AllFreeNovel
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Bosco had texted me. Beautiful, I miss you like crazy. I’m losing my fucking mind, and I don’t like it. When your ass is back here, I’m not letting you leave again. You’re mine—and I don’t like to share.
My cheeks turned pale as snow, and my heart raced in my chest. I quickly locked the screen and tried to seem indifferent, like that message meant nothing to me. My ears felt hot, and my pulse was pounding in my head.
Shit. She saw it.
It was nearly two in the morning when everyone finally left. Luca was staying with my parents so Mia and Carter could have some alone time at the house. I caught up with Vanessa and Griffin as they headed to their truck. “Hey, can I borrow Vanessa for a second?”
Griffin started the truck and then got out. “Talk in here. I don’t want her standing outside.”
Being in the truck was more private anyway, so we both hopped inside. I shut the door behind him and immediately told her what happened. “Bosco texted me, and I’m pretty much certain my mom saw it when I went to the bathroom.”
Vanessa’s eyes widened in shock. “Shit. Are you sure?”
“She had this look on her face… I’m pretty sure she read it.”
“Girl, what did I tell you? Secrets never stay secret.”
“Well, I expected my secret to last a little longer than this.”
“Wait…” Her eyes filled with dread. “Is his name stored as Bosco in your phone?”
“Yeah.”
She sucked in a breath through her teeth. “You’re even more screwed now.”
I didn’t even think of that. “Ugh, why is this happening right now?”
“She probably doesn’t even know who Bosco is, though,” Vanessa reasoned. “But if she tells your father, he probably knows who he is.”
“It could still be another Bosco,” I countered.
“How many Boscos are out there?” she asked incredulously. “Not many. Do you think she’ll tell your father?”
My mom and I talked about my love life all the time. I even told her when I slept with someone. She never judged me for anything or criticized my actions. But she also kept our conversations private from my father, since he would go ballistic. “No. She probably wouldn’t say anything.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “Then you’re safe. If it stays between the two of you, then you’re good.”
“Yeah…”
She glanced at the window and looked at Griffin, who was leaning against the back of the truck with his arms crossed over his chest. “We should get going. Griffin is getting impatient. I can tell by the way his jaw is tightening.”
“Yeah, I should go anyway. Thanks for talking to me.”
“Of course. I just hope this doesn’t escalate.”
I hopped out of the truck and walked to my father’s car. My mom had just put Luca in the back seat, and they were preparing to leave. Since I’d come with them, I got into the back with Luca.
Luca had his bag of clothes and toys, but he was already asleep against the door, exhausted since he was up far past his bedtime.
Mom stared at him from the front seat, a soft smile on her lips. “He’s so adorable.”
“Yeah.” Father backed up then pulled onto the road. “He’s a sweet kid. A lot sweeter than Carter was.”
Mom chuckled then faced forward again. “What did Carter think of the watch?”
Father was quiet for a long time as he headed back to the house, the silence surrounding all of us. “It meant a lot to him…” His voice caught slightly, and he took a deep breath to cover his emotion. “Bellissima, thank you for giving me my children.” He grabbed her hand as he kept driving. “It’s the greatest gift anyone has ever given me.”
After Mom put Luca to bed, she came into my bedroom.
I knew she would come. I also knew she would wait until my father was asleep so he wouldn’t overhear our conversation.
I didn’t sleep last night and I was exhausted, but I knew tonight would be another repeat. It didn’t matter how tired I was; I couldn’t sleep unless Bosco was beside me. It was a terrible habit I’d developed, and I couldn’t break it.
Mom knocked before she came inside.
I was ready for bed, my face washed and my teeth brushed. I kept my hair down because it was too curly for a ponytail.
She sat beside me on the bed and didn’t look at me. She looked at the floor, which was unusual for her. She usually looked me right in the eye.
Now I knew she definitely knew. “I’m sorry I lied before. I just… I’m not ready to talk about it.”
She sighed quietly before she looked at me. “Carmen, you’re a grown woman who doesn’t have to talk to me about anything. Your personal life is none of my business. I’ve always respected you in that way, since the day you become an adult.”
