed him for the better.

Maybe, just maybe, it could change me, too.

“And I believe you,” Damian whispers roughly. “The way you talk about her, I see it in your eyes. You love her, Enzo. The way you feel? The overprotectiveness that is taking over you? That’s exactly how I realized I fell in love with Aria. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for that woman. You punched the fuck out of her shitty ex, for God’s sake. Which”—he snorts a laugh—“I’m proud of you for that. It was long overdue.”

My eye twitches involuntarily at the mention of that fucker. It’s hard for me to believe such a wonderful, strong,and confident woman like Sophia was ever with that sorry ass of a man.

“How do you know about that?” I frown.

He rolls his eyes. “You forget Sophia and Aria are practically sisters. She told her all about it.”

“Did she say anything else?” My tone is hopeful. I know I sound like a pathetic fool, but the curiosity is killing me.

He thins his lips, shaking his head. “I already said too much.”

I simply nod, because he’s right. Anything Aria has told him was in confidence. The last thing I want to do is cause issues between them.

“You’re in love, Enzo. This isgood.” Ivy pats my hand twice.

I shake my head. “You guys don’t understand. Even if I did, I don’t know how to show her. She…” I sigh, mulling over my words. Wondering how much I want to share. All the time I’ve spent with Sophia has given me an idea of how she works. “She’s a closed book. Doesn’t open up. I don’t know how to show her we could be more.”

“It’s simple. You need to show her with actions, not words,” Ivy replies. “You need to show her why you’re the man for her and why you’re perfect for each other.”

“And you need to be honest,” Damian adds. “Do not be like me. I lied my way through so much, I almost lost Aria for good.”

I nod, remembering how Damian almost took the blame for something he didn’t do. He was willing to lose everything for the woman he loves. He just went the wrong way about it. Instead of being honest, he tried to shoulder all the responsibility.

Matteo speaks now, his voice is soft, eyes lost in thought. “If she’s important to you, you need to be there for her. Fightfor her. You will regret it if you don’t.” He shakes his head, his eyes focusing on me. “That much I can promise you.”

“What if I scare her off?” I ask. Her walking away from me is my biggest fear. I think that’s why I’ve been putting off telling her how I feel. But I can’t keep pretending I don’t want more.

Ivy shrugs. “If she feels the same way, she may be scared, sure. But she’ll open herself to it.”

I don’t know if my heart can take her not feeling the same way. The logical part of me is telling me she does feel the same. This is not one-sided. But what if, despite how she feels, she refuses to give us a chance?

“Damn, Ivy. When did you become a love coach?” Matteo asks.

“You idiots wouldn’t know what love is even if it hit you in the face. Someone has to step in and be the voice of reason.”

“Care to help me?” Matteo begs, clasping his hands together.

She laughs. “Of course. Lay it on me.”

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