Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 151410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
“Rory, what happened?” Carlotta asked after a disparaging look at Nevio, who still hadn’t stirred. I’d never seen him this out of it. He probably wouldn’t remember a thing tomorrow. I almost choked on laughter. Had I really thought tonight would end with an epiphany for him?
I sat up, curling my lips when I realized I had splatters of vomit on my arm and leg. My shirt wasn’t unscathed either. I cringed.
“I’ll see if the bathroom is clear so you can help Aurora clean up. Once you’re done, go down to my car. I’ll be there in a bit,” Massimo said. He barely looked at me as he headed for Nevio, already picking up his phone, probably to call Alessio for backup. “You have to come upstairs, the second bedroom on the left.”
He hung up and moved past us into the corridor. He hammered against the bathroom door and scared away a couple of girls I didn’t know.
“Thank you,” Carlotta said as she led me inside.
He gave a curt nod, then closed the bathroom door, and Carlotta locked it. I sank down on the edge of the tub, and the tears started flowing freely again.
Carlotta dipped a washcloth under water, then sank down beside me and began to clean my face, arms, and legs. “Rory, what did he do?”
The undercurrent of fear and anger in her voice told me she was thinking the wrong thing. “It’s not what you think. He didn’t force me.”
I stopped because even I couldn’t describe what had happened between us.
“You slept together?”
I closed my eyes. “He passed out the moment he was in me.” I cringed when the words left me. I’d fantasized about having my first time with Nevio. This wasn’t even in the same hemisphere as my fantasy. I opened my eyes to see embarrassment and compassion reflected on Carlotta’s face. We rarely talked about sex since neither of us was really comfortable with the topic, but I needed to get it off my chest, and she was the only one I could talk to about this.
“You can now say I told you so.”
Carlotta shook her head with a look of annoyance. “Not like this, not now.” She rubbed my back. “Will you tell someone?”
I shook my head because it wouldn’t change a thing. It’d only make the situation ten times worse. “I want to pretend this never happened and just move on.” After a look at Carlotta’s doubtful face, I added, “I know it’ll be hard to move on.”
“You see Nevio every day. Your feelings won’t magically disappear because he acted like an asshole. He’s been doing that for years, and you still fell for it.”
“Ouch,” I whispered.
“Rory, you really look like a mess.”
“Can I stay at your place tonight?” I asked, worried Dad or Mom would pick up on something, and then there would be hell to pay. Dad loved the Falcones, but this would ruin everything. I wouldn’t be responsible for a fallout.
“Of course,” Carlotta said softly. “But your dad won’t be happy if you don’t come home tonight.”
“Massimo can tell him a lie, and if he wants confirmation that I’m with you, Dad can call your brother.”
Carlotta nodded. When we headed downstairs, nobody really paid us much attention. A friend accompanying another friend who had had too much to drink and looked like shit wasn’t worth a story.
On our way to Massimo’s car, I spotted Alessio and Massimo with Nevio between them, dragging him down the sidewalk. They opened the trunk of the pickup and shoved Nevio inside.
I was glad I wouldn’t have to see Nevio’s face while Massimo took us to Carlotta’s home. I wasn’t sure I could ever face him again.
“Do you think Nevio remembers?” I asked miserably. I wasn’t sure which option I preferred.
Carlotta let out a huff. “I’m sure Massimo will talk to him. Massimo was furious.”
I wasn’t the only one being delusional when it came to the other sex. If Massimo was pissed, then because Nevio wasn’t in control of himself. Not because of me.
“What are you going to do now?” Carlotta asked as we settled at the table, each with a giant portion of scrambled eggs. I wasn’t really hungry, especially when I remembered the taste of my burger as I threw it up, but I didn’t want to let Carlotta’s efforts go to waste. I shoved a bite of eggs into my mouth.
“You need to get over him.”
I gave her a sardonic smile. “I know, trust me, and I’m on my way.” Then I amended. “I’m at the very beginning of a long way.” I sighed and speared another piece of egg, wishing it were Nevio’s privates. “I think I need some space. I can’t stay here.”
Carlotta nodded. “You want to babysit Roman again?”
I had arranged to travel with the racing circus again for two weeks this summer to babysit Roman. I loved the sense of freedom offered by that lifestyle. “That had been the plan, but two weeks aren’t enough. I need more time, more space. I was thinking of asking Aunt Aria if I can spend the summer with them and maybe do an internship with the Famiglia doctor.”