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I chuckle, my cheeks warming with embarrassment. “I’m so sorry.”
“No worries at all. It’s fine. Lord knows I’m not really with it most of the time, so you can have a pass.” She laughs heartily.
“How was your trip?”
“Amazing. My mom completely spoiled me. I hardly wanted to leave.” She beams with excitement, then her smile fades. “How are you doing? I feel like I couldn’t have been away at a worse time.”
My God, so much has happened since Igor’s party. The last time we saw each other I wanted to flee because we saw Lev with Korrina.
Anushka and I have messaged since, but I didn’t go into any detail about all the things that have changed since between Lev and me—like how we’re sleeping together now. “I’m okay.”
“What about Lev? You said he knew you saw him with Korrina. Did you speak to him about it?”
My cheeks heat. “I did and it’s all good now.”
She narrows her eyes and tilts her head, staring back at me with scrutiny. “Why is your face so red?”
“My face?”
“You look like a tomato.” She giggles, drumming her fingers on the tabletop.
“It’s probably just the weather.”
“Or—it’s—” Her eyes snap wide. “Oh my gosh. Wait a minute. You and Lev… You slept with him.”
I stare at her, mortified that she guessed that. “It just… happened.”
“Happened?” She laughs even more. “You are so funny.”
“I’m serious.”
“Oh Gabrielle, it’s just sex. Now you can add him to your list.”
My breath stills. “There is… no list. Unless you can put one person down and still call it a list.”
The smile drops off her face as she realizes what I’m saying. “He was your first?”
I nod.
“Oh my God.” She brings her hands to her cheeks and stares at me for a long moment. I can practically see her thoughts swirling. She reaches across the table and takes my hand. “I’m sorry. I assumed you’d been with other guys before. I just thought….” Her voice trails off. “Well, you’re beautiful. I think most people would make that assumption. Still, I shouldn’t have.”
I smile, appreciative of the compliment and apology rolled into one. “That’s okay, and thank you.” I decide to explain a little more because … she really has become a friend to me. “My dad was super strict. He had an arrangement with the man I was supposed to marry. I was supposed to remain a virgin, so I stayed that way. I wasn’t allowed to do anything or socialize with boys. Sometimes I wonder if my dad was more worried about my preservation than safety when my sister and I were taken captive.”
There was actually no need to wonder. Papa was absolutely more worried about that. It was one more reason why he forced me to become Gabrielle.
Anushka looks even more taken aback. “You’re kidding me.”
“I really wish I were.”
“So, you’ve never even been on a date or kissed anyone?”
My gaze drops briefly to the table again. When I meet her eyes, I can’t hide the grief I still feel from the past. “One kiss.” I exhale, slowly. “And that was all. I never saw that guy again. I think my father killed him.”
Her skin pales, and she gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “Oh God. That’s…”
“Evil? Diabolical?”
“Yes.”
