Under the same sky

The air was electric with the scent of fresh rain, sharp and invigorating as it clung to the streets. The city, awash with shimmering reflections of streetlights on wet pavement, seemed quieter than usual, as if it too held its breath in anticipation of what was to come. Inside Petals & Posies, the cozy warmth stood in stark contrast to the chill outside.

I was sitting cross-legged on the floor in the back room, surrounded by buckets of flowers waiting to be sorted. Sunflowers leaned lazily to one side, their golden faces like tiny suns lighting up the dim corner. Delicate daisies and elegant lilies filled the air with a soft fragrance, a stark reminder of why I'd fought so hard to save this place.

And then, there was Lorenzo.

He was leaning against the doorframe, his tie loosened and shirt sleeves rolled up as if he'd just come from a meeting. Yet there was a casualness in his stance I hadn't seen before, a hint of relaxation that had been missing since the day he stormed into my shop.

"How long do you plan to sit there?" he asked, his voice low and tinged with amusement.

"Until this pile is gone," I replied, holding up a bundle of roses that needed trimming.

He pushed off the frame and crossed the room, his polished shoes silent on the hardwood floor. Without asking, he sank down next to me, his broad shoulders brushing mine.

"You don't have to help," I said, though I didn't stop him when he reached for a pair of shears.

"I want to," he replied simply.

It was moments like this that confused me the most. For all his sharp edges and gruff demeanor, Lorenzo had a way of softening at the edges when he was with me. And despite my best efforts, I found myself looking forward to these moments.

*****

We worked in silence for a while, the rhythmic snip of the shears and the occasional rustle of petals filling the air. It was oddly comforting, having him there, even if neither of us spoke.

"What's on your mind?" he asked suddenly, his voice cutting through the quiet.

I hesitated. "Nothing."

"You're a terrible liar."

I shot him a look but didn't argue. Instead, I set the shears down and leaned back against the wall, letting my head fall back as I stared at the ceiling.

"I guess I'm just thinking about what happens next," I admitted. "The shop's safe for now, but it's not like Steele's just going to give up. He'll find another way to push us out."

"He will," Lorenzo agreed, his tone matter-of-fact. "But you've proven you can handle him."

"Barely," I muttered.

"You're stronger than you think, Lila."

The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard. I turned to look at him, but he was focused on the flower in his hands, trimming its stem with meticulous precision.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked before I could stop myself.

He glanced at me, one dark brow arching in question. "Doing what?"

"Helping me. Spending all this time here. Defending this place like it's your own."

For a moment, he didn't answer. Instead, he set the flower aside and leaned back against the wall beside me, his expression unreadable.

"Because it matters to you," he said finally.

His words were simple, but they carried a weight that settled in my chest. I didn't know how to respond, so I didn't. Instead, I let the silence stretch between us, comfortable and charged all at once.

*****

The rain outside had picked up, pattering against the windows in a steady rhythm. The city lights blurred through the droplets, casting the shop in a warm, golden glow.

"It's late," Lorenzo said eventually, his voice softer now. "You should go home."

I glanced at the clock on the wall and realized he was right. It was nearly midnight.

"What about you?" I asked, rising to my feet and brushing stray petals from my jeans.

"I'll finish up here," he said, already reaching for another bundle of flowers.

I hesitated. The thought of leaving him here alone felt... wrong.

"Lorenzo, you don't have to—"

"I know," he interrupted, his gaze meeting mine. "Go home, Lila."

Something in his tone made it clear that he wouldn't take no for an answer. Reluctantly, I nodded and grabbed my coat from the hook by the door.

"If you stay too late, you'll turn into one of the flowers," I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

His lips curved into a faint smile. "I'll keep that in mind."

As I stepped out into the rain, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between us. What that meant, I wasn't sure. But as I walked home, the weight of his words stayed with me, warming me against the cold.

*****

The next morning, I arrived at the shop to find Lorenzo already there. He was standing by the front counter, a steaming cup of coffee in his hand and a stack of papers spread out in front of him.

"You're here early," I said, surprised.

"Couldn't sleep," he replied without looking up.

I frowned, setting my bag down and crossing the room to join him. "What are you working on?"

He hesitated, then slid one of the papers toward me. It was a detailed map of the neighborhood, marked with notes and highlights.

"Steele's next move," he said simply.

My heart sank. "You think he's already planning something?"

"I know he is," Lorenzo replied grimly. "He's not the type to take a loss lying down."

I studied the map, my stomach twisting at the thought of going through another battle so soon. But as much as the prospect terrified me, I knew I couldn't back down now.

"What do we do?" I asked, looking up at him.

"We stay ahead of him," Lorenzo said, his gaze steady. "We gather as much information as we can and build a stronger case. If he tries anything, we'll be ready."

His confidence was reassuring, but I couldn't help feeling overwhelmed. This fight was far from over, and the stakes seemed higher than ever.

*****

Later that day, Piper stopped by the shop with news that caught me completely off guard.

"You're not going to believe this," she said, practically bouncing with excitement.

"What?" I asked warily.

"Steele's assistant—Elaine? She quit."

I blinked, stunned. "Quit? Why?"

"She said she couldn't work for someone who didn't value people over profits," Piper explained. "Apparently, the fair and the council meeting made her realize how much harm Steele's projects are causing."

I didn't know what to say. Elaine had always seemed so loyal to Steele, so embedded in his world. To think that she had a change of heart... it was unexpected, to say the least.

"Do you think she'd be willing to talk to us?" Lorenzo asked, appearing in the doorway with a curious expression.

Piper nodded. "She already said she'd meet with you. She wants to help."

It was a surprising turn of events, and one that gave me a glimmer of hope. If Elaine was willing to share what she knew about Steele's plans, it could give us the edge we needed.

*****

That evening, after the shop had closed, Elaine met with us in the back room. She was nervous at first, her hands fidgeting in her lap as she recounted her time working for Steele.

"He doesn't care about the community," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "To him, it's just numbers on a spreadsheet. But after seeing what you've built here... I couldn't be part of it anymore."

She handed Lorenzo a flash drive, her expression resolute. "This has everything you need. Emails, contracts, plans for future developments. Use it to stop him."

I watched as Lorenzo took the flash drive, his jaw tight with determination.

"Thank you," he said, his voice sincere.

Elaine nodded, her eyes meeting mine. "Don't let him win."

*****

After Elaine left, the weight of the day settled over me like a heavy blanket. I sank onto the couch in the back room, exhaustion creeping into my bones.

Lorenzo joined me, sitting close enough that our shoulders brushed.

"You did good today," he said softly.

"So did you," I replied, managing a tired smile.

For a moment, we sat in silence, the quiet hum of the shop wrapping around us like a cocoon. It was a rare moment of peace, and I found myself leaning into it, into him.

And for the first time, I felt like we were no longer just fighting for the shop. We were fighting for something more—for the connection that had grown between us, for the chance to build something lasting together.