Page 40 of A New Days Don

“And don’t tell me it’s not my fault. I took you out that night. I left you alone long enough for some asshole to hurt you. It is, in part, my fucking fault. But your first experience isn’t something you can take. Your hymen torn? Sure, but that is purest culture bullshit. Your virginity has nothing to do with that pathetic piece of skin. If it did, then a fucking horse took mine.” Karmin still keeps her voice down, but her words still hit their target.

I sniffle, still refusing to let tears fall, “A horse, huh?” A pathetic giggle escapes my lips, and Karmin chuckles with me.

“Yeah, what a time.” She feigns reminiscing, pulling a real laugh out of me.

When we come down from the high of our laughter, her face becomes serious. Karmin’s hand rests on mine, and she says, “You still get to have your first time, Miles. Don’t live life as if it's over.”

Our meals are placed in front of us, and we go silent as we thank the barista once more, not wanting to have this heart to heart with an audience.

When we are alone again, she adds, “Now tell me, how was the orgasm?”

My eyes widen, and I look over my shoulder at all the patrons. Every single one is lost in their own conversation, not paying attention to my best friend’s loud mouth. I whip my head to her and whisper snap, “Will you keep it down?”

Karmin tosses her head back, laughing, “That face,”

I try to keep my face schooled into one that looks unimpressed, but her laughter is contagious, and a smile pulls at my lips.

“So, tell me,” She takes a sip from her latte.

“There is nothing to tell. I didn’t… Do that.” I look over my shoulder again, my face burning, but still, nobody is paying attention.

“Wait! Hold up. Are you telling me you were with a man, and he didn’t give you the ride of your life? I swear to God.” Karmin rests back in the booth, returning to her sandwich and taking a bite of it.

“There was no sex or any orgasming.” I get out before shoving food into my mouth to avoid any more of this conversation.

“So, what happened then?”

“It was only a kiss,” I grumble, finally letting her in on what went down.

Karmin’s face lights up like the Fourth of July, “Aaaaand… Who was it?”

She prompts, “You remember the guy from the other day?”

“Ooo, tall, brooding, and handsome?” I nod around my next bite of food.

“Wait, wait, wait. You kissed him?!” Karmin grins, and I shrug, “Don’t play it off like that. How was the kiss? I bet he’s a fan-fucking-tastic kisser. With lips like that and an attitude that oozes sex, mmm.”

“It was fine. Can we please be done with this?”

“Booo… I am going through the longest dry spell in the history of dry spells, and you can’t even spare me a few kissing details. Just so you know, I’m living vicariously through you.” Karmin declares, and I shake my head at her.

Chapter 17

Massimo

Three Days Earlier

“My, my, my Massimo,” Fabio muses as I walk through the door of what used to be my father’s office, “Finally decided to grace me with your presence, cousin?”

My neck pops as I roll it from side to side, glaring at the man sitting at my father’s desk, “You have surely made yourself comfortable.”

Fabio glares at me, his pale brown eyes narrowing, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Snappy. Insecure. A complete wreck.

Like he’s always been, even when we were kids.

Only now, he sits as head of the Italian mafia in Vegas. A title that I never wanted and would have been fine handing it over to Fabio, but seeing him in my father’s chair, his boots dirtying his desk before his body has gone cold, it makes rage burn low in my chest.