7

Vincent Santoro

I glanced at Jennifer , her large, expressive eyes still locked onto mine. They were full of questions—curiosity, maybe—but there was a subtle warmth to them that sent a pulse of something unwanted through me.

“I’m going to get changed out of my bathing suit,” Jennifer said, breaking our gaze and turning toward Bella.

“Sure, we’ll be eating dinner soon, if it’s ever ready that is,” Bella teased, her tone light and playful.

“Ten minutes,” I responded, rolling my eyes at my daughter, though a faint smile played at the corners of my lips.

As Jennifer walked away, I couldn’t stop my eyes from following her. There was no mistaking it—her every movement was mesmerizing. She carried herself with such confidence, a fluid grace that was impossible to ignore. But I quickly snapped myself out of it, not wanting Bella to catch on.

I forced my attention back to the stove, but the task at hand—the sauce simmering before me—was barely enough to occupy my mind. The room smelled like basil, tomatoes, and garlic, but it was all background noise to the storm that was brewing inside me. Jennifer , with her bright hazel eyes, that friendly smile, and a laugh that seemed to echo in my head, had been a part of our home for so many years. But lately, everything about her had changed. Or maybe it was me who had changed.

The way she looked at me now was different. The spark in her eyes, the way she spoke to me—it stirred something in me that I couldn’t ignore, no matter how hard I tried. And that frightened me. I should never feel this way about Bella’s best friend. It was wrong. So many levels of wrong.

I tried to focus on the task at hand, tasting the sauce and adjusting the seasoning, but all I could think about was our conversation earlier. The defiance in her tone had caught me off guard, and the fire in her eyes made something deep inside me react. She deserved someone who could give her everything, someone her own age—someone without the weight of a troubled past.

I sighed, setting the spoon down and wiping my hands on the towel. It wasn’t just the age difference that bothered me—it was the promise I had made to myself after Maria passed. I had vowed to be the best father I could be, to protect Bella at all costs, and to keep her away from the darkness of my past. To act on these feelings for Jennifer would betray everything I had worked for. It would jeopardize all that I held dear.

Maria’s face flashed in my mind, her smile, the way she would laugh, the way her presence would light up a room. Losing her had almost destroyed me. I buried myself in work—first in the family business and later in my restaurants—hoping that the distractions would dull the pain. But nothing could fill the void she left behind. Now, with Jennifer , those old wounds were threatening to tear open again.

“Dad, you’re being weird again,” Bella’s voice broke through the haze in my mind.

I forced a smile, trying to appear normal. “Just thinking about dinner, sweetheart.”

Bellamy rolled her eyes, taking a sip of water. “You always overthink everything. It’s just spaghetti and meatballs.”

She had a point. I was overthinking. But this wasn’t just about dinner. It was about something much bigger—something I couldn’t afford to ignore. It was about the future, about my daughter, and most importantly, it was about Jennifer .

I turned back to the stove, stirring the sauce again, hoping that it would be enough to distract me from the chaos in my head.

What was I doing? This was Jennifer .

Sweet, young Jennifer .

She had her whole life ahead of her. She didn’t need me complicating it. She deserved someone without the baggage I carried. Someone better than me.

And yet, despite everything I told myself, I knew it was already too late. Jennifer had already gotten under my skin, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t push her out of my thoughts.

Dinner was quiet, at least on the surface.

Bella chattered away, telling us about her latest debate team victory and all the details that came with it. She spoke with so much enthusiasm that I had to smile, nodding along and trying my best to be engaged. But my attention kept straying back to Jennifer .

She had changed into a simple, light pink sundress, her skin glowing from the sun, still slightly damp from her swim. Every time she laughed or looked at Bella, my heart gave an unwelcome jolt. Every little thing she did made it harder to ignore what I felt.

I tried focusing on my daughter, but my gaze kept returning to Jennifer , drawn to her in ways that I couldn’t explain. The way she pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, the way she took a bite of her food, the way her eyes occasionally met mine, locking us in some silent exchange.

“Are you even listening, Dad?” Bella’s voice pierced through my thoughts, forcing me back into the conversation.

“Sorry, sweetheart. What was that?” I asked, trying to mask my distraction.

“I said there’s a party this weekend. A bunch of people from school are going,” Bella repeated, giving me a scrutinizing look. “Jennifer and I are thinking about going.”

I glanced at Jennifer , who quickly looked down at her plate, avoiding my gaze.

“Yeah, it should be fun,” she said, though her voice lacked the usual excitement.

A pang of jealousy hit me unexpectedly. The thought of Jennifer surrounded by other young men, all of them eager for her attention, made something dark stir inside me. I knew it wasn’t my place to feel this way. I had no right to be jealous of anyone her age. But I couldn’t help the possessiveness that rose in my chest.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” I asked, trying to keep my tone even. “Maybe you should take it easy this weekend.”

Bella rolled her eyes. “Dad, we’re not kids anymore. We can handle a party. Besides, it’s a chance to catch up with everyone before summer starts.”

I knew she was right. They were sophomores in college now. I couldn’t control them like I used to. If they wanted to go to a party, that was their choice.

But still, the unease gnawed at me.

I turned to Jennifer . “What do you think? Are you looking forward to it?”

She shrugged, her eyes still averted. “I guess so. It could be nice to see everyone again.”

Bella’s eyes brightened. “See? It’s settled then. We’ll go and have a great time.”

I forced a smile, though my insides were tangled in knots. Dinner continued, but the food tasted like cardboard. Every time Jennifer spoke, every time she laughed, I felt a little bit more disconnected from reality, and a little more lost in my own feelings.

After dinner, things shifted.

Bella excused herself to call a friend, leaving Jennifer and me alone in the kitchen. The silence between us was suffocating, but I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving things unresolved.

“Jennifer ,” I began, my voice low and careful. “About the party—”

She looked up, her hazel eyes wide and searching. “Yes?”

I hesitated, unsure of how to continue. “Just… be careful, okay?”

She smiled softly, and for a moment, I thought I saw something in her eyes that mirrored my own struggle. “I will, Vincent . You don’t have to worry about me.”

I wanted to say so much more—to confess the emotions that had been building inside me, to tell her how much she meant to me. But I knew it wasn’t the right time, and maybe it would never be.

Instead, I nodded, offering a small smile. “I know. Just… be safe.”

Her smile lingered, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “I will.”

She stood up, and just as she was about to leave, she paused at the door and turned back to face me. Her eyes searched mine, as if trying to read something unspoken.

“Vincent ,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes, Jennifer ?” I replied, my own heart racing at the closeness between us.

“I know you’re worried about me. And I appreciate it, I really do. But you don’t need to. I can take care of myself.”

I nodded, trying to fight back the emotions that threatened to overwhelm me. “I know you can. But that doesn’t stop me from wanting to protect you. You’re important to me, Jennifer .”

Her gaze softened, and she took a step closer. “You’re important to me too, Vincent .”

I took a small step forward, closing the distance between us. “Jennifer , I—”

“Dad!” Bella’s voice echoed from the hallway, snapping me back to reality. The moment between Jennifer and I shattered, and I stepped back quickly.

Jennifer glanced down, her cheeks flushed. “I should go find Bella,” she said, her voice tinged with an unease that matched mine.

“Jennifer ,” I called after her, and she paused, looking back at me with those piercing eyes.

“If you ever need anything—anything at all—you can come to me. Don’t ever forget that.”

She gave me a small, knowing smile. “I won’t forget that. Thank you, Vincent .”

And with that, she walked out, leaving me to catch my breath.