◆ Real Love Persists ◆

◇ KEL ◇

Oh no.  Crap.  I didn't just say that out loud.

My eyes and throat ached now.  I even stuttered.  My voice was starting to tremble, too.

Shucks.  Not now.  I didn't want to cry in front of him.  Especially not in public. Ugh. His bodyguards must be enjoying the show right now.

Frowning again, Enzo stopped touching my face and backed off.  He didn't get rid of his confused look, as if my words didn't make any lick of sense.

Or was he surprised that I mentioned his ex again?

"Because I can't keep hanging out with you without constantly reminding myself not to take you to bed and make you forget he exists." He looked away, shaking his head weakly.  "But you think I'm still with Olivia? And what happened that night was nothing?"

"Just take me back to the apartment."

"No."

I sighed when he held my arm before I could walk away. The last thing I wanted to do was talk about his ex. But since I brought her up, he must be thinking there's no better time to dissect the subject.

He stared at me, leaning against his shiny car while the skies dimmed above us.

The cool breeze almost made me shiver.  I stood beside the tinted window, my legs somewhat numb, putting on a calm face as he held me so close I could smell the wine in his breath.

Yet he didn't seem intoxicated.  Not at all.

"You were drinking?"

"Just half a glass." He averted his gaze.

"Why'd you send me money again?"

Enzo sighed.  His warm and slightly calloused hand held my forearm while the other held the side of my waist.  "You said you have to pay for tuition next month."

So it was all my fault.  Again.  I should've just kept my mouth shut.    Stupid.   Clearly every time I mentioned my money problems, he thought I was seeking financial help and his sympathy.  "I wasn't asking for money."

"I know," he murmured before kissing my cheek, his soft mouth lightly brushing onto my skin.  His smooth jaw  felt foreign, but in a good way.  Maybe he did shave his beard off for my sake.  "I know you're tired. But let's have dinner first."

Of course.  I should've known he would try seducing me into saying yes to his every demand.  With his muted honey-smooth voice giving me butterflies, I couldn't really say no to him.  Especially since I owed him more money now.

Maybe this was the payment he expected:  spontaneous dates, and little or no resistance.  "Want me to drive you home now?"

I glanced away and almost smiled when he kissed my other cheek. "No."

"Alright. Let's have dinner." Enzo stroked my forearm and gestured to the glass entrance doors.

I stared at the restaurant's elegant design and the gilded doorway.

Their menu probably cost more than my entire rent.  A customer with a diamond-studded necklace just stepped out of a sports car parked beside the establishment.

Ugh.  Definitely not my scene.

"What's the matter?"

"Did you meet up with Miles? When you were in Florence?"

"No. He's busy with something," Enzo murmured. "Tried calling him but he changed his number. Eleana said he's still going to rehab regularly."

Good.  Miles didn't break his promise again.  I nodded and sighed in relief.

"You talked to him recently? You know his new number?"

"No. I'll just ask Nicco why he changed his number."

Enzo nodded and gently pulled me closer.

"How's Leo? And your uncle?"

"Same," he sighed.

"You didn't pay them a visit?"

"I'm not allowed."

"Oh."

Why wasn't he allowed to visit them in jail?  His family's wishes? Or his lawyers told him not to visit his brother?

"The lawyers don't want me to," Enzo mumbled, his eyes distractedly staring at his hand on my forearm.

"Okay."

"I don't want to see them."

"I know. Sorry," I muttered.  "Why d'you wanna talk to Mommy?" I stared at him again.  My heart hammered against my chest, but at least the tears had stopped filling my eyes, he didn't look upset anymore, and the dull ache in my chest was ebbing away.

"I have to." He frowned and shrugged.

"But why?"

He looked me in the eyes and didn't get rid of his scowl, his dark brows knitted. "I'll take you to church tomorrow if I have to," he murmured. "You know I would do that."

I rolled my eyes and pulled away.

Exaggerating again.  Was he going mad?  Why would he even think a haphazard wedding was a good idea?  Even more absurd:  he still wanted to get married after that utter disaster with his ex.

Or maybe...  Maybe now he seriously thought he could've knocked me up.

"I'm not pregnant. Okay? And I don't need or want to get married."  I didn't even have time to get a haircut.  Much less maintain a relationship that demanding and time-consuming.

Enzo palmed his face and sighed.  He stared at the ground, shaking his head faintly while a crooked grin etched tiny dimples beside his lips.  Like he didn't believe a word I said.

"You think I'm being dishonest?"

"No."

"I'm sending back your money."

"No. Will you just stop worrying about the money?" He scowled at me, turned his head away, then muttered an expletive.

"Y'know what—" I gripped my phone and my purse. "I'm tired. You're tired. Let's go. Just drive me back to the apartment."

"No. We'll have dinner first." He raked his fingers through his wavy hair, then scoffed loudly when I didn't agree or move.

"I'm done arguing with you. Like I don't have more important things to do." I walked around the hood of his car.

"And I'm tired of pretending this doesn't mean anything. So I guess we're on the same page." Enzo kept frowning and watched me rush back into his car.

Taking a deep breath, I sat in silence in the passenger seat while he stayed immobile, standing next to the driver's side by himself.  Fine. Wait it out.  Let him get over his tantrum.  I just had to sit tight and be patient.

A few seconds later, Enzo stepped back into the driver's seat with another scowl drawing faint lines on his forehead. He shut the door and buckled up without looking at me.

"I don't wanna go in there."

"Why?"

"I'll have dinner in the apartment," I muttered. "If you don't wanna join me, please drop me off."

"We're not going back to your apartment." Enzo sighed out loud and massaged his forehead with both hands.

Neither of us spoke for a while.  The auto-lock startled me amid the strained silence.  "Fine," I sighed.

"At least have dinner with me."

"Fine."

"Alright."

"Just drive."

Enzo started the car, his lips stuck in a frown, his hands gripping the steering wheel.  He drove away from the fancy restaurant without sparing me another glance, his bodyuards right behind us. "We're not done."

Oh great.  His hissy fit wasn't over.  I buckled up, sat still, put on a straight face, and kept my mouth shut.

Where's he taking us now?

He stared at the road and sped along the highway, his thick brows knitted again. "We're sorting this out one way or another."

"Whatever you say, Lorenzio," I murmured under my breath.

"I want this to work out because I love you." He stepped on the gas.  "More than he ever will."

◇