I pull my shirt back on and sink onto the couch, my legs still shaky. The sound of running water echoes from the bathroom, and I stare at the closed door.
What just happened? And why does it feel like he's already regretting it?
The next morning, I wake up exhausted after spending the entire night thinking about Marco. About the way he kissed me,the way he touched me, the way he made me come apart with nothing but friction and determination.
What confuses me is why he walked away afterward. Was he regretting it? He seemed to enjoy it just as much as I did, but before I could reciprocate, before I could even offer to take care of him the way he'd taken care of me, he broke contact and left.
I'm tired of this back and forth between us. He either wants to explore this desire that's clearly burning between us, or he can fuck off and leave me alone.
When I finally give up on trying to sleep more and step out of my bedroom, I find Marco doing his usual workout routine in my living room. I don't pay attention to him. I'm not some lovesick puppy who's going to wait around hoping for scraps of his attention.
I make coffee and pour myself a cup. Marco finishes his set and walks into the kitchen, grabbing a mug from the cabinet.
"Morning," he says in that deep, rough voice that does things to my insides.
"Morning," I reply with deliberate indifference.
We stand there for a few moments in awkward silence. When it becomes clear he's not going to say anything else about last night, I walk to the pantry and grab a protein bar.
As I head back toward my bedroom with my coffee and makeshift meal, I let my hips sway a little extra, knowing he's watching me walk away. If he wants to look but not touch, that's his loss.
I spend the rest of the day avoiding Marco, and he makes no effort to seek me out or discuss what happened. Clearly, last night was a moment of weakness he wants to forget.
Fine by me.
My phone rings in the late afternoon, and I smile when I see Rina's name on the screen. I know she's pregnant—I've beencarrying around the knowledge like a secret weight—and I can't wait for her to tell me herself.
But the moment I think about her pregnancy, dread washes over me. The threat is still out there. The Costellos know who I am now, and they've made it clear this is about more than just money. What if they go after Rina to get to me? What if they hurt her baby?
I answer before the last ring. "Hey, Ri!"
"Hey, cuz! What are you doing?" Her voice is bright and cheerful.
"Just sitting at the apartment. Thinking."
"Yeah? What about?"
There's so much I want to tell her. About Dad's debt, about the threats, about the way Marco makes me feel like I'm losing my mind. But instead, I lie.
"I've been thinking about going back to school."
"Wow! That's great!" she says excitedly. "What are you thinking of studying?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe something with botany?" The lie gets easier with practice.
She laughs. "You definitely love your plants."
I need to change the subject before I dig myself deeper. "So what's up?"
"Oh! Vito is having a formal dinner with some business associates, and he thought it would be nice to make it a family dinner too. Marco will bring you, and I wanted to formally invite you to dinner and a movie night afterward."
"Sounds fun," I say, grateful for the distraction. "When?"
"Tomorrow night! Formal attire, but bring comfortable pajamas and an overnight bag. We're making it a full girls' night after the men talk business."
"I'll be there."
"Yay! Perfect! See you tomorrow!"
