Leonardo POV
I couldn't stop thinking about how her lips felt against mine—soft, warm, perfect. The way she looked at me afterward, her eyes wide with surprise, haunted me. And now I was furious. Furious with her. Furious with myself.
"Control, Leonardo. Get a grip."
I slammed my fists into the punching bag, harder with every swing. Each hit sent sharp jolts through my knuckles, but the pain wasn't enough to drown out the memory of Kimberly. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her. Every time I breathed, I remembered the scent of her perfume—light and citrusy, like trouble waiting to happen.
I hit the bag again. And again. But the frustration refused to go away. It simmered just under my skin, bubbling hotter the longer I stayed away from her. Avoiding her wasn't working. I thought distance would calm me, but even here in Italy, the space between us only made things worse.
I wiped the sweat from my brow, gritting my teeth. The memory of our kiss wasn't going anywhere. And worse? A part of me didn't want it to.
The iPhone I got her rested on the table in front of me, waiting to be delivered. I had set everything up—nothing unnecessary, just the essentials. And, of course, I saved my number. It was the only one there. I didn't expect her to call me, but something about the act made me feel... possessive. Like it gave me an invisible thread tied to her, no matter how far I was.
I punched the bag one last time, harder than before, and smiled bitterly. She could call me whenever she wanted, but she wouldn't. Not yet, at least. And that was probably for the best. Because if I stayed close to Kimberly too long, I wasn't sure I'd be able to stop myself the next time.
---------
I was halfway through breakfast when Enzo dropped an iPhone in front of me.
Leonardo's absence had left a strange void. Ever since the kiss, he'd been distant—physically and emotionally—and that frustrated me more than I liked to admit. Part of me wished the kiss had never happened. Another part? It wanted to relive that moment again and again. I hated how tangled my emotions were. It was exhausting.
I picked up the phone, hoping for a distraction. It was sleek, shiny, and perfectly set up. No unnecessary apps. Spotify Premium and Netflix, already logged in. A little shiver of excitement ran through me as I thought about binge-watching my favourite shows. But before I could fall into the comfort of mindless entertainment, something on the phone caught my eye.
The only saved contact: "Husband."
I scoffed. That title felt like a bad joke, a little too plain, a little too wrong. Without hesitation, I edited it back to "Mr. Leonardo". Much better.
The phone buzzed lightly in my hand, and before I could stop myself, a wave of emotion crashed over me—memories of my brother. Lan. I missed him. The thought of how worried he must have been gnawed at me, and I realised I hadn't spoken to him since I was... taken.
"It's now or never," I told myself, tapping in his number from memory.
The dial tone rang, loud and unrelenting, as though warning me I was doing something dangerous. For a second, I hesitated, my finger hovering over the End Call button. But before I could back out, a familiar voice crackled through the speaker.
"Hello?"
My heart clenched. It had been too long since I'd heard him.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" Lan asked again, and just as I felt him about to hang up, I forced myself to speak.
"Lan... It's me, Kimberly," I whispered, my voice breaking on the edges.
There was a stunned pause, and then I heard the sharp intake of his breath. "Kim? Is it really you?" His voice brimmed with disbelief, and beneath it, a deep well of relief.
"Yeah... it's me."
"Oh my God, Kim! Where have you been?" he burst out, his words tumbling over each other in a rush. "I've been calling, texting—everything! I even sent someone to check the house, but it's been locked for weeks! Are you okay? What's going on?"
I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. "I... I lost my phone. Things have been a bit complicated, but I'm okay now." The lie burned as it left my mouth, but telling him the truth wasn't an option. Not yet.
His voice softened, tinged with worry. "Are you sure? You sound... different."
"I'm fine, Lan," I reassured him, forcing a smile even though he couldn't see me.
"How are you? How's school?"
He hesitated for a moment, then shifted into a lighter tone. "Rehearsals have been crazy. They've got me dancing my butt off, but it's fun."
I smiled, the tension in my chest loosening slightly. Lan always knew how to make me feel better.
For a few minutes, we talked like nothing had changed. He told me about his classes, his friends, and the funny moments at rehearsal. I listened, careful not to say too much about myself or the chaos surrounding me. Just hearing his voice was enough to ground me.
But eventually, reality called him back.
"Rehearsal's starting soon, Kim. I have to go," he said reluctantly.
"It's okay," I whispered. "Call me whenever you can, alright?"
"Of course! No more disappearing acts, okay?"
"I promise."
"I love you, Kim." His voice was warm, familiar—a tether to the life I once had.
"I love you too, baby," I whispered.
The line went dead, and for a moment, I sat there in the silence, clutching the phone like it was a lifeline.
Lan was okay. That was all I needed to know. But the weight of the secrets between us sat heavy on my chest. I couldn't tell him everything—not about Dad, not about Leonardo. Not yet.
I let out a shaky breath and opened Netflix, hoping to drown myself in a show. For now, that was the best I could do. With Leonardo gone, the house was quiet, peaceful even. But something told me the peace wouldn't last.
And the next time
we saw each other, I wasn't sure how much control either of us would have left.