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“The point system you developed was quite sophisticated. I didn’t know some of those moves you came up with.” He laughed, and it was a genuine gesture. He was going to be okay. We were going to be okay. “I had to Google some of them. Like the Eiffel Tower?”
“Oh yeah.” I giggled, shaking my head. “I ran across that one while Googling the Roman Goggles. I put a lot of time and effort into it. I really wanted you guys to think I was cool and sophisticated.”
“We always thought you were cool. How did you get all those guys to lie for you? I thought you had sex with like five different guys.”
“I never slept with them. I didn’t even have to ask them to lie for me. Once I started the rumor, they just kind of went with it. Who would miss out on the opportunity to have a fling with the Queen Bee. I guess that kind of proved Aunt Vittoria’s point. I was never more than a royal to them. They never saw me, for me.” I shifted my weight to face him. “With you, it would’ve been different.”
“Donata.” He shook his head. “You deserve a guy who would think about you when he’s with you.”
This right here was why I loved Enzo. He wasn’t afraid to tell the truth, to show how hurt he was that he lost Aurora. I rested my head on his chest. It would be so easy to love him just like Aunt Vittoria had said. But Enzo and I could only be friends. I loved him too much to ruin it with sex.
“I’m glad you said no.” I sat up. “See? Luca is not the only one who’s said no to me.”
“Except, I don’t make you go all stalker-mode like he does.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Really?” He snatched the computer off my lap and opened the browser and all seven pages I had up of Luca. “Case in point.”
“Don’t be a jerk.” I shut the computer.
“You’re not wrong about him. He kept your secret for years. He’s a solid guy.”
“I’m sure Aunt Vittoria threatened him in some way. But you’re right. He’s a solid guy. You don’t know him like I do.” I ran my hand over the screen of my laptop, wishing I could touch the actual man.
“You don’t know him either.” He chuckled, throwing his leg over the side of the bed. “Come on, I’m hungry. Let’s grab a bite to eat somewhere.”
“I can’t. I have to finish this essay before class tonight.”
“You still have to eat.” He rose to his feet and pulled me out of bed.
I let him drag me out of the house and to a coffee shop near the school. For the first time in two years, Enzo didn’t have that look in his eyes like he was about to jump off a building. Maybe seeing my fucked-up life made him realize his life wasn’t so bad. Though we definitely couldn’t compare tragedies. He lost the love of his love. I merely couldn’t get the love of my life to look at me.
By the time he walked me to the auditorium for a second round of unrequited love, I had a new plan to keep my head down and make it through Luca’s class in one piece. All I had to do was turn in assignments on time and avoid him at all costs. No more stalking him online either.
“Are you going to be okay?” Enzo opened the door for me. “I’d stay, but I have this study group.”
“I’m totally fine. You go on. Let’s meet here afterward?”
“Done.” He leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Be good.”
“Always.” I winked at him and headed down the hallway.
As soon as I walked in, I realized students were more or less sitting in the same seats as last week. And, of course, most of them were already saving spots for their friends. With a sigh, I trudged toward the stage, wishing I had begged Enzo to come with me. I’d never been one to back down from a fight, but Luca had a way to make me doubt my entire existence.
I was doing fine sitting across from the podium until he walked in, looking as delicious as ever. All the talk about sex with Enzo had put me in a horny mood. Or maybe it wasn’t me. What if Luca was trying to seduce me for real. Why else would he amble toward the edge of the stage and then remove his suit jacket.
Don’t picture him naked. Don’t picture him naked.
Too late.
I bet he was rock solid under that vest and button-down shirt. I ogled him as he rolled up his sleeves then returned to the podium to grab his mic. Yeah, I drooled over his round butt too. Omigod. This wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought. All I wanted to do right now was jump up on stage, like some groupie, and throw myself at him.
Squeezing my legs together to ease the throbbing there, I grabbed my laptop and opened a word document. I started typing random thoughts, just to get my mind off Luca and his perfect face and intense brown gaze. Dark, everything about him was dark—his hair, his eyes, his energy.
“Settle down.” His voice boomed over the speakers.
Was he saying that to me?
