Page 112 of Love Arranged
My chest clenches. “Are you trying to make me cry?”
“No, definitely not, and don’t you dare start, or else I’ll hang up.”
“Bruto.”
“Brat.”
I chuckle under my breath. “I hate to speed you along here, but can you please hurry up? I have to get back to the hotel soon.”
“Is Lorenzo there?”
“Yes.”
“Are you avoiding him?”
“Oh yeah. He deserves it.”
“Good. Let him sweat it out a bit.”
“Is that part of the strategy?”
“That and making him realize what life would be like without you in it.”
“I can’t exactly break up with him.”
“No, obviously not, but you can talk about what the future will look like after the engagement is over with. Talk about your dreams. Talk about wanting to get married for real. Painta picture that’s so vivid, he knows if he’s not the one making it happen, then you’ll find someone else who will.”
A bitter laugh crawls up my throat, but I swallow it. “And where am I supposed to find this future husband of mine?”
“He’s standing right here.”
I turn around with a gasp. “Lorenzo.”
Rafa chuckles against my ear. “Best of luck. And don’t forget what I said.” He hangs up.
“How did you find me?” I ask, nearly missing the way Lorenzo’s eyes dart over me while I slip my phone back into my purse.
“There was a sign in the photo.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.Oh.” He tucks his hand into his jeans. “Who were you talking to on the phone?”
“Rafa.” I leave the store and start walking toward a store a few blocks down. Lorenzo follows beside me, blocking me from the busy street. It’s such a small gesture, but it’s the littlest ones that always send my heart into a tailspin.
“What did he want?” he asks while we’re walking.
“Just checking in.”
“Why is he so interested in your dating life?”
I shrug.
He pulls his hand out of his pocket and grabs mine.
I roll my eyes. “You don’t need to hold my hand without an audience.”
“Maybe I like the way your hand fits in mine.”
