The Space Between

Chapter 41 : Making it right

Graham stood there, looking like a cornered animal, his eyes darting from me to Sophia as if searching for a way out. But I was done with the excuses and the lies. “Call Bianca’s mother,” I said, my voice cold and steady. Graham blinked, trying to play dumb, but I wasn’t having it. “Right now, Graham. Tell her everything. About Bianca, about the plans, about what she did to Sophia, and about what she did to me.” Graham shook his head, panic setting in. “I can’t do that, Matteo. You don’t understand—she’s my cousin, and I—”

I cut him off, stepping closer, the anger boiling just beneath my skin. “If you don’t do this, I’ll make sure you pay for every single thing you’ve done,” I threatened, my voice low but fierce. “I’ll go to your parents, tell them about you and Tara. And I’ll talk to Coach. You won’t even get a chance to try out next year, let alone make the team. So, make the call, or I swear I’ll make your life a living hell.”

Graham’s face went pale, his bravado crumbling under the pressure. He knew I wasn’t bluffing. Slowly, he pulled out his phone and dialed Bianca’s mother. His voice trembled as he confessed everything—Bianca’s manipulation, the lies, the setup with Derek—all of it. I watched as his words sunk in on the other end of the line, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of shame in his eyes. “She’s not a good person, Mrs. Rivera,” Graham said, his voice breaking. “Bianca has been lying to everyone, including you. She even dragged Derek into this mess just to hurt Sophia.”

When he hung up, the room was thick with tension. Graham looked like he might collapse under the weight of what he’d done. I didn’t care. He deserved every ounce of guilt he felt. Bianca’s mother, shocked and humiliated, promised to handle everything. She would call off the engagement, and she would speak to my mother about the real Bianca—the one who schemed and plotted to get her way, no matter who she hurt. She apologized, saying she never should have pushed Bianca on me in the first place, and that she would make sure my family knew the truth.

As Graham set down the phone, I finally felt like a weight was lifting off my chest. “This is on you,” I said to him, my voice still cold. “And you’re going to deal with the fallout. Every bit of it.” Graham nodded, too shaken to argue. I turned to Sophia, who had been quietly watching the whole exchange, her expression a mix of relief and lingering hurt. We didn’t need to say anything more to Graham or Tara. They were already scrambling to pick up the pieces of their own mess.

We left Graham’s place, stepping out into the cold night air. As we walked back to the dorm, I kept glancing at Sophia, the reality of everything finally sinking in. “What about Ethan?” she asked softly, her voice laced with uncertainty. I shook my head, sighing. “Ethan’s crossed too many lines. He’s gonna have to deal with the consequences too. He’s been more than a friend; he’s been a brother, but this… this is too far.” Sophia nodded, and we fell into a comfortable silence, just taking in the night and each other’s presence.

Back at her dorm, I couldn’t stop thinking about how close I had come to losing everything—to losing Sophia. My phone buzzed in my pocket, breaking the quiet. It was my mom. I answered, bracing myself for what she might say. Her voice was soft, apologetic. “Matteo, I’m so sorry for all of this. I called off the engagement. Bianca’s mother explained everything. We should never have pushed you into this. Can we meet Sophia soon? I want to make things right.” Relief washed over me, and I looked at Sophia, my heart full.

I hung up and pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her like I never wanted to let go. “It’s over,” I whispered into her hair. “All of it. The engagement, the lies. My mom wants to meet you—wants to make things right.” Sophia smiled up at me, her eyes shining with tears of relief. “I’m glad,” she whispered, resting her head against my chest. “I was so scared, Matteo. I thought I lost you.”

I lifted her chin, meeting her gaze, and in that moment, everything else faded away. “You could never lose me,” I said, my voice low and sincere. “I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.” I leaned in, brushing my lips against hers, soft and slow, savoring the way she melted into me. Sophia’s hands gripped the back of my shirt, pulling me closer as our kiss deepened, and it was like nothing else mattered. It was just us—no lies, no schemes, no one else’s plans. Just us, finally getting it right.

We pulled away, breathless and smiling, our foreheads resting together. “I love you, Sophia,” I murmured, the words coming out easier than I’d ever imagined. Sophia looked at me, her eyes filled with the same warmth I felt inside. “I love you too, Matteo,” she said, her voice steady and sure. We held each other, letting the world fall away, knowing that whatever came next, we’d face it together. This was where I was meant to be—with her, making it right.