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“No, you’re not. But you don’t understand how those things work inmyworld. I just need an hour—give me an hour to show you.”
“Why? Tell me why I should waste any more of my time with you?”
“Because I know I’m not the only one who feels this thing between us. I know you feel it too, Holly. This, us, we’re different. Please don’t give up on us before we’ve even had a chance to begin… I’m begging you. And I don’t fucking beg anyone.”
Well, damn, his words sure are pretty. But can I really take the risk and let him talk me around? What are his plans? To have me be the other woman in his life?Thatwill never happen. No matter how many pretty words he throws my way.
But what have I really got to lose by hearing him out? I give a slight nod, and I see him visibly exhale. “Okay, but I’m never going to be the other woman, Theo. If that’s your plan here, it’s not happening.”
“I promiseyouare theonlywoman.” He picks up my hand, threading our fingers together. I should pull away. I should tell him where to shove his excuses and what not, but I just can’t seem to let go.
He’s right: we are different. Whatever this is between us, it’s different from anything I’ve ever felt. It has to be the real thing. I have to believe he has a perfectly rational explanation for having a fiancée.
Even thinking it makes me want to hurl. I can’t stop the tears before a few strays fall down my face. Theo’s hand comes up and wipes my cheek.
“Odio vedere le tue lacrime. Sei troppo bella per essere i così triste,” Theo whispers. I have no idea what he’s just said, but it sounds beautiful. Not to mention, the tingles his words elicit, in regions that have no business tingling right now.
“What does that mean?” I ask.
“I said: I hate to see your tears. You are far too beautiful to be so sad.”
“And you are far too smooth for my heart to handle.”
“I will not break your heart, dolcezza. I promise you that.”
“You can’t know that.”
“And yet I do.” Theo pulls out his phone and dials a number. I can hear the call connect, and after a few short rings, a female voice answers. “L, I need you to meet me at my apartment—now.” I can’t make out what’s being said on the other end. I do, however, put two and two together and gather he’s speaking to his fiancée. I attempt to tug my hand away from Theo’s. He just glances down with a scowl and holds on tighter. “No, now, Lana. It’s important.” Again, I don’t catch her response. “Because I fucking asked you to. If you don’t, I might have to give your daddy a call and drop the name of that Russian boyfriend you think no one knows about.” A pause. “Like I said, it’s fucking important. Be there in twenty.” Theo hangs up the phone.
I shift my head and look out the window. I’m not sure how to take his ruthlessness. He’s so full-on and demanding. It scares me, yet I’m also turned on. Shit, I’m in way over my head here.
My phone rings. Bending down, I swipe my purse from the floor. Theo reluctantly lets go of my hand so I can answer. Although, by the time I shuffle through the contents of my bag, I’ve missed the call. I know it’s Reilly, and she’s just going to call straight back. And she does. Within seconds, my phone starts up again—but this time, it’s a video chat.
I answer it, holding the screen away from Theo so she can’t see him. “Hey, Rye, what’s up?” I try my fake happy voice. If only it would work on her…
“Cut the bullshit, Holly. Why are you crying? And why do I have a sudden sharp pain in my chest? What happened?”
“Argh, nothing happened. It’s allergies—I have allergies and was running errands. I got a stitch. Maybe you got a stitch too?” I suggest.
“You’re a shitty fucking liar, Hol. Try again,” Reilly says, to which Theo chuckles.
“Hold up, what was that?Whowas that? Holly, rotate the phone all the way around, nice and slowly. Actually, wait! Let me get Bray.” Reilly yells out to her husband, and he shouts something back.
“Rye, stop. Look, there is no one here other than me and the Uber driver.” I turn the phone around so she can see Loui in the front seat, hoping I’ll get away without introducing her to Theo—you know, more formally this time.
But I’m not so lucky… He snatches the phone right out of my hands and turns the camera on himself. “And me, I’m Theo. It’s nice to meet you, Reilly. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Well, unfortunately, I can’t say the same thing about you. Why are you with my sister, and why is she fucking sad?” Reilly asks.
“Stop.” I go for the phone, but Theo holds it out of my reach.
“I’m with your sister because she’s fucking amazing. And she’s sad because we had a little…misunderstanding. But I’m working on fixing that as we speak.”
“Just so you know, if you hurt my sister, I will find you. I will chop you up into tiny pieces and feed you to the great whites. I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty, and I know how to fight.”
“Who are you threatening now, babe?” Bray’s voice comes through louder.
“Okay, that’s enough.” I jump up and grab the phone. “Rye, I’m going to call you back later.”
