Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“Yeah.” He had the humility to look down as he released a sigh. “I knew about Luna for a couple of months before you broke up—”
“Before he left me for her—in Taormina—and kicked me out of our apartment.”
“Yeah.” At least he admitted it. “I just wanted you to know I gave him shit about it the entire time. Told him he was making the biggest mistake of his life and he should end it while he still had a chance to salvage his relationship with you. He didn’t listen, obviously. It was like he was bewitched or something.”
“Damn, she must have a nice pussy.”
His eyes widened at what I said.
Now I really did sound like Constantine.
“Honestly, I don’t know what he ever saw in her.”
“So you met her?”
“I stopped by the apartment to return something, and she was there . . . it was awkward.”
“Where was I?”
“At work.”
“Ugh, that’s fucking disgusting.”
“I know, I know. He and I caught up later, and he told me what was going on. And I hated him for putting me in this position. Because we all loved you, still do, and then we were wrapped up in this lie. We felt like shit.”
“But not shitty enough to tell me.”
“Yeah, I regret that.”
“Actually, I’m glad you didn’t.” Because I wouldn’t have ended up in Taormina and met Constantine. “That was where I met him.”
“The guy you’re moving in with?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s probably not my place to say, but is this just a rebound situation?”
“Nope, it’s definitely not.” I grabbed my phone. “Let me show you what this hunk of a man looks like.” When I unlocked my phone, Constantine texted me.
Is he bothering you?
My heart gave a jerk when I read that message, wondering if he was nearby or the men who tailed me day and night had informed him of my lunchtime coffee date. But I was glad he’d learned from his past mistakes and didn’t bombard me and bark at Armand until he left. No, he’s an old friend.
Constantine didn’t text me again.
I pulled up one of Constantine’s pictures and showed Armand. “Look at this man.”
Armand glanced at the screen before he looked at me again. “I mean, he’s not bad to look at.”
“Oh, come on. You know he’s a high-quality piece of man meat.” I put the phone aside. “You can be straight and still recognize it.”
“Well, I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks. When Enzo left me, I was at my lowest point. But now I realize that needed to happen for me to find where I really belong. I know I’ve given you a hard time up until this point, but there’s really no hard feelings between us.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I said with a nod. “It’s complicated when your best friend is a cheating asshole. If one of my friends did that, I’m not sure what I’d do either. Feel like shit for the guy getting cheated on but afraid to destroy your friendship—and it’s a choice you shouldn’t have to make in the first place.”
“That’s exactly how I feel about it.”
“Then why aren’t you friends anymore?”
He shrugged. “I know what he does in his personal life and in his business to an extent, but I just didn’t look at him the same after that. I told him this was all a mistake, and he snapped at me and said some things he couldn’t take back. I just didn’t know him anymore, so after he moved in with Luna, I kinda just dropped him. Some of the other guys did too.”
“Damn.” I actually felt a little bad for Enzo. Just a little, though. “I heard he and Luna broke up.”
“Really?” he asked, both eyebrows elevated like this was really a surprise.
I shrugged. “The girls stalk his socials. He’s been posting a lot of pictures of himself alone. And he did stop by my place a couple weeks ago and told me it was a mistake, and he was sorry about the whole thing. So yeah, I’m not surprised it ended.”
“Bet that felt good.”
“Eh, not really,” I said. “I’ve moved on.”
“This guy sounds like the real deal.”
“Oh, he is. His name is Constantine.”
Now that the conversation seemed finished, he sat there awkwardly, glancing at the street and the motorbikes that passed before he looked at me again. “I know this is kinda weird, but I’m gonna go for it anyway . . . what do you think about us being friends?”
“Really?” I couldn’t help but smile.
“Yeah. We all thought you were the coolest chick ever.”
Something about that compliment made my heart squeeze. Enzo had made me feel so unwanted for so long, and now I really knew it was his problem and not mine. That even people in his camp truly cared for me. That I wasn’t as worthless and replaceable as he made it seem.
“I honestly wondered if Enzo had a brain tumor because of how ludicrous it was.”