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A knock sounds at the door, breaking our silent stare off. I groan, bend to kiss her lips, then stride to the door. Grabbing the knob, I pull it open to reveal the man I thought hadmypiccola. He grins at me, thrusting his hand up to shake. “Nice to formally meet you, Theo.”
I take his hand, shaking it. “Likewise. Sorry about the tack room incident.” I’m not sorry, not in the slightest. I could have all the therapy in the world, but nothing would change my jealousy or possessiveness when it comes to my piccola. I am always going to be this way with her. No matter if we have been together six months, six years, or even sixty years, I will never change when it comes to her. She is the only person to exist that draws these visceral, primal feelings and reactions out of me and I’m not ashamed of that.
He stares at me, a perplexed look on his face. Did Thalia not tell him that it was me who locked him in there? “Tack room incident?” he repeats as a question.
I shrug. “I would have done anything if it meant getting Thalia alone.”
“It was you?” he sputters then throws his head back laughing. I feel my piccola come up beside me, she places a hand on my arm, before looking up at me with wide eyes. Guess that answers my question about her telling him.
“Sorry I didn’t tell you.” She shifts on her feet; a pleading look in her eyes as she stares at her friend. He steps forward, pulling her into his arms, I grit my teeth. I chant in my head over and over that they’re just friends. That he is gay. It doesn’t help. I want to grab him, pull his arms from their sockets, and beat him over the head with them.
“Baby girl.”Baby girl?Oh, no. Now I really want to kill him. She isnothis baby anything.“It’s fine. It all worked out. I can respect the lengths Theo went to. It proves to me that he’s serious about being with you.” He winks “Even if it’s in a caveman way.” I clench my jaw, so as not to say something stupid. I don’t need this fucker’s approval.
Clearing my throat, I blurt, “Would you like something to drink?”
He smirks. “Beer is fine if you have any?”
Stepping into the small kitchen, I pull open the fridge. Glancing over my shoulder, my eyes land on Thalia—like they always do—to find her and the prince making their way deeper into my apartment. “Piccola, do you want a beer?”
Her eyes snap to me. She’s legal to drink in Europe. Not that she’s a big drinker anyway, but still. “Sure.”
I make quick work of grabbing and opening the beers but don’t miss Francois whispering the wordpiccola.Guess Thalia didn’t tell him about my little pet name for her. He better not start using it, otherwise I will kill him.
Making my way over to where they are standing by the couch, I jerk my head. “Let’s sit on the balcony.” I pause, staring him dead in the eyes. “And piccola is whatIcall Thalia. It meanslittle onein Italian.” I shove his beer at him, spin, and make my way to the small balcony where a four-seater table and chairs sits. It overlooks most of the showground and gives great views of the sea.
Pulling a chair out for my girl, I get her situated before taking the one beside her. Unfortunately for me there is limited space, and her friend takes my piccola’s other side.
A little too close for my liking.
He takes a sip of his beer, eyeing me the whole time. “So, Theo, I’ve heard quite a lot about you.”
“I would say I hope it’s all good, but I doubt it is,” I say drily.
He chuckles. “Actually, baby girl here only had good things to say.” There he goes with that affectionate name again. I clench my teeth together so hard, I swear a break a molar. Thalia glances at me with a frown. She knows I don’t like him calling her that. Reaching down, she squeezes my leg in a comforting gesture. One that doesn’t calm me in the slightest.
“Is that right?” I grit out.
His brows knit in confusion, no doubt at my change in demeanor. “Yes. I know things haven’t been great for either of you, but I do hope this is a turning point and that you will treat my girl how she deserves to be treated?”
I see red. I want to throttle this fucker. I barely feel the warning pinch my piccola gives me because I’m so angry that he thinks he can talk to me like this. I get that he cares about her, but nobody loves my piccola more than I do. Yes, what happened was fucked up, but I had no control over Melody. I don’t need this asshole throwing it in my face. I take a breath, trying to calm myself. It will not do me any favors if I smash my fist in his face. “I get why you’re worried but there is really no need. And for the record, she isn’tyourgirl. She’s mine.” I flash him some teeth, daring him to challenge it.
He searches my face, then laughs. “Well then, I guess that’s settled. You, Mr. Rhodes, have my approval. One more thing, Theo, Thalia will always bemygirl.” He raises his beer in cheers. I stare at him. This fucker. My piccola will never behisas long as I have breath in my lungs. “To you and Thalia.” This time I do raise my beer. But only because I agree with him.
It is me and Thalia.
