R E T R O U V A I L L E S
(n.) the happiness of meeting again after a long time.
• • •
"I did not miss this city," Lorenzo stood in my office, facing out the glass wall as he looked down on the city. "Fuck you, New York." He grinned to himself, giving the city his middle finger before turning back to look at me.
"Not a city person, huh?" I asked him and be shrugged.
"No, I am," He told me, crouching down to my level, as I sat on my chair, his fingers grazing my forehead as he tucked my hair behind my ear. "But you've seen where I live, by the beach, in the sun, gotta keep my tan intact," He joked and I smirked. "Now it's cold here, I'll be pale within a week." He scowled as he looked at his naturally tanned skin.
It's not like he's that pale in general, his warm olive skin won't let him go that pale. His skin is naturally a nice olive colour, the tan making his skin a light caramel colour at times.
"If you go pale you'll most definitely look like a vampire, you have that whole vibe." I told him and he nodded agreeing. "Plus, you like to bite so there's that too." I pointed out the hickey with light teeth marks on my neck that I tried my best to hide with makeup and my hair.
"Oh, you like it," He smirked cockily. He stood up, neatening his suit before he checked the time on his Breitling watch, the colours matching his suit. "Come on, were gonna be late for our reservation," He held out his hand, helping me up as I grabbed my jacket from the back of my chair. "Who's restaurant was this again?" He asked, subtly sliding his hand into mine, interlocking our fingers.
"Vincent's," I told him and he furrowed his brows.
"Who's that again?" What am I supposed to tell him? Used to be my best friend, used to be undercover with him and stayed together for a good few years, fuck buddies for a short time who is now deeply in love with my friend.
"A good friend of mine," I told him and he narrowed his eyes at me. "Who is nothing more than a friend, in a healthy and happy relationship with a great girl." I linked my arm in his and he eased up, smirking.
"Good."
"Look who it is!" Vincent grinned at me, his arms out as I engulfed him in a hug, his strong cologne which I mostly dislike wafting around me.
"How are you?" I asked, pulling away as I smiled up at him.
I felt Lorenzo's arm snake around me, pulling me back into his side and I widened my eyes, not expecting it. I sense a little jealousy today.
"I'm great," Vincent grinned as he looked at Lorenzo. "Hey, man, nice to see you again." He held out his hand and Lorenzo gave him a small smile, shaking his hand firmly.
"You too," Lorenzo gave him a nod, moving his hand away as I felt pressed up his side completely, a smirk playing on my lips as I knew why he's doing that.
"I've got a great table for you two," Vincent rubbed his hands together, leading the way into the busy restaurant; business men and their accessories — as in their significant other that they show off like some object — crowding the contemporary styled restaurant, the vibes in this place are off the charts.
Vincent lead us through the busy section and into the bar area which was much quieter; interior luxurious as the lights were dark and dimmed with led lights in red. The light combinations made me feel like we entered a different world, shisha placed here and there as thick smoke filled the corners of the room.
I felt Lorenzo's hand on my waist move to my hand, grabbing my left hand with his left hand as he had his arm wrapped around me; interlocking our fingers.
I looked up at him swiftly, catching his eyes with my attention that I gave him so suddenly; his eyes soft, his thick lashes framing his delicate and hooded eyes I so adore. He gave a me a smile, a smile that warmed my heart and I knew that, that smile of his is something I would fall in love with so hard.
I guess I kinda knew all from the beginning, that connection we shared but I pushed it away with all that guilt that flooded my heart and I didn't want to accept the fact I could connect with someone else. However, it wasn't exactly love at first sight, it was something... like familiarity like — oh. It's you... it's always gonna be you.
I'm not particularly a believer in love at first sight but when you meet that someone there's an instant connection — a click and that is what I happen to believe in. And no matter how hard you try to push it away, it will always find it's way back to your heart and leave you flabbergasted at how quickly and effortlessly you were swept off your feet and fell face first in love.
