0017| unwanted plans

Alessio Romano

Alessio sat at his desk, the hum of the office around him blending into the background as he focused on the reports in front of him. The morning had been productive, and he was determined to finish everything before the weekend. However, his concentration was soon interrupted by the sound of a familiar voice.

"Alessio, my man! What's going on?" my friend and coworker, Marco, strode into my office with his usual exuberance, a mischievous grin plastered on his face.

I leaned back in my chair, raising an eyebrow. "Just trying to get through these reports. What's up with you?"

Marco plopped down in the chair across from me, looking far too pleased with himself. "I've got something that's going to make your weekend way more interesting."

I sighed, already sensing trouble. "Marco, what are you up to?"

Marco leaned in, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "I've set you up on a blind date."

I blinked, caught off guard. "A blind date? Marco, you know I'm not into that."

"Come on, man," Marco insisted, waving off his protest. "You've been single for too long. It's time to get back out there. This girl is great—fun, smart, and totally your type."

I shook his head, rubbing the back of my neck. "I appreciate the thought, but I'm really not interested. Things are... complicated right now."

Marco's grin faltered slightly, but he pressed on. "Complicated? What do you mean?"

I hesitated, not wanting to divulge too much about my personal life, especially not about Arabella . "Let's just say I'm figuring some things out. I'm not in the right place for dating."

Marco frowned, leaning back in his chair. "You're always 'figuring things out.' Look, I know you've been through a lot, but you can't keep putting your life on hold. This is just a casual dinner. What's the harm in that?"

I sighed, knowing Marco wouldn't let this go easily. "I get where you're coming from, but trust me, now's not the time."

Marco studied him for a moment, then nodded reluctantly. "Alright, I'll back off—for now. But you can't avoid this forever, Alessio. You deserve to be happy, and I just want to help."

"I appreciate that," Alessio said sincerely. "But I've got to handle things my own way."

Marco stood, giving him a pat on the shoulder. "Fair enough. Just promise me you'll think about it."

"I will," Alessio replied, watching as Marco left the office.

Once alone, Alessio let out a deep breath. The last thing he needed right now was a blind date. His thoughts immediately drifted to Arabella and the connection they had been building.

The idea of dating someone else felt wrong, like a betrayal of the trust and intimacy they were fostering.

He glanced at the clock, eager to finish his work and get back home. Being with Arabella had brought a sense of purpose and joy back into his life, and he wasn't about to jeopardize that. He knew they had a long way to go, but he was committed to seeing where their journey would take them.

With renewed focus, Alessio dove back into his reports, determined to wrap up the day. The world outside the office might be filled with uncertainties, but one thing was clear—his heart was already spoken for. And he had no intention of looking anywhere else.

As the day wore on, Alessio found himself replaying the conversation with Marco. The idea of going on a blind date felt absurd, especially when his thoughts were consumed by Lila. He couldn't shake the feeling that what they had was rare and worth nurturing. The last thing he wanted was to jeopardize it by entertaining distractions.

By the time the office began to quiet down, Alessio had managed to finish his work. He packed up his things and made his way to the parking lot, eager to get home. The cool evening air greeted him as he stepped outside, and he took a deep breath, clearing his mind of the day's stresses.

As he drove, his thoughts drifted to Arabella. He wondered how her day had been and if she'd thought about him as much as he had about her. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind, but amidst the chaos, they had found a sense of calm in each other. It was a feeling he wasn't willing to let go of.

Pulling into the driveway, Alessio turned off the engine and sat for a moment, gathering his thoughts. He wanted to be honest with Arabella , to let her know how much she meant to him. But part of him worried about rushing things, about complicating their lives further.

Entering the house, he was greeted by the familiar warmth of home. The soft hum of the television echoed from the living room, and Alessio smiled, knowing Lila was probably curled up on the couch. He set his bag down and made his way toward her.

Sure enough, she was there, wrapped in a blanket, her attention focused on the screen. When she noticed him, her face lit up with a smile that made his heart swell.

"Hey," she greeted, shifting to make room for him. "How was work?"

"Busy," Alessio admitted, sitting down beside her. "But it's good to be home."

Arabella tilted her head, studying him. "You seem a little distracted. Everything okay?"

He hesitated for a moment before deciding to be honest. "Marco tried to set me up on a blind date today."

Her eyes widened slightly, a flicker of something unreadable passing over her face. "Oh?"

"Don't worry," he added quickly, reaching for her hand. "I told him I wasn't interested. I'm not looking for anything like that."

She relaxed, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Good. Because I'd be lying if I said the thought of you going on a date didn't bother me."

Alessio squeezed her hand gently. "You don't have to worry about that. My focus is here, with you."

Her cheeks flushed, and she looked down, her fingers intertwining with his. "I'm glad to hear that. I've been thinking a lot about us, and I want to see where this goes."

"Me too," Alessio agreed, his voice soft but firm. "Whatever happens, we'll figure it out together."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the weight of their feelings hanging in the air. Finally, Arabella leaned her head against his shoulder, her eyes closing in contentment.

"Thank you for being patient with me," she whispered. "I know this hasn't been easy, but I'm really happy with where we are."

Alessio wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. "I'm happy too, Arabella . More than I've been in a long time."

As the evening stretched on, they remained together, finding solace in each other's presence. The world outside might be filled with uncertainties, but in that moment, they knew they had something special—something worth holding onto.

And no matter what challenges lay ahead, they were ready to face them together.

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i don't like this chapter but it's okay im just trying to get you guys more chapters so you don't have to wait sooo long LMDOAOAOA

okay let me stop