Chapter 52 A Rome holiday

Chapter 52 A Rome holiday
SOFIA'S POV

There's a knock on my door as I get out of my bathroom fully showered and back in my pajama set.

I walk over to it grabbing my phone on the bed.

"Your friends are here miss Vescovi."

My face beams as I rush past her towards the stairs.

"Careful!" The older woman who's been our house keeper yells and i just giggle my way down the stairs.

I haven't heard a motherly tone in a while.

I find Paolo and Mila arguing over something but that ends when they see me.

"Sofiaaaa!" Mila yells rushing towards me and we meet each other half way. Paolo joins the hug sniffling.

"Don't you fucking scare us again..you hear me????" He scolds when we pull apart.

I sigh.

I had missed them.

"Just make sure I'm no where near love and we'll be fine." I joke making them fold their arms.

None of them is laughing.

I guess it's too soon to throw that joke around.

"I'm so happy guys are here. I thought you'd prefer Milan without me." I say earning sneers from both of them.

"I'm insulted by that Sof Pow. You're like family to me."

"Same here. Milan is nothing without you." Paolo finishes.

We talk for a bit before the chef appears from the hallway informing me that the table is set.

"Finally! I was starting to think you'd let us starve." Mila teases getting up from the couch.

Their bags were taken up to the guest rooms so they didn't have to strain.

They insist on freshening up before joing me for dinner and I can understand.

Travelling can be exhausting.

The food looks amazing.

In Milan I had to prep my meals but here, all the food is made to accommodate my condition.

Everyone just adapted to it and the chef makes it almost unnoticeable.

After a while they both come out, now in comfier clothes.

"Let's eat." I say finally.

I had stolen a few bites but that's between me and the chef.

"How's everything with you guys? Any updates since.....you know?" I start as they serve themselves.

Mila starts.

Focusing on filling her plate.

"Luca and I broke up."

My mouth dries.

Why?

When?

How?

If anything I'd be assured they'd last an apocalypse together.

"Whaat?!!"

Her bottom lip disappears between her teeth.

"I know. I was gonna marry the guy. But he broke up with me. I just...never thought he'd be the one to hurt me that much." She says her head lowered.

There's nothing to be ashamed of.

Love happens.

Love stays.

Then it leaves.

I get up from my seat and walk over to her pulling her into a warm hug.

She's the most loving, caring, patient and loyal person I've ever b3en lucky to meet.

She deserves every happy ending written by authors.

I settle back into my seat.

"Why did he?"

Paolo looks over to me with raised brows then to Mila.

Maybe he hadn't dared to ask her since it happened.

"I said no to moving in with him."

"That's.....it?"

"No. We got into an argument about how I'm always choosing you and don't live for myself. That I–"

Her voice breaks a little.

Paolo rubs her back because he's seated next to her.

"He said he didn't want to plan a future with someone who'd choose her bestfriend over him."

My heart drops.

He broke up with her because of me?

"No no. That's not true. You've chosen yourself so many times and you've chosen him too, Mila. This isn't on you." My tears weld up and I don't even know why I'm also crying.

Is it because I feel guilty or that she doesn't deserve this?

"Okay you two look a mess. Is there something you're not telling us Sofia?" Paolo points out because even in the worst of news, you don't start crying at someone else's problems.

You listen.

"That night at Nova's game...i found out that she was with me to win a dare."

Mila finally looks up. Her eyes narrow.

"What. The. fuck? I'm gonna kill her." She laughs dryly.

She wipes her tears now focused on the new information.

"I'm hands on with that but before then...can we connect the dots first?

We both remain silent.

"How did you find out?"

I lean back remembering Delia's smirk while she played the videos.

"Delia. She showed me videos of her saying it. It was the night she came back to the apartment dressed in all white."

"The night you two...kissed?"

"That fucking–"

My dad walks into the room abruptly.

"Oh I...didn't mean to interrupt." He says and the two immediately respond.

You wouldn't think these two were the same people just a few minutes ago.

"I'll let you guys be. Just grabbing some dinner."

"Or you can eat with us, dad."

He laughs.

"The last time I did that you forgot I was in the room and started talking about things...your peers do." He says genuinely and I can understand him.

He is an awkward man around certain topics. Protective, but awkward.

He fixes himself a plate and carries it with him.

"I'll be in the living room incase you need me." He announces before leaving the room.

The room stays silent for a beat before the atmosphere changes.

"What was the dare?"

I inhale deeply.

"To sleep with me then humiliate me."

They glance at each other then towards me.

I know, I should have been more careful. But she's really good at pretending to like someone.

I fell for it.

"I'm going to kill her when I see her. You were so considerate and it cost you your health and she just....never told you? That fucking bitch!"

I mean foward.

"I'm over it...atleast I'm trying to be. So don't do anything to her." I say and Paolo scoffs.

"I make no promises." He says.

We all chuckle.

Paolo updates us on his life and i must say it's refreshing to not have three misfortunes at once.

Then somehow the topic falls back to the Castiello family.

"I just saw the business news. I didn't think it was that bad." I say finishing the food on my plate.

I might go for seconds.

They look at each other as if in contemplation.

"Nova is.... missing."

I laugh.

Missing or they just can't find her?

"Missing?"

"Luca said she left the night before graduation. She got into a huge fight with her dad." Mila explains.

That has has happened before.

"She's done that before." I point out.

"But not for a month, Sofia." Mila's fac3 is expressionless now.

I wanted her out of my life...not out of existence.

I really hope she knows what she's doing.

I bury my face in palms.

My mind goes back to the texts She'd been sending me.

She's sent them everyday so she's chosen to be away.

Why text me knowing I'd want nothing to do with her?

Why text me if her plan was to disappear ?

"Sofia...you okay?" Paolo asks.

I hesitate.

I shouldn't tell them yet.

"Yeah just...processing." I lie. Well not completely.

I still am processing all of this.