Unexpected summer

•delicate diamond•

L O R E N Z O

I stepped out of the coffee shop, the door chiming behind me, and let out a deep breath. Talking to Sofia had always been a whirlwind of emotions, and today was no exception. The way her eyes lit up when I walked in, the way she snapped at me—she had a way of getting under my skin, but it was a good kind of annoyance.

As I drove home, I found myself replaying her words in my head. The sting of her irritation lingered longer than I expected. But that thought was quickly drowned out by the image of her smile and how good she looked in that blue shirt. No, I couldn't dwell on that. I had to keep my head clear. I didn't do feelings. Especially not for my best friend's sister.

When I arrived home, Giovani was sprawled on the couch, idly flipping through his phone. He looked up as I walked in, a lazy grin spreading across his face. "How was your little coffee date?"

"Just a coffee," I said, trying to downplay it. "What's up?"

"Not much. Just chilling. By the way, it's Sofia's birthday tomorrow," he said casually, scrolling again.

I froze. "What? I didn't know that."

"Yeah, she doesn't really celebrate anymore," he said, shrugging. "Had a party a few years back, and no one showed up."

That hit me like a brick. Sofia? No one showed up to celebrate her? My chest tightened at the thought.

"That's messed up," I muttered, my mind racing. "We need to do something for her."

Giovani raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Why do you care all of a sudden?"

"I don't care," I insisted, a little too forcefully. "I just think she deserves a proper birthday."

"Uh-huh," he replied, not convinced. But I could see he was intrigued. "So, what do you suggest?"

I paused, contemplating the situation. "What if we throw her a party? Something fun, something she'll actually enjoy."

He looked at me thoughtfully, then grinned. "You know what? That's not a bad idea. We could surprise her. Get some decorations, cake, maybe even invite Amelia to keep her entertained."

I couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of Amelia's antics. "Really? Do we need another one of her?" I teased, trying to deflect the seriousness of the moment.

Giovani smirked. "Come on, she's fun! Plus, it'd be a great surprise for Sofia."

"Alright, fine. Let's do it," I agreed, feeling a rush of adrenaline. The idea of seeing Sofia genuinely happy excited me more than I expected. "But we'll keep it low-key. No need for a big deal."

As we dove into party planning, listing out ideas for decorations and food, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just a party for Sofia. It was a chance to show her that she mattered, that she was loved, even if the world had let her down before.

"Tomorrow then," Giovani said, a satisfied look on his face.

"Yeah, tomorrow," I replied, my heart racing with anticipation.

This was going to be good.

After the conversation about Sofia's birthday, I headed home, feeling the weight of what we'd discussed. I stepped into the shower, the hot water washing away the stress of the day. But no matter how hard I tried to clear my mind, one thought kept creeping back in: I hadn't gotten her anything.

Shit.

I let the water run over my face, trying to shake off the panic. It wasn't that I didn't think her birthday was important—I just hadn't registered it until now. I could already picture the look on her face if I showed up empty-handed. She'd probably be annoyed, maybe even hurt, and the last thing I wanted was to see that disappointment in her eyes.

I finished up, towel-drying my hair before tossing on a pair of jeans and a fitted T-shirt. I needed to get her something special, something that would make her feel celebrated.

As I drove to the jewelry store, I felt my heart race with determination. I had no idea what I was going to find, but I knew it had to be good.

When I arrived, the shop was filled with sparkling displays, and I quickly scanned the options. I moved past rings and bracelets until I spotted it—a delicate diamond necklace with a small 'S' pendant. It shimmered under the soft lights, and I could almost picture it resting on Sofia's neck, the way it would catch the light when she moved.

"That one," I said to the saleswoman, my voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in my stomach.

After what felt like an eternity, she wrapped it up and handed me the little box. It was expensive, but in that moment, it felt worth every penny.

"Are you buying this for a special occasion?" she asked with a knowing smile.

"Just a gift," I replied, brushing off her curiosity.

As I left the store, the box secure in my hand, I felt a rush of excitement. I was doing this. I was going to make her birthday special, even if I played it off like it didn't matter.

When I got home, I found Giovani lounging on the couch, flipping through channels. He looked up when I entered, his brow furrowing slightly.

"What's that?" he asked, pointing to the box I was clutching.

"Nothing," I said too quickly, heading toward my room before he could pry any further.

"Come on, man. You can't just drop a mystery like that and walk away," he called after me, but I ignored him, shutting the door behind me.

I set the box on my desk, staring at it for a moment. This was it. The start of something new, and maybe—just maybe—something that could last.

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