She’s the best wingwoman ever.
“Maybe I’ll actually find someone to rid me of my virginity,” I whisper, glancing around to ensure no one is listening. “I see the way some of Matty’s friends look at me. I don’t think it would take much to convince one of them to do it with me.”
“You can’t fuck any of thoseidioti,” Frankie says, dropping my arm, as we hit the sidewalk. We turn right, heading in the direction of the parking lot where a car will be waiting, as usual. “They can’t hold their piss.”
“That’s the whole point. My plan only works if Papa and Carlo find out.”
“Mateo will murder whoever it is. Do you really want that on your conscience?”
I chew on the corner of my mouth, as nerves jangle inside me. That’s the crux of my dilemma. If I do this, I would be signing someone’s death warrant and potentially starting a war. Leo wasn’t wrong when he outlined the risks. Am I selfish enough to go through with it knowing the consequences?
Lost in thought, I’m not watching where I’m going, and I slam into a hard chest, almost losing my balance. A muscular arm darts out, grabbing my elbow. A familiar citrusy smell wafts around me, and I curse under my breath as I look up into Leo’s fierce gaze. “You need to be more observant.” His deep timbre sends shivers ghosting over my skin, and I hate how I am so affected by him. Why can’t my libido and my heart just get with the program?
“What are you doing here?” I ask, wrenching my arm back and grabbing the straps of my backpack.
“There was an emergency, and most of thesoldatiwere called away. Your father asked me to pick you up.” He cocks his head to one side, nodding at my best friend. “Hey, Frankie.”
“Leonardo.” She acknowledges him with a scowl and narrowed eyes.
“Come on. Let’s get a move on.” He glances around as he takes my bag, slinging it over one shoulder.
“Leo!” a woman with a high-pitched nasally voice screams, and I count to ten in my head as I hear her quickening footsteps behind us. “Hey, sexy,” Nicole says, pushing me aside and pressing herself all up in Leo’s business.
A red haze coats over my eyes, and I’m seconds from yanking her away from him when Frankie pulls me back, subtly squeezing my hand in warning.
“Watch it!” Leo snaps, stepping back a few steps, creating distance between them. “You almost knocked Natalia over.”
A surge of warmth floods my chest.
“Oops.” She giggles, and I want to rip her tongue from her throat so she can’t make that annoying sound again. “You haven’t called me.” She pouts, reclaiming the distance and smashing her large fake tits into his chest. “We had fun last Friday night, and I really want to do it again.” Glancing over her shoulder, she fixes me with a smug look before returning her attention to Leo.
My hands clench into balls at my side, and I want to grab her head and pound it into the sidewalk until her tiny brain leaks out.
“You’re the biggest I have ever had, and I really want to fuck you again.”
Leo’s gaze flits to mine, and I’m not quick enough to disguise my hurt. His eyes darken as he glares at Nicole, and he opens his mouth to speak, stalling as momentary indecision appears on his face. Then his features smooth out, and he smiles, but it’s not a real one. “Mateo is having a pool party this weekend. You should come. We can talk there.”
Rage prickles under the surface of my skin, and I’m seething. Over my dead body is that bitch coming to my house.
“It wasn’t talking I had in mind,” she purrs in a gravelly voice that sounds like she’s got something painful caught in her throat.
A fresh wave of pain batters me from all sides, and I avert my eyes, unable to bear it any longer.
What does she have that I don’t?
How can he even bear to be near her?
She’s a horrible person, and I used to think Leo was a good judge of character, but clearly, he isn’t. Frankie squeezes my hand, tugging me away. We walk toward where my father’s black SUV is parked as Leo shouts after us to wait for him.
Well, fuck him. I’m not staying to watch that bitch flirt with the man I’m in love with.
“Breathe, Nat,” Frankie urges, clutching my hand in moral support. “She’s aputtanaand he’s astronzo. Fuck them both.”
“It hurts,” I admit, in a choked voice, fighting tears. “I offered myself to him, and he rejected me, yet he wasted no time fucking that bitch.” I know he was with her the day before my date, and it was a couple of days before we had our talk in the orchard, but it only marginally lessens the blow. How could he be intimate with her? Especially after the things Mateo said about her.
I don’t think I will ever understand men.
“He clearly has shit taste in women,” Frankie fumes. “You’re way too good for him. He isn’t worthy of your love or your devotion.”
