Mr. Vincenzo | 18+

fourteen

v i n c e n z o

"Come home with me, cupcake." I said for the nth time.

"I just want to be alone right now, really." Anna said. "You should also rest. You don't look too well yourself."

I knew why she wanted to be alone.

"I'm sorry, Dad. You already had a hectic day and I called you. Now you also have to drop Eloise back to her place."

"You called me as you should. Don't apologize for it. Nothing is more important than you." I pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Call me whenever you feel like. Don't go like it's 3 AM and I'll be sleeping. Just call me."

The ding of the elevator sounded and its doors slid open. She nodded and stepped inside. "Thank you, Dad. I love you."

"So do I, cupcake. Call me anytime."

"Good night."

The doors closed. I ran my fingers through my hairs. Maybe I shouldn't have agreed. Maybe I should have just taken her home instead. But what else could I do when this is what she insisted on?

Was it because how I reacted?

But she always did that, pulled out Eveline's photos and poured her heart out before her mother whenever she was down. It was why I couldn't force her further even if I wanted to. Maybe I also needed to come to the realization that she no longer was a kid to need me. She had grown up and was dealing with relationship problems now, something she wouldn't concede in me anymore. I could do everything for her, but how do I replace a relation as sacred as a mother's?

My Anna was so unlucky to only know her mother through photos.

And if it truly was because of how I reacted, any words of mine would have no positive effect right now.

I sighed and went back to the parking lot. It was void of people this late in the night except for Eloise. She was awake and leaning against my car in a sleepy, drunken state. She wore my jacket, her hands folded and eyes closed. Her hairs were a mess and her makeup worn down yet she made me wonder how did she look beautiful still?

Or had she made me so biased so soon?

I stood in front of her. "When did you wake up?" I said.

She opened her eyes to no more than slits. "Where is Aryanna?"

"She chose to stay at her apartment."

Something about it made Eloise smile. She took a step towards me and wrapped her arms around my neck. She buried her face in the crook of my neck and let out a breath of satisfaction. "This feels so nice. I missed you so much, Vincenzo."

My hands curled into tight fists. It was such a temptation to hold her again. I smelt her fruity shampoo, felt her warmth against my body, and felt her strong heartbeat against my own.

"Hug me back."

I shouldn't.

"Eloise—"

"Just hug me, please."

I shouldn't. I shouldn't—Fuck it.

I curled my arms around her and pulled her closer. I buried my face in her neck, my lips touching her smooth skin. Her scent was tainted by alcohol but it didn't matter. It was her. And to have her close felt so fucking nice.

"You've no idea how much I missed you, baby."

"I feel so sleepy but I want to keep hugging you. If I sleep, you'll just send me home and I don't know if I'll get to hug you again."