WHEN FOREVER FOUND ME

Chapter Thirteen-Azul

I was sleeping.

Deeply.

The kind of sleep where I didn’t know what was happening around me.

I had gone to bed tired.

Really tired.

The last few days had been exhausting.

Work.

The bakery.

Deliveries.

Customers.

Everything.

And somehow, I had still been thinking about Enzo.

I didn’t understand why.

I wasn’t in love with him.

At least, I didn’t think I was.

But he had somehow become a thought that refused to leave my head.

Then I felt warmth.

Something warm against me.

I frowned in my sleep.

I thought it was my pillow.

Maybe I had somehow wrapped myself around it.

But this felt different.

The warmth was moving.

And there was an arm around me.

My eyes opened.

Slowly.

I blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Then I froze.

Enzo.

I immediately moved away from him.

I nearly fell off the other side of the bed.

My eyes widened.

What the hell are you doing here?

I stared at him.

He looked completely comfortable.

Like waking up in my bed was the most normal thing in the world.

His hair was slightly messy.

His shirt was wrinkled.

And he was looking at me with that expression.

That expression that always made me feel like he knew something I didn’t.

I grabbed my tablet from the bedside table.

Before I could type anything, he spoke.

“I missed you.”

I stared at him.

He sat up.

“I missed you, Azul.”

I blinked.

He looked at me seriously.

“That’s why I came.”

I stared at him harder.

He continued.

“I missed you so badly, and I wanted to see you.”

I couldn’t believe this man.

I rubbed my face.

You’ve lost your mind.

Apparently, Enzo understood my expression.

He smiled.

“I probably have.”

I rolled my eyes.

Then I looked toward the bedroom door.

How the hell had he gotten upstairs?

How had he gotten into my room?

More importantly…

How had my parents allowed this?

I pointed toward the door.

Then pointed at him.

Then pointed downstairs.

My expression said everything.

He laughed quietly.

“Your parents let me in.”

I stared at him.

Of course they did.

I couldn’t believe them.

A stranger had entered their son’s bedroom at six in the morning.

Well…

Not exactly a stranger anymore.

But still.

Enzo looked at me.

“Breakfast.”

I frowned.

He stood up.

“Come on.”

I stared at him.

He held out his hand.

I didn’t take it.

He smiled.

“Let’s go downstairs.”

I grabbed my tablet.

It’s too early.

He read it.

“It’s never too early for breakfast.”

I rolled my eyes.

Of course he would say that.

I followed him downstairs.

The moment I reached the dining room, I stopped.

I stared.

Then stared again.

What was this?

The entire table was covered with food.

Croissants.

Pastries.

Fresh bread.

Eggs.

Fruit.

Cheese.

Jams.

Butter.

Fresh juice.

Coffee.

Cakes.

Pancakes.

Everything.

Absolutely everything.

I looked at the table.

Then at my mother.

Then at my father.

Then back at my mother.

She smiled awkwardly.

“Enzo brought breakfast.”

I slowly looked toward Enzo.

He looked pleased with himself.

I couldn’t understand him.

Who brought this much food to someone else’s house at six in the morning?

Enzo.

Apparently.

I sat down.

I was too tired to question it.

Mateo, however, had no such problem.

He was already eating.

And eating.

And eating.

He had a croissant in one hand and was reaching for another pastry with the other.

“This is what I’m talking about,” he said.

I looked at him.

He took another bite.

“We are eating like kings.”

My father sighed.

“Mateo.”

“What?”

“You have already eaten three.”

Mateo looked offended.

“I’m hungry.”

“You were hungry five minutes ago.”

“I’m still hungry.”

I shook my head.

He pointed toward the table.

“Look at this food.”

Then he lowered his voice dramatically.

“This is rich people’s food.”

I nearly laughed.

My father gave him a warning look.

“Mateo.”

He shrugged.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

I looked down at my plate.

I couldn’t deny it.

The food was amazing.

But I still didn’t understand why Enzo had done all of this.

I glanced toward him.

He was watching me.

Of course he was.

His eyes dropped to my hands.

Then he reached across the table.

He tried to take my hand.

I pulled it away.

Immediately.

His expression changed.

Only for a second.

But I saw it.

That small flash of disappointment.

I looked away.

He didn’t say anything.

Then, after a few moments, he said,

“You know you’re my boyfriend, right?”

I almost choked on my coffee.

I looked at him.

Slowly.

My entire family looked at him too.

Enzo didn’t seem embarrassed.

Not even a little.

I grabbed my tablet.

Typed.

Turned it toward him.

When did I say that?

He looked at the screen.

Then looked at me.

“You did.”

I stared at him.

I shook my head.

He smiled.

“You just haven’t said it out loud.”

I typed again.

I never said it.

He leaned back.

“You’re still my boyfriend.”

I stared at him like he had gone completely insane.

Mateo looked between us.

Then he smiled.

“Oh.”

My father looked at him.

“Don’t.”

Mateo immediately picked up another pastry.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You were about to.”

“I was just going to say this breakfast is amazing.”

My mother laughed softly.

I looked down at my plate.

Enzo was still watching me.

I didn’t know what to do with him.

He was so certain.

So confident.

As if he had already decided the future.

As if I had simply forgotten to be informed.

Then he spoke again.

“I opened a new resort.”

Everyone stopped eating.

I looked at him.

He continued casually.

“It’s beautiful.”

Mateo immediately looked interested.

“Where?”

Enzo named the place.

My eyes widened slightly.

I had heard of it.

It was one of those places people talked about when they talked about luxury.

Clear water.

Private beaches.

Beautiful villas.

Expensive restaurants.

