Chapter 28

Footsteps pound upthe stairs while I lay in bed, bereft, unmoving.

"Tesoro? Are you up here?" The sound of my nickname makes my heart rip in two. I can't answer him, though. He pauses in the doorway and surveys the room. "Summer, we're going for a week, not a lifetime. I'm not sure I have room in the trunk for all of these bags."

"I can't go," I croak, burying my face in my pillow.

The bed dips as he sits down and strokes the wet strands of hair away from my cheek. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"I can't go with you on holiday. I…can't go." Fresh tears spring free. I try to push him away.

"Cara mia, I don't understand. Why can't you go?"

"I have to go back home. My mom…" I'm too embarrassed to admit my mom was arrested for drunk driving. "I have a family emergency."

Lorenzo sits back and sighs, running his hand over my back. "What happened?"

He helps me sit up and I clasp my arms around my knees, burying my head. He stands and walks out of the room, returning a minute later with a tissue.

"Grazie." I blow my nose, searching for the right words to explain. "It's my mom. She's…been irresponsible my whole life. She was in a car accident, and I need to get back home to help straighten everything out."

"Dio mio. Is she okay?"

"She's okay, but she totaled my car. I have to take care of insurance…it's a mess."

He nods and looks away. Standing, he rakes his hands through his hair while he paces the room. I want him to shout for me to stay. To tell me he loves me, and we can make this work, but he doesn't.

"Say something, Ren."

"I'm not sure what to say, cara. I didn't expect you to be leaving. I feel sucker punched."

I get up from the bed and wrap my arms around his waist, burying my head against his chest. I want to tell him I love him, to hear the words in return. That I'm wanted here and I belong here with him, but doubt rolls in like an early morning fog. I can't seem to navigate my way through it without a beacon of light from him to guide me.

We always said this would just be a summer fling. If I tell him I love him and I want to stay, will he make excuses as to why I need to return, or worse, tell me he doesn't feel the same? I need to nip this in the bud and make it final for both of us, as much as it will kill my heart. I drop my arms in defeat. He cradles my face in his hands before I can step away.

"Summer…I…" His eyes reflect the sorrow that's clawing my heart apart. "When do you leave?"

"Tonight," I whisper.

His jaw clenches. "Tonight?"

"I know." The tiny flecks of gold stand out against the greenish-gray in his eyes. I try to take a picture in my head and hold on to the memory so it will bring me comfort when I'm feeling sad. I'm hoping all of this will not be forgotten. You idiot, how will you ever forget him?

"I'll come with you."

"You can't. You're going on holiday."

"Tesoro, non me ne frega un cazzo about going on holiday."

"You can't leave your business. Busy season is coming up." I can't have Lorenzo stop his life for me because my mother is a train wreck. "I need to do this by myself, Ren. I have to."

"Well, at least let me take you to the airport." I can hear the frustration in his voice.

"No, it will be too hard to say goodbye there. We'd just be prolonging the inevitable. Besides, you have your trip. You said your brother and his family will be there tonight. Go, I'll be alright." I breathe in his woodsy, masculine scent and run my hands up his chest to his shoulders. "Is Nonna Rossi home? I'd like to say goodbye to her."

"No, she and my parents have already left."

I nod, my heart breaking a little more at not being able to say goodbye and thank her for everything she's done for me. For the chance she gave me. "Please tell her how sorry I am that I didn't get to say goodbye. Say goodbye to your whole family for me. I'm going to miss you, more than you'll ever know."

He bends and kisses my lips, his nose grazing against mine. "I don't want you to go."

His phone buzzes in his pocket. I give him a watery smile as I pull back. "You should probably get that."

"Summer, I don't give a fuck who is trying to call me right now. I always knew you had to go, but I thought I had more time with you. I thought…" He caresses my cheek, his voice trailing off as his eyes beg for mercy. His phone buzzes again.

"Cazzo," he yells, making me jump as he checks his phone. "Cosa vuoi? Sí. Sto arrivando, dammi solo un minuto!" He hangs up and sighs. "Fiore and Fredo are waiting for me in town, but I don't want to leave you." He kisses me, his lips gently parting mine.

I want to say fuck it and run away with him, but I can't. Cara's right. I need to take responsibility for my mother's actions, and he has an olive oil empire to run. I gently push away from Lorenzo and smooth his shirt where my fingers scrunched it.

"Come visit me when you're in California?"

He groans, crushing me to him. "Rimani qui con me. Non andare. Ho bisogno di te. Tu appartieni a me, piccola gatta randagia."

Tears track down my cheeks. "I don't know what you're saying…"

He kisses my temple, holding me to him. "It means…take care of yourself, my little stray cat." I know there's more he's not telling me, but I can't think straight. My heart is splintering in half. He gently kisses my lips. His phone rings again. "I am going to murder my sister."

"Go, Lorenzo. Please. I can't do this."

He nods and takes a step back. "Call me when you get there. I'll need to know you are safe." He runs his thumb tenderly over my bottom lip before he strides out the door without a backward glance.

My throat tightens, my heart begging my brain to tell him the truth. This was always more than just a summer fling. More than anything I ever anticipated. I run to the stairs to scream that I love him, but the front door slams, and my soul unravels. There's no point to any of it.