“I’ve been working on a lot of this in therapy, but it’s still been hard for me.”
“Okay.” Gio scratches the back of his neck. “Then I’ll just call him back and tell him to forget the lunch. That I didn’t have all the information. That he should fuck right off, even.” He nods. “Easy fix.”
I shake my head slowly. “Gio. I love you, but you can’t fix everything. And definitely not this. It’s something I’d have to reckon with soon enough, anyway.”
He blows a breath out through his teeth. “Let me handle it. I made the problem, so I should solve it.” His accent is thick, a frustrated lilt hanging on the end of every word.
I can’t even think straight right now, let alone continuously defend my reasoning. “I understand where you’re coming from, but I need some space to process all of this.”
He blanches. “All ofwhat, exactly?”
“My father, work, everything. I just need to figure out how it’ll all fit together and what to do next.” I take a deep breath. “So, I’m going to deliver these garments and finish out the work day. But I’ll be at my place tonight. I need to unpack and take care of some things. It’ll give me time to sort myself out.”
He says nothing in response, so I pick up my purse off the table and walk toward the entryway. When I reach the door, I turn back and say, “I’ll see you soon,” to Gio.
He gives me a long look with sad-tinged eyes before putting on his sewing glasses and picking up an embroidery hoop on the table next to us.
I walk out of his shop, the absence of the bell ringing loudly in my head.
Chapter 39
Tessa
Itransfer all the garment bags to one arm and push open the main door toLamont’sbrick building. Turning right for the stairwell, I walk up three flights until I reach our floor. I take a few deep breaths and wait on the landing in silence. The walk outside helped, but I still feel weak—hollow, even—after the phone call in Gio’s shop.
When I gather enough fortitude to push the door open, I’m met with the regular hustle and bustle ofLamont. It’s not even a work day, but per usual, nearly everyone is present.
“Hey, Tess!” Shondra waves at me from behind a garment rack.
“Love your shoes,” Brooke compliments from her seat.
“Lamont’s in amood,” Peyton warns, raising her eyebrows.
My face splits into a lopsided grin as I give everyone a wave.Lamontwill always feel familiar, like family, which is why the thought of leaving feels risky. But there’s a certain irony in how quickly someone can outgrow their home, be it work or childhood.
I hang the garments up on Lamont’s personal rack before returning to the junior design team’s shared space.
Peyton turns her chair toward me, giving me her full attention, when I sit down next to her.
I clap my hands together. “So, how are you guys?”
Three very confused, expectant faces stare blink at me.
My brows furrow. “What?”
Peyton snorts. “What?Girl. Milan Fashion Week iswhat. You know, the thing that you got to go to that none of us did? I’m still mad at you for that, by the way.”
“Tolerable, Tessa.” Shondra sounds exactly like Lamont as she pins me with a look.“Ring any bells?”
I squint at her. “Damn. You’ve really got his voice down now, Shon. Like, it’s shockingly good. I have goosebumps.”
Brooke laughs. “She’s had time to perfect it. Because you’ve been giving us approximatelynothing. We’ve had to live vicariously through Esme’s socials.” She sighs. “Her pictures may have been mostly statues and old doors, but at least she posted daily.”
“Unlikesomeoneelsewe know.” Peyton rolls her chair closer to mine and nudges my shoulder. “A zoomed-in picture of the inside of a fig one day post-show? What’re we supposed todowith that, Tess?”
“I was fine with the fig. It was the picture of the pigeon two days later that made me think she needed to be saved…” Shondra chimes in.
Ah, Giuseppe. I miss that little bird. Doubling over with silent laughter, I manage to get out, “I’m so sorry to disappoint.”
