Page 37 of The Young & the Sinner

I sighed. “I want to say no, but that would only be partly true. But I can’t wait for the rest of my life on the off chance that Mason might like me back. I don’t think that would ever happen. I mean, aside from the obvious, I don’t think he sees me as anything more than his brother’s ward. He might even view me as his little sister, and at this point, I’m not sure which is worse.”

She grimaced. “Yeah, I can see that.”

“But I’m also with Lorenzo because he makes me happy. I can’t remember a time I enjoyed hanging out with someone besides you. He always makes me laugh on our dates, and I do look forward to seeing him. So there’s that.”

She opened her mouth to say something, but the doorbell cut her off. We shared a look. Lorenzo was here.

“Oh, don’t worry. Maybe it won’t be so bad. Max can be nice, I’m sure of it.”

“Sure, we think he’s nice, but that’s because we only ever got to see the nice version of him. But I’ve seen grown men sweat talking to Max.” This was especially true when I visit him at work. There was a whole other side to him there that made me glad I only ever knew the nice version.

Lizzie stood and pulled me up as well. “Come on, you don’t want to keep the boyfriend waiting.”

“Right.”

I opened the door to Lorenzo’s smiling face, a dozen red roses in one hand, and a tray of what looked like tiramisu in the other. “Hey, Olivia. You look beautiful today.”

I smiled. I wasn’t wearing any makeup and I barely brushed my hair this morning, but I was glad he thought so. “Thanks. Are those for me?” I pointed at the red roses and he handed them over.

“Yeah.”

“Well, come on in. Max and Mason are setting up the grill in the backyard. I’m sure they’ll be glad to see you’re here.” I noticed his silver Mazda parked haphazardly on the driveway before I closed the door.

I shot Lizzie a look to keep her from saying anything, and her grin widened. Lorenzo walked in, gave me a swift kiss on my lips, and gave a one-arm hug to Lizzie. She grabbed the dessert out of his hand. “This looks good.”

“Thanks. My mom made it this last night.”

“Be sure to thank her for me,” I said.

I had only met his parents one other time, not counting that time I saw his dad at the restaurant. They were both very nice and very attractive. Lorenzo was a spitting image of his dad, save for his hair color. That, he got from his mom.

“I will.”

“Max and Mason are in the backyard. Why don’t we join them?” I said, setting the roses down on the dining room table.

“Sure. I can’t wait to see them again,” Lorenzo said, and he sounded genuine. Poor, naïve boy. He didn’t know what he was getting himself into.

Lizzie hid her grin by looking down at the dessert, and I stuck my tongue out at her when she finally looked up. Her grin widened.

When we opened the patio door, both men turned toward us. They smiled at Lizzie and me, but turned serious when they took in Lorenzo. I groaned inwardly.

Everything was tense for a moment or two before Max finally broke the silence and said in a polite voice, “Lorenzo. So good of you to join us today.”

“I’m happy to be here, sir.”

“Right.”

I did groan out loud then. “What are we having?” I asked, changing the subject.

“Well, sweetheart, we are having a steak kebab with vegetables. Mason and I will grill the steaks. Lorenzo, why don’t you join us?” At least Max was asking Lorenzo to join them. I could work with this.

Mason turned to Lizzie and me then. “Why don’t you girls prepare a salad and make some iced tea? Give Max and me some time to talk to Lorenzo.”

I bit my lip, unsure. How rude would it be if I said no? I didn’t want to leave Lorenzo with Max and Mason. That was like leaving a baby lamb with two hungry wolves. It felt a little like abuse.

He must have sensed my hesitation, because Mason shot me a gentle smile before mouthing ‘Go’ when no one was paying attention. I gave a small nod, grabbed Lizzie’s hand and walked to the kitchen.

I saw Lorenzo talking to the men through the garden window, but it was hard to tell how their conversation was going just based off on their body language. Plus, with Lorenzo’s back to me, I couldn’t exactly tell how he was faring.

“I think everything is going well, don’t you?” Lizzie chirped.

I shot her a look and she wink. “You’re impossible.”

She threw her head back and laughed. “True. But you love me anyway.”

I smiled. I did. I really did.

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