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)
I felt better, lighter, as if, for the first time in a while, I was the master of my own life, my happiness. I’d been so dependent on Nevio’s emotions that I’d felt helpless. Now that he’d broken my heart and I’d fallen as deep as I possibly could, I could start over.
The next day, I felt marginally better. My thoughts revolved around Mom’s conversation with Aria, which she’d had after dinner last night, but she and Dad had to work early today, so they hadn’t been at the breakfast table.
After a rushed breakfast to avoid Davide’s annoying questions about the party, I returned to my room to watch a few of my favorite skateboard YouTubers.
Someone knocked on my door, and my positive attitude went out the window. What if this was Nevio? I was so ready to move on, but I hadn’t yet, and a confrontation with him would take a lot out of me. I didn’t want to cry. I didn’t want to be vulnerable in front of him.
I wanted to give him the middle finger, kick his balls, and send him away. I tried to channel this version of Aurora as I went to my door and opened it with force.
Davide raised his eyebrows. “Why are you scowling like that?”
“Because I want some peace and quiet, and I’m not getting it.”
He made a face as if he couldn’t be bothered with my emotions. “Whatever. I’m heading over to the pool. Do you want to come too?”
It was sweltering, and I would have loved a splash in the pool, but there was no way I would go over to the Falcone’s today. With a little luck, I’d avoid Nevio until I’d hopefully leave for New York.
The splashing and laughter echoed through my window again as if to mock me.
“No, thanks. I’ll stay in.”
“It’s 110 degrees. You’ll melt.”
“I’ll turn the AC up, then.”
He shrugged and turned. “Nevio asked when you’d come over, just so you know.”
My throat tightened. “You can tell him I’m not.”
I closed my door.
Ten minutes later, there was another knock. Gosh, what now? I stomped toward the door and ripped it open.
The floor seemed to drop out from under my feet when I spotted Nevio.
I stared up at him. I couldn’t remember the last time he’d bothered coming over. Suddenly, as if reminded of what happened, I felt the soreness between my legs that I’d successfully ignored all day. Every feeling of mortification and hurt was back.
“Go away,” I pressed out. I began to shut the door, but Nevio shoved it open with his shoulder, slipped into my room, and closed the door.
“Get out,” I said in an even tighter voice. I could feel heat behind my eyeballs, dammit. I would not cry in front of him.
Nevio was in swim trunks, but at least he had the decency to wear a T-shirt over them. If he’d showed up in my room half naked, I would have completely lost it.
“We need to talk, Rory.”
Rory.
Rory.
I didn’t want him to call me Rory anymore. It had always meant something to me. Now, it meant I’d been stupid.
“No, we don’t.”
Nevio regarded me as if he didn’t understand me but wanted to. Dark shadows played under his eyes. I hoped he’d had the hangover of his life.
“I’m not leaving before we’ve talked about this.”
This.
“Do you even remember what happened?” I whispered harshly.
His expression told me he didn’t. Massimo must have told him whatever he’d gathered, and this realization made everything ten times worse.
I turned around and stalked toward my window. I couldn’t even look at him. He looked almost uninvolved. Maybe I should just call Dad and have him throw Nevio out. Things would be over then, but at least I’d be spared this painful conversation.
“I don’t,” he said. “Listen, Rory.”
Again, Rory.
I sank my teeth into my lower lip.
“Massimo thinks we slept together. Things didn’t look good when he found you and me in a room.”
This was the whole essence of our story?
“I want your version.”
I swallowed, and then it burst out of me. Everything that had happened just spewed out of me, even the part where I vomited all over the floor. I wanted him to know, and I didn’t care.
He was silent for a moment, and I was glad I didn’t have to see his face. His hand came down on my shoulder.
I flinched away and stumbled toward my desk. “Don’t touch me!”
Not that he’d done much of that last night. What kind of pitiful first time have I had? Maybe Carlotta had a point when she wanted to wait until marriage.
“Aren’t you overreacting?” he asked. “It sounds like hardly anything happened. Maybe even your hymen is still intact because I doubt I was really in all the way.”
I whirled on him.
Overreacting?
I couldn’t believe he really said that. Could he even imagine how hard it was for me to face him right now?