Unexpected summer

•headache•

S O F I A

I woke up with a pounding headache, my eyelids heavy and my skin sticky from last night's makeup. I groaned, blinking a few times as my vision swam. The sheets felt way too warm, and the soft morning light pouring in through the windows only made my headache worse. I could barely remember how I got into bed, and the fragmented memories of the night swirled around my mind—dancing, laughing, Giovani pulling me into the crowd, and...

Lorenzo.

Right. He had danced with me for a bit. I smirked to myself as I dragged myself out of bed, but my thoughts quickly turned back to my aching head.

The bathroom was calling.

I stumbled into the shower, letting the hot water rush over me and wash away the remnants of the night. It felt good—rejuvenating, even. I spent extra time washing my face, scrubbing away the makeup and the hazy memories of too many cocktails. As I worked through my skincare routine, I took a moment to admire myself in the mirror. I'd always taken pride in my appearance, ever since I was eleven and started to care about things like skincare and fashion. It was something I inherited from my mom—a sense of self-care, of presentation. My skin was always one of the first things I focused on, and it felt nice to maintain that routine, especially on mornings when everything else seemed to be in chaos.

Once I finished with my skin, I pulled on my most comfortable pajamas—baggy, soft cotton pants and a cozy oversized T-shirt. I gave myself a quick look in the mirror before heading downstairs, trying to shake off the lingering fog of alcohol still clouding my brain.

The house was quiet as I padded down the stairs, but the second I stepped into the kitchen, I froze.

Lorenzo.

He was standing at the counter, one hand holding a mug of coffee, the other gripping the phone as he shouted in rapid Italian. His voice was sharp and commanding, the anger practically vibrating in the air around him. My eyes automatically ran over him—his dark hair messy from sleep, his tight black shirt clinging to his chest and showing off the tattoos on his arms. His broad shoulders and sharp jawline were the kind of features that could stop traffic, and even though I wasn't a morning person, it didn't escape me that he looked effortlessly stunning—*too* stunning for my already-mangled head to deal with.

I leaned against the doorframe, watching him as he spoke, unable to look away. There was something about his presence that was magnetic, even in the middle of a heated conversation. The way he stood tall, his posture rigid, his eyes narrowing as he spoke, made him seem even more... intimidating. Professional. The black trousers he wore only added to the overall sharpness of his appearance, making him look like someone who *always* meant business.

I shook myself out of my trance just as he slammed the phone down, the sound echoing in the quiet kitchen. He turned toward me, and his expression softened only slightly.

"Everything okay?" I asked, my voice a little hoarse from the night before.

He glanced at me briefly, his usual dry tone slipping back into place. "Yes," he replied, his voice flat. "Just some work stuff."

I nodded, unsure if I should press him further. But before I could, he added, "Make sure you wash your dishes after you make breakfast."

I blinked, a little taken aback by the abruptness of the comment, but before I could respond, he turned on his heel and walked out of the kitchen.

I watched him leave, my gaze lingering on his retreating figure as he grabbed his keys and slammed the door behind him. The sound reverberated through the house, and I could hear the engine of his sleek black Mercedes roar to life in the driveway as he drove off.

I stood there for a moment, still half-dazed from the night before and trying to process the strange interaction. He was *always* so dry with me, so distant—like I was just another part of his world he had to tolerate. But something about the way he held himself, his presence, made me feel... almost *small*. It wasn't intimidation, exactly, but it was a quiet power that seemed to surround him, even in the mundane moments.

I exhaled sharply and started rummaging through the kitchen for something to eat, trying to clear my head. I had a feeling that today was going to be just as chaotic as the night before, but something about that made me a little excited.

As I rummaged through the fridge for something resembling breakfast, the sound of footsteps caught my attention. I looked up just as Giovani sauntered down the stairs, his hair tousled and a sleepy smile on his face.

"Good morning, sleepyhead!" he called, his voice brightening the kitchen. "Did you speak to Lorenzo before he left?"

I shrugged, pouring some orange juice into a glass. "He left pretty quickly. Didn't say much, just that I should wash my dishes."

Giovani chuckled, leaning against the counter. "Ah, that's typical. Don't take it personally; he's always like that—just dry and bossy. It's part of his charm."

"Charm, huh?" I said, rolling my eyes. "He has a funny way of showing it."

"Don't worry," he said, waving a hand dismissively. "He'll warm up eventually. We have a big client coming in today, so he's probably just stressed about making everything perfect."

My stomach sank a little at his words. "Big client?" I echoed, trying to process this new information. "Is that why he was so angry on the phone?"

Giovani nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah, he tends to take these things to heart. If something goes wrong, he feels responsible. It's part of why he's such a hard-ass sometimes."

I frowned, my thoughts swirling. So, Lorenzo had been angry because of work, likely worried that someone had messed something up with the big client. It made sense, but it also made me feel a little guilty. Here I was, enjoying the morning while he was probably stressing over details I didn't even know about.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" I asked, surprising myself with the offer.

Giovani shook his head. "Nah, he's got it covered. Just try to stay out of his way until the meeting's over. After that, he should be back to his usual self. And remember, don't take his mood personally."

I nodded, even though I couldn't help but feel a little curious about what kind of mistakes could cause Lorenzo to snap.

"Alright, enjoy your day, sis!" Giovani said, flashing me a grin as he grabbed his keys from the counter. "I'm off to the office. I'll see you later!"

With that, he left, the door clicking shut behind him. I took a moment to gather my thoughts, staring at the glass of juice in my hand.

I knew I should probably just let it go, but something about Lorenzo's anger lingered in my mind. I couldn't shake the feeling that the morning's tension was just a glimpse into a much bigger picture—a side of him that was complex and intense. I found myself wondering what it would take to break through that cool facade, to see what lay beneath the surface.

With a deep breath, I decided to put those thoughts aside for now. I needed to focus on my own day and make the most of it. I turned back to the kitchen, determined to whip up something to eat before diving into my plans.

******

And hes back to being dry and boring, this man keeps her on her toes fr...
what you guys think of this chapter ?
love yall thanks for reading!