"Here you are." Holy shit. It's beautiful.
The whole terrace was filled with the most beautiful plants that overfilled the spaces, trickling through the wooden frames over each booth; dim lanterns hanging around with candles lit all over the place and this is what heaven is to me.
"This is definitely all Shanaya." I admired the filled terrace and Vincent grinned.
"Ah," He clasped his hands. "Yep, the mastermind behind all the interior and designs." She is brilliant like that.
Wow, all my friends really are artsy and talented. They proved me wrong, I thought they were pretty stupid — joking... of course.
"Yeah, we won't be leaving anytime soon." Lorenzo admired the area as he looked around, a small smile on his plump lips and I agreed, a proud smile on Vincent's lips.
"Please, stay as long as you want," I'm so happy for him. "Take a seat guys, I'll send a special bottle of wine for you two." He crossed his arms as he glanced at the booth that looked so comfortable.
"Thank you." Lorenzo smiled as he headed to sit down, me after him but I stopped in front of Vincent, rubbing his arm.
"I'm proud of you," I told him softly, looking up at the beaming man. "It's so great to see you make your dream come true." He's been going on and on about opening his own restaurant when we were cooped in that house back in Oregon, the only thing that kept him sane in all that loneliness.
"You don't know how much that means hearing that, Mar," I saw the emotions flooding in his eyes and I smiled at him. "Have a great time, okay?" He glanced at Lorenzo who sat in the booth, subtly watching us. "Call for me if you need anything."
"Thank you, Vinc," I grinned.
He patted my shoulder before leaving me and Lorenzo to enjoy the rest of our evening. I had texted on the group chat earlier this morning about surprising Lorenzo for his birthday, I want him to have the best birthday. He deserves it.
Dinner started off great, with a nice glass of wine and appetisers though the Dominic situation kept churning in my stomach making me feel guilty.
"Have you, um, heard from Dominic recently?" I asked Lorenzo, his his eyes glancing at me before looking back at the remainder of his red wine which he swirled in his glass.
"No," He told me honestly and it didn't make me feel any better.
I sighed softly, my leg shaking under the table with it's own mind. Lorenzo noticed that it bothered me, taking in a deep breath before he looked straight at me.
"Mar," He caught my attention, looking up at him as I stopped shaking my leg. "I do feel like a bad brother... God, sometimes the guilt just eats me up inside," He muttered as he closed his eyes for a split second, smiling lightly but his pain was evident. "But I have been very selfless for long, everything I did was for Dominic... I practically raised him but he always got everything handed to him and me, I had to earn everything." He told me and I clenched my jaw seeing the pain swirling in his soft eyes, regretting asking him anything.
"I'm sorry, Enzo," I muttered as I grabbed his hand which he instantly grabbed back. "I shouldn't have brought it up."
"No, Mar, I wanna tell you," He smiled genuinely. "Because you're the only one who ever listens to me." It really does hurt to know how lonely Lorenzo really is; masking his loneliness with humour and sarcasm but I see right through it because I've done the same for a long time. "And you understand me... I think we deserve a soft epilogue, my love, because we're good people who've suffered enough... it's time we be selfish and live for ourselves." And I keep falling for him more and more every second.
"I will always listen," I gave his hand a good squeeze. "And I will always be here... you're not getting rid of me anytime soon, D'Agostino." I teased him and he chuckled, his pearly whites on show as he rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb.
"I don't plan to, Torres," God, I love his smile. "Now, stop worrying about Dominic, he's alright," He assured me and I nodded. "I know what I've done is something a good brother would never do but we can't control who our silly hearts fall for... the heart wants who it wants... and now I'm done being the selfless brother, it's time I live my life the way I want and who I want to live it with," He's right and I completely understand him. "Plus, he never treated you right," He sniggered and he's right yet again. "My brother lacks decency and I will not take the blame for that." He jerked a brow before sipping on his wine.
