"I'm not pretending anything. I'm focused on keeping her safe."
"From Luna? Or from her own feelings?"
I stand up, needing to move. "I don't have time for this."
"Make time." Vittoria's voice hardens.
"She said she was fine."
"Of course she did. What else is she going to say? 'Hey Lorenzo, I'm terrified you still love your not-dead ex'?"
"That's ridiculous. I don't?—"
"I know that. You know that. But does Sophia know that?"
I sink back into the chair. All night, I listened to her trying to muffle her sobs. Every instinct screamed at me to hold her, to tell her everything would be okay. But I couldn't move. Couldn't find the words.
What if I made it worse?
"I don't know what to do," I admit. "I've never been good at this."
"At what? Caring about someone?"
"At showing it." The confession burns coming out. "At saying the right things. Making someone feel... secure."
"You don't have to be perfect at it." Vittoria's voice gentles. "You just have to try."
"What if I say the wrong thing?"
"Then you say the wrong thing. But at least you're talking." She turns back to her screens. "Ask her how she feels, Lorenzo. Actually ask her. And then listen to what she says."
Why is this so fucking hard?
Vittoria's right. Sophia has shown me in a hundred ways that she can handle me, my temper, my silences, the blood on my hands. She's seen me at my worst and still looks at me like I'm worth loving.
I leave Vittoria and head straight for our bedroom. My hand's on the doorknob when it turns from the inside.
The door opens and Sophia's there, dressed to leave. Dark circles shadow her eyes. She's been crying again.
"Where are you going?"
"Just... I was going to find Marina."
I lift her off her feet before she can protest, carrying her back into the room. She makes a small sound of surprise as I kick the door shut behind us. I set her on the bed gently, then sit beside her.
"Lorenzo, what?—"
I kiss her. Soft.
When I pull back, her eyes are wet.
"Are you okay?" I ask.
"I'm fine."
"Don't." I cup her face in my hands. "Don't lie to me."
"I'm not?—"
