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Frankie’s eyes flicked up to a point above my shoulder and a slow, triumphant smile spread over his face. “Feeling better?”

I turned, already knowing that I’d find Indy standing behind me. Her expression was steely as she demanded, “Can I speak to you outside?”

Chapter 8

Diana

It was a miracle I was still standing let alone walking after that punch to the gut. Yet somehow I managed to stalk off outside without my shaking legs giving out and sending me toppling back into the canal.

“You need to leave,” I said, turning around to face Levi. My voice sounded alien to my own ears. I leaned back against the stone wall of the bridge for support.

“Ind—Diana,” Levi stuttered, stepping closer. So close I could smell the familiar scent of his cologne. That’s not what I wanted.

“Stop, Levi!” I held my arms up, placing much needed distance between us. “What are you doing here?”

“Preventing you from making a giant mistake.”

“A dick-shaped one?” I shot back and he blanched. “Because I was actually looking forward to that. So thanks a lot.”

“You should stay away from guys like Frankie Fiero. He’s not for girls like you.”

“Girls like me?”

“Yeah, good girls. You know . . .” He hesitated as if his mind had just wandered somewhere. “Little sisters.”

“Little sisters?” I had to fight the urge to shove him into the canal. “Jesus, Levi. Is that how you’ll always see me? As a little girl who needs to be protected?”

His brow knit together. “To be fair, I’ve never thought of you as a girl.”

I crossed my arms and closed my eyes because the little girl in me, the one who’d already had her heart broken by Levi, wanted to cry. I thought of all the times I’d tried to make him see me as a girl, not some tomboyish little sister. It had all been for nothing. “Are you trying to make me feel like complete shit today?”

“No!” Levi protested. “I meant that for me, you’re just . . . you.” He ran his hand through his hair and held his palms up. “You’re just Indy.”

I couldn’t bear to hear him use that nickname and especially not when it rendered me a sad afterthought. “Diana!” I nearly shouted. “Call me Diana!”

He came closer and his voice was low and so near when he said my name. “Diana, you know I’m not good with words.”

Almost as if separated from my body, I watched as he raised his hand toward my arm. I could feel the heat radiating off it, just inches from me. The round, blunt ends of his long fingers hovered there and I held my breath, waiting for him to touch me—then they fell away.

“I’m sorry. For everything.” He dragged his fingers through his hair again, a nervous tic he’d always had, his blue eyes staring off into the distance. “I’ve made a mess of it all. I know it, and I want to make it up to you.”

“I don’t think you can,” I whispered, voice tight with tears. I refused to cry.

“Maybe I can’t make up for the past, but what about now? Today, I got the feeling that something was off. I mean, you invented an engagement? What’s going on?”

My face burned thinking about it. The humiliation that he should know that I made an entire fake fiancé based on him. I wanted him to think I’d gone on with my life like he’d gone on with his.

“Are you in some kind of trouble? How can I help?” God, the urge to lean in to him and tell him all about the hoax and the humiliating documentary was so strong. But I couldn’t.

“What, so you can play big brother?” I asked indignantly.

I’d got him there. A look of excruciating pain passed over his features. “Well, Josh isn’t here, someone has to.”

“Not you. You lost the right when you walked out of my life.” I shoved my way past him. “And don’t even think about following me back in there. From what I’ve heard you’re a player just like Frankie, so who are you to lecture me?”

I spun away and he grabbed my arm. “Wait . . .”

I shook him off. “Just go, Levi. I’m not your obligation anymore.”