"Lorenzo," I stared at his veiny hand that held mine, the warmth from him comforted me. "You deserve the world," I told him as I played with his fingers. "At the end of the day, you live for yourself and no one else... Dominic's twenty-seven, it's time to stop spoon feeding him. Plus, you're not getting any younger—"
"—Don't remind me, smartass." He squeezed my hand and I laughed. Thirty-four, damn, he really is getting old. Can't say that to him, he'll tackle me right here.
"It's true," I jerked a brow as I teased him. "But, before you genuinely turn old, go and live your best life. You can't change the past but you sure can control your future so make the most of it." I cannot take my eyes off this beautiful, carved by God himself, man.
I do notice the looks he gets from people and the way girls try and flirt with him, and yes, I do feel jealousy bubbling inside me but then I remember; here he is, with me, holding my hand and his attention on me. And no one else. I really did get lucky.
"How did we end up here?" He asked with a small head tilt, his eyes lost in mine and I can't look away afraid he'll just disappear if I glance in another direction.
"What do you mean?" I asked him and I felt my heart beating at a steady pace, fast yet steady.
"About — almost — four months ago, you sat right in front of me, me completely entranced by you. It didn't take long for me to be completely infatuated with your smartass, but I never thought that we'd end up here," He's right. "I thought you'd end up with my brother after everything, get married and I'd be the cool uncle who was infatuated with their mom," I couldn't help but laugh at how further ahead he had thought about this but I guess the mind shows you a lot of things when you're lonely and have no one.
"Cool uncle? You spend most your time hidden away, plus, Flavio would've ended up being the cool uncle," I joked but acted all serious, Lorenzo's face lighting up with humour as he hummed 'huh' with cockiness. "You would've been the 'your uncle's a vampire but nobody can know you know' kinda uncle." I teased him and he cockily grinned, his tongue poking cheek as he nodded.
"After this," He sat up with a devilish smirk. "I'm gonna go murder Flavio in his sleep." I snatched my hand back from him, a wide smile of humour playing on my lips.
"You better not because then I'll make sure that your ass will be dead right after his dumbass," I warned him and he narrowed his eyes with a smirk. "And I like to have both Enzo's in my life so I suggest you you shut up." I comfortably sat back into the couch that curved around, the booth pretty warm.
It was cold, the wind chilly that softly brushed against soft skin, not realising in the moment how cold it actually is but then realising when those goosebumps rise on your skin. A pyramid shaped heat lamp in our booth kept us warm, the glowing fire that illuminated on Lorenzo smooth, clear skin gave him a nice glow.
"I better be your favourite Enzo or we 'bout to have problems." Lorenzo crossed his arms, his muscles bulging through his black turtle neck sleeves.
"Of course, baby." I smirked and he couldn't help but smirk at my response.
"Good," He jerked a brow, sitting forward again. "Now give me your damn hand back." He grabbed my hand and I laughed at his childishness.
"No, Mar," Lorenzo stopped as he placed his hand on his stomach, groaning. "I can't walk anymore, I ate too much." He whined as he looked down at me, standing a good few feet away from him.
I had his jacket on which he forcefully put on me, my hands stuffed in his pocket and enjoying the warmth and the smell of his cologne wafting around me.
"Fine, stay here." I teased him, turning back around as I walked, a sound of displeasure coming from Lorenzo.
"No, absolutely not, come back." I turned back to see if he started walking but noooo. He charges towards me, a yelp leaving my mouth as I started running too but he was quick.
Grabbing me by the waist, sounds of struggle and laughter filling the air around us; cheeks rosy and smiles wide. He lifted me off the ground, hugging me tightly before he threw me over his shoulder, spinning us around and I screamed.
This scares me, I don't wanna fall. "Enzo!" I laughed as I felt him lower me, my tiptoes barely touching the ground as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
He hunched over as his face was over mine, our breathes mingling and eyes connecting. I found myself in his eyes and God, if this is what home feels like I don't ever want to leave.