The kind of place my family would probably never visit unless they saved for months.

Enzo took a sip of coffee.

“I was thinking we could all spend the weekend there.”

My mother immediately shook her head.

“Oh, no, Enzo.”

He looked at her politely.

“Why not?”

“It’s too much.”

“It’s not.”

She smiled.

“We can’t just accept something like that.”

“You can.”

She looked at my father.

My father looked at her.

Mateo, meanwhile, looked like someone had just offered him heaven.

“How expensive is it?”

My father looked at him.

“Mateo.”

“What?”

Mateo looked at Enzo.

“I’m just asking.”

Enzo smiled.

“You don’t have to worry about the cost.”

Mateo leaned back.

“Well…”

My mother interrupted.

“No.”

Enzo’s voice remained calm.

“I really want you all to come.”

He looked around the table.

“I want us to spend some time together.”

Then his eyes moved toward me.

“And I miss Azul.”

I lowered my eyes.

Of course he had to say that.

My mother smiled.

Enzo continued.

“There are things there you might enjoy. Beautiful scenery. Good food. It’s quiet.”

He looked at my parents.

“You deserve a break.”

Nobody spoke.

I looked at my family.

I knew what they were thinking.

It had been a long time since we had gone anywhere together.

A proper family trip.

A real vacation.

Even a nice dinner outside had become something we rarely did.

We were always working.

Always saving.

Always worrying about something.

I looked at my mother’s face.

She was trying not to smile.

My father’s expression was softer too.

Mateo looked like he had already packed his bags.

I sighed.

Then I picked up my tablet.

I have work.

Enzo looked at me.

And then he smiled.

“Vita mia.”

Everyone froze.

Again.

My mother’s eyes widened.

My father’s eyebrows rose.

Mateo slowly put his fork down.

Enzo didn’t seem bothered at all.

He looked directly at me.

“My life.”

I swallowed.

“I need you to go.”

I stared at him.

He continued.

“I want you to see it.”

He reached toward me again, but this time he didn’t touch me.

“It’s beautiful.”

Then he lowered his voice.

“And I want to spend more time with you.”

My eyes dropped.

“Every time you work, I barely get to see you.”

He sighed.

“I haven’t seen you for three days.”

I looked at him.

He sounded genuinely hurt.

Then he looked around the table.

“And this can be a little staycation for your family too.”

I looked at my parents.

My mother was smiling.

My father looked thoughtful.

Mateo was practically glowing.

I knew what this meant to them.

They wanted to go.

And honestly…

So did I.

Not because of Enzo.

At least, that was what I told myself.

But because I wanted to see my family happy.

My father finally spoke.

“Well…”

My mother looked at him.

“We don’t have anything major this weekend.”

She sighed.

“It might be nice.”

Mateo immediately smiled.

“Exactly.”

My mother laughed.

“But we need to think about it.”

Enzo nodded.

“Of course.”

He was still looking at me.

I rolled my eyes.

He smiled.

After breakfast, he didn’t leave.

That was another problem.

He just stayed.

Sat in the living room.

Talked with my parents.

Answered Mateo’s ridiculous questions.

And every few minutes, his eyes found me.

I was beginning to wonder if he had forgotten that he had a home.

Eventually, he stood.

“I’ll come back later.”

I looked at him.

He turned toward my family.

“Get ready.”

My mother blinked.

“Get ready?”

“For the trip.”

She looked surprised.

“Today?”

“Yes.”

Mateo’s eyes widened.

“You mean we’re actually going?”

Enzo nodded.

“Yes.”

My father smiled.

“Are you sure?”

“Completely.”

Then Enzo looked around.

“Everyone has passports?”

There was a moment of silence.

Then my mother nodded.

“Yes.”

My father nodded too.

Mateo immediately said,

“I have mine.”

I looked at him.

Of course he did.

Enzo smiled.

“Good.”

Then he said the thing that made everyone look at him.

“We aren’t driving.”

My mother frowned.

“Then how are we getting there?”

“We’re flying.”

I stared at him.

Mateo’s mouth fell open.

My father just shook his head.

I looked at Enzo.

He shrugged like this was completely normal.

Of course.

Because why drive two hours when Enzo could simply fly us there?

He came toward me.

For a moment, I thought he was going to touch me.

Instead, he stopped.

“I’ll see you later, vita mia.”

I stared at him.

He smiled.

Then he left.

The front door closed.

Silence.

Nobody spoke.

For several seconds, we all just stood there.

Then my mother turned toward me.

She was smiling.

That smile made me nervous.

“What?”

She shook her head.

“You know what?”

I frowned.

She laughed softly.

“I think he really likes you.”

I looked away.

My father smiled too.

Mateo dropped onto the sofa.

“Likes him?”

He laughed.

“That man is completely gone.”

I gave him a look.

He raised his hands.

“What? I’m just saying.”

Then he started talking again.

“I’ve heard about that resort.”

My father sighed.

“Here we go.”

“No, seriously.”

Mateo sat forward.

“That place is expensive.”

I rolled my eyes.

He continued anyway.

“Like really expensive.”

My mother laughed.

“Mateo.”

“I’m just saying.”

He looked at me.

“You know what?”

I shook my head.

“What?”

Mateo smiled.

“We’re going on vacation.”

I looked toward the door Enzo had just walked through.

I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or question my entire life.

Three days ago, Enzo hadn’t seen me.

Now he had shown up at six in the morning with breakfast, climbed into my bedroom, declared me his boyfriend, invited my entire family to an expensive resort, and arranged a flight like it was nothing.

I looked down at my tablet.

Then at my family.

Then back toward the door.

I had a feeling this weekend was going to be anything but normal.