Page 64 of All Of My Sundays

“I was wondering if we could go home. Cedarville home?” I ask him, and his eyebrows raise before he shuffles me off the dance floor not letting me go.

“Are you okay? Did something happen?” he asks, once we are in a spot where the music isn’t as loud.

“I had a fight with my parents and my dad said something I wanted to talk to you about,” I explain. I watch as his eyes widen before he speaks.

“What did he say?” his soft voice asks, as he gulps.

“He told me you let him buy your gramps’ business as long as you could marry me as well,” I say, my voice low so no one overhears. I watch his face for evidence of what he’s done.

He drops his head before his sad eyes rise to mine.

“How about we head home, and we can talk it out there?” he suggests.

I nod as it’s hard to hear him over the music.

“Ted we’re out. You’ll be okay?” he asks the old man, as we start to leave.

“Yeah lad. I’ll be fine,” he tells him.

“I’ll be at Cedarville tonight,” he says, and Ted smiles at us before waving goodbye.

“Bye Ted.”

“Bye darling,” he says, as Lorenzo leads me out of the door. We walk over to the car, the cool air hitting the sweat on my skin from the dancing. When we reach the Audi, I dig the keys out of my bag as Lorenzo holds out his hand for them. His fingers linger in mine before he pulls me into his arms again and leans against the back of the car, sitting on the boot. His hands rest on my waist as I look into his eyes.

“Are you okay?” he asks again, now we are alone.

“Yeah, I couldn’t stay there any longer. What’s with the deal you made?”

“He’s right, I did make a deal with him. I know your dad wouldn’t let me marry you. So, I offered up the only leverage I had which is my gramps’ business that he’s been trying to buy from me for a couple years now. It might seem like the wrong way to go about it, but I was set on getting you away from them Sophia. I didn’t want you to end up in some loveless marriage with one of his pawns. I’m sorry I never told you about it, but I would do it again,” he confesses. His sad eyes search mine.

“I’m not mad at you Lorenzo. I’d marry you a million times over than one of dad’s lackeys so I’m thankful for what you did. I wish you had talked to me before giving up your gramps’ business for me and for making a deal with my dad. Going forward you need to talk to me about anything like this. I don't want you making any more deals with the devil,” I tell him.

“Okay I promise. Are you sure you’re not mad?”

“Is there anything else I need to know? Are you sure that’s all there was to the deal?” I ask, needing to know the truth about the deal.

“That’s all there was to it Soph. I sold him the auto shop so I could get a chance at marrying you.” I search his eyes before I speak.

“How can I be mad when you saved me from getting pulled into one of dad’s political moves for his benefit. I’m furious at my dad for selling me like I mean nothing to him,” I confess, which brings tears to my eyes I didn’t realise I was holding in.

“It’s okay Soph. You’re safe with me I promise. Let it out. I won’t let them hurt you anymore,” he says, as he pulls my head to his chest and lets me cry all the hurt out. It’s been building up for years but to hear it from my dad’s own mouth. I can't believe he sold me to gain something, it makes me feel used and thrown away like I mean nothing to him. “Did they say anything else?”

“They don’t want me to marry you,” I confess, watching his expression but it never changes like my words don’t affect him.

“What did you say to that?” he asks.

“I told them if they couldn’t accept that you were gonna be my husband soon then I couldn’t be a part of the family anymore,” I admit, my cheeks heating. He stares at me for so long before his thumb slides across my bottom lip.

“Have I told you how amazing you are?” he asks, and I gently shake my head, before leaning into him. His hand slides into my hair, pulling me closer too before my lips meet his. It’s a soft kiss. Our lips gently pressed against the other before he pulls back. Then as if he can’t bear the thought of our lips parting, he pulls me back for another chaste kiss before releasing me. “Let's go home little bird,” he says, smiling at me. He releases me as he pushes off the car and I walk around to the passenger side as hehops into the driver’s seat. As he pulls out of the parking lot, he links our fingers and rests my hand on his thigh where it stays for the remainder of the ride home.

When he pulls into the driveway with the small dark house sitting in front of us, I can’t help but feel a weight has lifted. I breathe out a sigh of relief as we exit the car.

“Have you got your bag?” he asks, over the hood of the car.

“Yeah, it's in the boot,” I tell him, moving around to the back of the car while he leans down to open the boot for me. The car ride over was quiet but a peaceful quiet. One where we didn’t need to express ourselves with words as I think me showing up to his work had said it all. I push the boot up, but Lorenzo pulls out my bag and slugs it over his shoulder before I can. He unlocks the front door and flicks the light on for the hallway as we enter.

“Home sweet home,” he says, heading towards my room. He places the bag in there before coming back out. “Are you hungry?”

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