"Why are you still here?" He muttered, scanning my eyes. "You don't have to feel bad for me, feel like you have to stay." It's sad, it hurts to see how he thinks.
That he doesn't matter for someone to only stay with him if they're put in that situation and not because they really care. The fact he's not used to affection just makes my heart hurt.
"Because I care about you, you asshole." I nudged him away by his chest, him tumbling back a little.
He laughed, grabbing me by his jacket and just as he pulled me in, his lips caught mind. Our cold lips softly kissing each other; my hand cupping his face and he smiled against my lips, lifting me and twirling us around before he placed me back down.
"Let's hurry back to the car, I'm freezing my ass off here." I could tell but his stubborn ass wouldn't let me take his jacket off.
"Take your jacket back, idiot." I tried taking it off but he slapped my hand I gasped. "Bitch!"
"I told you, keep it on," He sternly told me and I smiled, pulling it back on properly. "You're wearing nothing but a dress, next time bring a jacket so your stupid ass doesn't walk through the streets in the cold with just a dress." He really does care, doesn't he?
"No," I huffed as I started walking towards the car that wasn't parked far. "It ruins my outfit and you know what they say, a hoe never gets cold." I sassed, the clicking of my heels against the ground and he sniggered.
"Hoe my ass," He slapped my ass from the back and I jumped, my face slapped with surprise. "You ain't no hoe so shut your ass up and get in the damn car."
"Why are all the lights off, this is sca—" Lorenzo was cut off by the lights in the living room turning on, a whole living room crowded with people who jumped screaming.
"Happy birthday!" They all screamed; balloons and decorations filled the room.
"Fuck!" We all jumped when we saw him pull out his gun as his reflexes, half the people in the room scattered and out the room already.
"Fuck! Enzo, what the fuck?!" I backed away from him and he sighed, realising what happened, his hand and gun pressed against his chest.
"Holy fuck," He muttered as he looked up. "You don't surprise a man with a loaded gun like that." He warned us, this really took a turn.
"You fucking idiot," Flavio peeked from behind Alec. "What if you shot one of us."
"Should be you." Lorenzo acted as if he was getting his gun back out, Flavio panicking as he slipped and fell on the ground, dragging Alec down with him.
"Fuck!"
"You guys are a mess." I shook my head, now facing Lorenzo who seemed so surprised and taken aback from all the people that stood in this room, holding balloons and whatnot.
The Torres, Flavio — who's practically a Torres too — Wade, Landon and his friends with Vienna, Grey and Gina, Shanaya who stood arm in arm with Vincent. God, that's a lot of people.
"You planned this?" Lorenzo asked me and I smirked cockily, snaking my arms around his torso as I looked up at him.
"The one and only." I grinned and he hugged me, kissing the top of my head.
"I just can't stop falling for you, love." He muttered as everyone 'awed' at us hugging and then there was the exception — Flavio and Alec gagging and protesting.
"Miserable," Lorenzo taunted them. "The both of you." Exactly, you tell them.
I looked up at him laughing, my chin rested on his chest as he looked down at me.
"Stop looking at me like that." He muttered with a smile, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear, cupping my face with one hand as he caressed my cheek with one hand.
"Like what?" I muttered back, knowing exactly how I was looking at him.
"Like I'm the only person in the room worth looking at." You dumbass, that's because you are.
"You're beautiful." I whispered and never do I get tired of looking at that blush and smile.
Suddenly, the bell rung catching everyone's attention.
"Are we expecting anyone else?" I asked looking around and I only got head shakes.
"Maybe it's Gus, he went to his car to go get something." Landon told me and I made an 'oh' sound.
"I'll get it," I told them before loosening my arms from around Lorenzo. "Go socialise, I'll be right back." I gave his soft lips a quick peck before walking out.
Sighing, I grabbed the handle, unlocking the door I opened it; my heart dropping in an instant. I felt my skin run cold as I looked at the person standing in the doorway, a smile on his pink lips.
"Miss me?"