Page 32 of Unruly Obsession
“For the marks. It’ll help with the swelling.” His voice drifts up to me, and if I had to guess, he’s not even looking in my direction.
My heart skips a beat, and I hate how easily it betrays me. It’s silly. And I still don’t know what to make of the entire situation, let alone what happened earlier. What I do know is that Lorenzo is a man like no other I’ve met. And my curiosity might be leading me into a world of depravity, but I can’t let my heart get involved because I know where this ends.
The same place it always does—in disappointment, my heart shattered into a million pieces.
Because men don’t want me, and if they do, it’s only about what my father can provide them.
I doubt Lorenzo has any interest in that, but only a few moments ago, I was also certain he had no interest inme.
13
LILY
I’m furious. There’s a difference between pretending to be a doting boyfriend and being an overbearing, embarrassing brute. Lorenzo stands beside the entrance of the Cappa Café. It’s certainly not the first time he’s stood there, but usually it’s for Ara's sake. Now there’s another unexpectedly large man, Tony, who sits closest to the door, enjoying a coffee and reading something on his phone. The two men attempt to be discreet, but they still stand out.
Sienna takes her seat, arriving late as usual, and looks over at them. “So, like, security is the new trend?” she asks, flicking her hair over her shoulder.
“Well, if you look at recent tabloids, one might suggest Lorenzo is an overbearing date,” Romi says, smirking at me. I kick her under the table, which only intensifies her laughter.
She’s wearing a shirt with a cat on it that readsI’m purrfect. She’s been wearing these types of shirts since junior high. The moment someone teased her for it, she made it her daily mission to wear a shirt with some kind of humorous message. “Well, am I wrong?” she asks, rubbing her shin.
I shift uncomfortably, trying to hide a wince as a dull pain pulses in my bruised ass cheeks. It remains as a reminder of what happened between Lorenzo and me.
Ara seems unfazed by their jabs, and I try to use her as an example not to give too much away. But it’s easier for her because even if they don’t know who Luca Armani truly is, his being overprotective of his wife, who is carrying his child, doesn't come as a surprise. But that leaves me out in the cold, trying to find a reasonable excuse for Lorenzo being here.
“He’s been helping me in the store. I told him to meet me there, but he decided to come here instead,” I say, settling on a partial truth. Because I had begged Lorenzo to give me space and let me enjoy my time with the girls, but he adamantly refused.
We’ve been living in each other’s pockets. I have no privacy. Though the last few nights he’s given me a bit of distance after the intensity of the night of my "punishment."
Both Romi and Sienna stare at me, most likely not believing the lie, but Romi smirks and casually shrugs. A shudder runs over me because nothing good ever comes from that smirk.
“Hey, Big Daddy,” she shouts at Lorenzo.
“Romi!” I chastise, immediately embarrassed.
Sienna chuckles and looks over to see his reaction.
“Why don’t you come and join us if you’re going to sit there looking all glum? You don’t exactly match the wallpaper.”
Warmth leaves my body as I look into the icy gaze of Lorenzo.
I told him he couldn't be inconspicuous.
Despite the awkwardness, Lorenzo does come over. He drags a chair with him and sits at the end of the table closest to me. Part of me is grateful we meet so early in the morning, when the cafe isn’t yet flooded with customers, because I’m certain he’d create a blockage for people being able to get past him to pay.
I glance at him only once. His gaze is devouring me, and I quickly look away, heat flushing my cheeks. It’s so difficult toignore him because he’s so damn imposing. And I’m still furious with… well, the entire situation, and the fact that my body is still acutely aware of his every move and lingering look.
“Soo…” Romi says, staring between us. I know I should grab his hand or place mine on his knee or something that looks remotely couple-like, but I’m not good at pretending. “Want to explain what happened on that trip to Italy?”
“What do you mean?” I ask. Surely, Ara didn’t tell them about the drive-by or her involvement with the Mafia.
Romi raises a brow and then darts her gaze between Lorenzo and me, and I suddenly realize what she’s talking about. “Oh.”
“Oh?” Sienna, the gossip hound of the group, says. She’s usually the first in the know, and I’m certain her finding out from some blog or social media photo about me taking Lorenzo to the charity event has wounded her ego. “You go to Italy with Ara for a short time and then come back with a boyfriend?”
“It was one date,” I reply.
Sienna rolls her eyes. “Because you’ve taken so many dates of your own choosing to a public event. Weren’t you dreading last time we met here that you’d have to have Elanee potentially matchmake for you because your father has been pressuring you on the matter?”
