Shenods, digs her phone from her straw bag and brings up the website for our local paper. She hands me her phone, and the photo hits me like a horse kick to the gut.
Sandro and Giada locked in a kiss.
After forcing air into my lungs, I clock all the details revealed in the article. It’s The Eclipse. Last night. After I left.
He rushed right into Giada’s arms?
My stomach drops like I just fell off a cliff. Did what happened between us last night mean nothing to him? God, I feel stupid. An arranged marriage my ass. He obviously has no objection to sleeping with her.
A flare of heat ignites my face.
The article is some fluff piece about their upcoming wedding. I don’t bother doing more than skimming it.
I hand the phone back to Sloane, feeling gutted, then clear my throat. “Well, they are engaged, so…” my words trail off. There’s nothing left to say. He belongs to her. But god, his mouth was still warm from mine.
Gross.
“What’s going on?” Brick grabs Sloane’s phone. His brows press down in confusion as he stares at the photo. “Alessandro LaRocca and Giada Zerilli…wait.” He pinches the screen and enlarges the text. “LaRoccaas in the New York mafia LaRocca family?” He glances up at us. “What does this have to do with you, Lennon?”
“Just… everything,” I sigh.
Sloane reaches over and grasps my hand in hers. “Oh, babe. I’m sorry.”
“Okay, wow.” Brick signals to the waitress. “I can tell this conversation is going to require lunch mimosas.”
Two hours and two pitchers of mimosas later, I’ve spilled the whole story, up to and including what happened in Sandro’s office last night, and Brick is staring at me with a mixture of awe and sympathy. The only thing I left out is how my mother died. I’m not sure why I’m not ready to talk about that to anyone but my therapist.
Finally, he sits back, throws his napkin onto his empty lunch plate and snorts. “Who’d of thought, our sweet little Lennon, all this time had a secret, epic romance with one of the most dangerous men in New York.”
“Well, technically Florida,” I say. “I think he lives here now.” I place Pepper back on the ground beneath my feet in case he needs another drink from the water bowl the waitress brought him.
Brick leans back in his chair. “So, the mob has set up in Florida permanently? Interesting.”
“Missing the point, love,” Sloane says to Brick.
“No, I got it. We need to find Lennon someone who can help her move past Alessandro LaRocca. Herculean task as it is.”
“What about Doctor Becker?” Sloane asks. “He’s cute in a nerdy sort of way and seems really nice and drama-free. And really into you.”
“Eh.” I shrug. “We had a few coffee dates and then tried a dinner. There’s just no spark there.”
Sloane waves her hand, her gold bracelets catching the sunlight. “Maybe there would be eventually… you know, could be like a slow burn situation.”
I scrunch my nose up in distaste, but maybe she’s right. There’s nothing wrong with him. Maybe I should give him another chance. We definitely have more in common than Sandro and I.
Ugh, I need to stop comparing every man to Sandro.
Brick is tapping his lip, thinking, and then his eyes light up. He snaps his fingers. “I’ve got it. There’s a singles charity auction next weekend for hurricane relief. Both the ladies and gentlemen are going to be offering themselves up for a date to the highest bidder. It’s perfect. All rich, beautiful people. I can get you in. Surely you can find someone there to compete with your handsome, rich mobster.”
I press the ice-cold water glass against my cheek. “I don’t have money to bid on a date, Brick.”
His eyes sparkle with sunlight and champagne. “I didn’t say you’d be the one bidding.”
Sloane throws her head back and laughs, drawing all eyes to our table.
“Oh my god, you want me to auction myself off?” I hiss and stare at him in horror. Images flood my brain of me standing there with just crickets in the room and no bids. It would be beyond humiliating. “No, Brick. Absolutely not. I’m not the kind of woman hot, rich guys pay for.”
He leans forward and smiles at me like a Cheshire cat. “No, you’re the girl next door. Exactly why you’ll be a fresh breath of air in their silicone boobs and Botox world.” He pulls something up on his phone. “No arguing. I’m signing you up. We need to fill out this information.”
