CHAPTER FORTY - EIGHT

LORENZO GRAYSON\ VADIM KERZHAKOV ©

This morning didn't go the way I planned. I had wanted to go to college with Nick.

Instead, Alina called and asked me to pick her up.

“You don't mind that I asked you to take me to college?” she asked.

“Not at all,” I replied.

“I already told Papa about you,” Alina said.

I glanced at her before looking back at the road.

“He's now curious about you, Enzo.”

I let out a quiet chuckle.

Just then, a message from Nick popped up on my phone, which clipped onto the blades of the car's air vent.

“You really seem close to that kid. What's going on between the two of you?” Alina asked.

“I like him,” I replied simply.

She nodded at first, then slowly turned to look at me.

“You don't mean that kind of like... do you?” she asked.

I stayed silent.

She let out a quiet scoff, clearly unable to believe it.

“What on earth are you thinking?” she asked.

What was I thinking?

I liked Nick Walker.

Somehow, our lives had become tangled from the very first day, and neither of us could seem to walk away.

“Does that bother you?” I asked, keeping my eyes on the road.

“Are you seriously asking me that?” she replied with a sigh.

“How did you end up falling for that kid?”

I stayed silent for a while.

“I realized I'd found myself again through Nick... I knew I wanted him,” I said.

Alina stayed quiet.

“When I'm with him, I lose myself. Nick's the person I always want to see... and the one I want to be with,” I said as I kept my eyes on the road.

“You're crazy, Lorenzo,” she said softly, rubbing her temple with a sigh.

“Then we should end this.”

This time, I was the one who stayed silent.

“You know, you're more open with that boy than you are with anyone else. We aren't even that close, but even I can see how different you are around him,” she said.

Truly, everyone was right.

I never acted this way with anyone else.

I kept my distance from people and showed little interest in them.

But with Nick, everything was different.

I teased him, argued with him, and threw harsh words at him... until his feelings started to matter to me.

He was my student.

Yes.

He was younger too.

But what was I supposed to do when life kept leading me back to him?

“He's young,” Alina said. “How are you going to handle this?”

“Nick and I will figure it out together. This is between us. No one else is getting involved,” I said at last, and she gave a slow nod.

“I'll make it up to you,” I told her.

She let out a quiet scoff.

“I know you will. Keeping my father from finding out we're breaking up would be a good start.”

I nodded.

“What about your investigation into that woman?” she asked.

I kept my eyes on the road.

“I stopped the investigation,” I said.

“That's a lie, Enzo. You seem more interested in that woman,” she replied.

I drove through the college gates and into the parking lot.

We sat in silence for a moment before she spoke again.

“Go after what you really want. If you believe it's the right choice, then don't hold back.”

She unlocked the door.

I got out first, walked to her side, and opened the door for her.

“That includes the woman you're investigating. Somehow, the truth will find its way to you,” she said with a small smile.

“I'll get going now,” she added before walking away.

I stood there, watching her head toward her office building.

Somehow, the truth will find its way to you.

Those words sounded familiar.

Antonio had once said something almost the same.

I reached for my briefcase and phone. That's when I remembered I still hadn't read Nick's message.

I locked the car with the key fob and made my way to my office.

It was exam week, so everyone on campus was busy studying. Nick was no different.

When we were together, he stayed buried in his books. The only times he took a break was when his best friend called and when he had to leave for work.

Nick Walker:

You don't have to come pick me up. Avery and I are already on our way to college.

Then I added a cute cat emoji.

“котёнок {my kitten}.” I changed the name I had saved for his contact.

I walked into the office and found Nick lying on the sofa, completely absorbed in his book. He didn't even notice me as I quietly locked the door.

I watched at his back for a moment before walking over.

“You haven't been lying here this whole time, have you?” I whispered near his ear, startling him.

“When did you get in?” he asked as I set my briefcase on the table.

“Just now. You were too focused on your book to notice.”

“My exams start today. I... I wanted to see you before I went in,” he said.

A small smile tugged at my lips as I ruffled his hair.

“I know you'll do well,” I said before giving him a quick kiss.

He tugged gently at my shirt and pouted, making it obvious he wanted another kiss.

I leaned in and gave him a quick peck.

He only shook his head like a child.

“Someone's needy this morning, huh?” I teased before giving him another light kiss.

He still looked unsatisfied.

With a quiet huff, he let go of my shirt and walked toward the door.

A small smile tugged at my lips as I watched him behave like a kid.

I reached for his hand and gently pulled him towards me.

“You act so childish sometimes," I said with a smile. “And somehow, I like that.”

My fingers slipped through his hair.

“I'm not a kid,” he protested, rising onto his toes.

“Yes, you are,” I whispered.

I cupped the back of his head, drew him a little closer, and kissed him as my fingers stayed tangled in his hair.

I loved the feel of his soft lips.

I gently bit his lower lip, and a quiet moan escaped him.

I helped him sit on the desk before pulling away from the kiss.

“You can always tell me to stop,” I said.

Instead of answering, he grabbed my tie, pulled me closer, and crashed his lips on mine again.