Chapter 21

My phone buzzeswith an incoming call from Cara.

"Nina, are you okay if I take my break?"

She waves at me without looking up from her phone. I exit the door of the shop and walk toward the farmhouse and answer the call. "Hey girl, perfect timing. I'm on my break. Everything okay?"

"Summer, I went to check on your place yesterday."

Dread fills my belly. "Did something happen?"

"It's a mess. There are beer bottles littering every surface. It looks like she's been having parties every night. I cleaned it up, but wanted you to know. I think she's been driving your car too, because it wasn't in your driveway."

"Crap, I can't believe her. She must have found where I hid the keys." I breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth. "Thank you so much, Cara. I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this. I'll handle it."

"Okay, hon. I'm here for you if you need me."

"I appreciate you more than you know. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Okay. Luvs you, Summer."

"Luvs you." I hang up with Cara, furious with Barbara. I dial her number, ready to leave her a scathing voicemail because I know she won't answer at seven a.m.

"You realize it's the crack of dawn here, don't you?" she croaks into the phone. A man in the background mumbles something. "It's just my kid. Go back to sleep, babe."

Shocked she actually answered, I'm momentarily tongue-tied. "Where are you?"

"In bed, Summer, where else would I be?"

"Barbara, we need to talk. Cara told me you took the keys to my car when I explicitly told you not to."

"I had an emergency. My car is still in the city lot."

"She also said you've trashed my house like you've been having parties there every night."

"Are you having her check on me?" she slurs. Is she still drunk?

"I asked her to keep an eye on everything while I'm gone. Friends do that for each other, Barbara." Anger bubbles in my veins. "I think it's time you looked for your own apartment."

"You're so selfish, Summer. It's always been like this since you were little because Grams spoiled you rotten. Poor Summer needs her mom, poor Summer doesn't get the attention she needs, everything has always been about you. Well, what about me? When is it my turn? Not everyone can afford the luxury of gallivanting all over Italy. Don't concern yourself over me. I'll be out of here tomorrow." The call disconnects.

I can barely see straight, I'm so angry. I immediately call her back, but it goes straight to voicemail.

"Barbara, you are not allowed to drive my car, do you hear me? I will have the police pull you over if you get behind the wheel. I'm letting you live in my home and this is the thanks I get?" I swipe tears from my eyes, sounding just like my Grams used to when dealing with her. "Call me back. You at least owe me that much."

Fuming, I hang up, not sure what my options are. I stare at my phone, wondering what the hell I should do while walking aimlessly toward the mill.

"Oof." Hands circle my arms as I walk right into a human wall. My phone clatters to the ground next to a pair of expensive Italian dress shoes.

"Whoa, steady there. I was just coming to find you. I looked over some of your branding ideas and they're great! I really like the emphasis on family and taking it back to the beginning when we first started. Trust the Rossi family, trust the brand. I love it!"

I gaze into Lorenzo's smoky eyes framed by long black lashes, but I'm not really listening.

"I'm sorry, Lorenzo, but can we talk about this later?" I try to bend down to pick up my phone, but he holds on to me.

"Summer, are you okay?"

"No, I'm not okay."

I'm incredibly attracted to you and can't act on it. My mother is an alcoholic who refuses to get help and I don't know how to handle it. My time in Italy has an expiration date I'm not sure I want to end, and all I really want to do is bury myself in your arms and cry, but I can't.

His brows scrunch as he tries to read the emotions skittering across my face. "Is there anything I can do?"

"No."

Hold me.

He looks over at the building I exited and his nostrils flare. He drops his hands and folds them over his chest. "Is Nina bothering you?"

"No, Lorenzo, it's not Nina." I turn from his intense gaze. "What are you doing down here, anyway? Don't you have meetings or phone calls or something in your office?"

His jaw clenches. "I told you I was looking for you to tell you—"

"Sorry." I hold up my hands as I back up a few steps. "I'm having some personal issues."

"Let me help."

I laugh humorlessly. No way in hell will I dump my issues with my wayward mom on Lorenzo. "No. I can handle it. I always have."

He slides his hands in his pockets and nods. "I know you can. Why don't you take the rest of the afternoon off?"

"I don't need you to coddle me, Ren."

His eyes narrow. I can't help but take my frustration of Barbara out on him.

"I'm not coddling." He clenches his jaw. "We don't need you acting like this around the customers."

"Acting like what?" I feel like a boxer jumping around my opponent, waiting for the perfect jab, but Ren doesn't want to get in the ring with me. His lips part like he wants to say something more, but he shakes his head instead.

"Go home, Summer. That's an order, not a request." He turns on his heel and walks away without a backward glance.