Page 31 of Stuck Behind Her

Chapter 15 – Settanta

Val

When the day comes to an end, Lorenzo and I walk back to my house. I haven’t had much time to spend with him ever since he arrived, so I suggested we hang out before he takes Ellie and I out. He obviously didn’t turn me down, since he’s been waiting for me to have free time to see him. I wish he had come to Los Angeles at another time. The end of the year is always busy. If he had come a couple of months earlier or later, I’d have so much more availability. But then again, he also has to work, so I can’t judge. For all I know, this was the only time he could come. So, I just have to try my best to work around that.

“So, I see you’re growing closer with Aurora,” he notes, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

“Yes. What, jealous?” I tease, pretending to pout. His lips mumble something inaudible as he rolls his eyes. This makes me smile, holding in a laugh.

“I’m not jealous,” he answers. I nod repeatedly in mockery, which causes him to frown. He’s obviously lying, but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.

“So, where’s Ellie taking you?” he asks, changing the topic.

“I honestly have no idea. Some type of park or garden, like I told you,” I remind him.

“You don’t know where you’re going?” he asks, raising his eyebrows. I’ll admit, it’s weird not knowing where I'm going considering I’m the one taking her. But I’m a busy woman, I have other things to think about.

“Stop making fun of me. I have a billion things on my mind, where I’m going with my sister isn’t something I need to know ahead of time. I’ll ask her when we get home,” I remark.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Two years later, and she’s already a businesswoman,” he taunts, rolling his eyes again. I sigh, closing my eyes to contain my sanity. We walk past many houses as we stroll the sidewalks on the way to my house. The wind is weak, but it’s still there, causing Lorenzo to wear one of his black coats which he is repeatedly tightening around himself.

“So, how’s your dad?” I ask him. He doesn’t have that good of a father-son relationship with him, but he is still his father from his perspective. One he considers not that bad compared to others.

“Fine. As normal. Nothing has changed. As I say, he’s an acceptable father, but a bad husband,” he replies. I think Lorenzo was happy about their divorce. Not that anyone would be, he was obviously affected by it, but he thinks it was for the best. His parent’s relationship was becoming toxic, and he was glad it ended when it did. “And as I also said, fathers are overrated,” he repeats. Yes. Yes, they are. “I actually don’t get to say that much when everyone else is around. Especially Aurora, since her father defies reality,” he continues talking.

“Of course he is,” I agree. “He and Daniel are similar on a lot of levels.”

He nods his head to my comment. “So, anything new?” he continues, asking as if my life is full of adventure.

“No. Other than the number of fans increasing, and my percentage of space decreasing, everything is normal. No new friends or anything, except Aurora if it doesn’t feel hurried to call her a friend this early. Is there anything else you’d like to know about my luxurious life?” I summarize. My life is both complicated and simple at the same time.

“No. And of course you didn’t make more friends. You’re too loyal to me,” he proudly says, raising his hand to his chest, pointing to himself. He’s so high and mighty, isn’t he?

“Believe what you want. Your ego is above the clouds seeing as you’re acting like you made any friends.”

He looks at me with an offended expression, obviously exaggerating. “I already have friends. Elias is one of them,” he protests. My eyes widen. So that’s his excuse now?

“Oh, so you’re flexing with that now?”

“What if I am?” He shrugs his shoulders.

I lift my arms and overlap them on my chest. “Matter of fact, Aurora loves me and both of my identities, and I can easily ditch you for her.”

“You wouldn’t,” he gasps. “Even if I told you to ditch me, you wouldn’t. You’re too loyal.”

This time, I don’t answer back. I just shake my head, chuckling quietly. He isn’t wrong. I owe him a lot, and he’s done so much for me. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am now. I wouldn’t be famous or have such a big fanbase. If he hadn’t posted that video, I’d probably still be an ordinary seventeen-year-old attending an ordinary school. He deserves so much more than I’m able to give him, and I would never betrayhim. However, I never actually tell him that. He rejects anything from me if my aim is to pay him back out of guilt.

We then arrive at my house. The front of the house looks just as basic as the back, painted white and blue navy. The more casual, the less attention it draws, which is better.

“Look at that, we’re here already. Back door, or is it fine through the front this time?” Lorenzo asks. I grab his hand and drag him to the back, giving him an answer. He runs behind me until we reach the back of the house. I knock on the door and wait for someone to open it. Almost immediately, Ellie opens the door and reveals herself, all ready to go.

“You.” she utters in disgust at Lorenzo.

“He’s taking us, remember,” I tell her. She frowns, moving to the side.

“As long as he leaves after dropping us off.”

We both walk in and she closes the door, locking it.

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