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“Some date this is.” She snorts, her bright red fingertips pushing her plate away from her. “Why did you even bother bringing me out tonight? We both know youloathemy company.”
I hum, leaning back in my seat as she picks up her fork to scoop the lemon from her water glass—the lemon she specifically requested.“I really do.” Her nose scrunches, dropping her soggy lemon slice onto the table linen. “Because you do shit like that.” I nod toward her lemon and she rolls her eyes, starting to pick at her rigatoni.
“Why didn’t you order anything? Now I just look weird eating by myself.”
My fingers scrub at my eyes. “Trust me, Viva, I’m not the reason you look weird right now.”
“Daddy told me I’d live a life of luxury being your wife.” She takes a small bite of her food and apparently decides it’s worth the gluten because she takes another. “So far all you’ve done is ignore me.” Bite. “And refuse to have sex with me.” Bite. “Which is ridiculous because I’m hot.” Bite. “IknowI am.”
“Yes, poor Viva,” I mock, leaning back in my seat. “I can’t imagine how hard it could possibly be to spend your days wasting Famiglia money on endless amounts of clothes, shoes, and spa days.”
“Whatever, Remy. You just don’t get it.” Her hand rises as she summons a passing waitress, her scowling face directed toward them once they get to our table. “Can I get another glass of water? This timewithoutthe lemon.”
Looking away from her, I don’t catch whatever snotty comment she added before the waitress left, my eyes flicking over the other guests at the restaurant. The drink I try to pick up from the table nearly slips through my fingers, my heart thudding as Gavino and Bev take a seat in the middle of the dining room. Taking a sip, I watch as Bev sits, the skirt of her dark burgundy dress rising with her movements. Her back is to me, and bare, the smooth skin of her shoulder blades flexing as she settles into her seat.
The long, dark strands of her hair are pinned up on her head, and when she turns her face to the side to look up at the waitress, her tattoo peeks out from under a loose lock of hair. I itch to get up and go to her, to disrupt the apparent date she seems to be on with Gavino, but I don’t.
Instead, I force myself to look away and down my glass before setting it next to the one I’d stolen from Viva. Seeing Bev with Gavino hasn’t gotten any easier, if anything, every time I get a little more angry and bitter over the situation.
I just need a little more time.
Then this entire nightmare of a situation will be dealt with.
But it’s hard being patient, especially when I’m constantly tempted to rip my brother’s eyes straight from his sockets for even looking at Beverly.
“Where are we going after this?”
My attention is momentarily drawn back to Viva. “Where do you want to go?”
Her slender blonde brow rises. “You’re actually asking me whatIwant to do?”
I hum in response, sitting back in my seat and intentionally giving myself a straight view of Beverly and Gavino.
“I think I want to go see a movie,” she finally says, sipping from her fresh lemon-free water.
“Great. I’ll have the driver take you.” I ignore her scoff, my eyes on Beverly as Gavino stands from the table.
Figlio di puttana.
I’m standing before I even realize it, my body screaming for violence at the look on Bev’s face as she stands up to follow him out of the restaurant.
“Where are you going?”
My eyes snap to Viva. “To the bathroom.” I start to move, speaking over my shoulder, “The driver will be ready for you when you’re done. Don’t wait up.”
Chapter Nine
BEVERLY
Leaning forward, I apply gloss to my lips, lightly smacking them together when I stand. It’s the final touch to the outfit I’m wearing out to dinner tonight. After taking a week for myself to process everything, I finally gave in and messaged Gavino, inviting him out to dinner; he had agreed right away, even offering to make our reservations. The plan is to seduce him, a task I don’t think should be overly difficult, considering his affection toward me, but one that makes me nervous nonetheless. I don’t want to sleep with Gavino. I don’t want to eventhinkabout sleeping with Gavino. But the time has passed for me to be hung up on it because Ineedthis plan to work.
For both Remy and our baby.
There’s a knock on my door that I know is Gavino and I quickly adjust the gold sunflower chain around my neck that he’d gotten me for my birthday, my heels sinking lightly into the carpet as I hurry to open the door. Taking a deep breath, I turn the knob, smiling at Gavino standing in the hall.
“Wow.” He pauses, eyes flicking along my burgundy fitted dress and black pumps. “You look great tonight, Bev.”
I smile, a soft, “Thank you,” parting my lips as I move forward and shut the door at my back. I eye his navy suit. “You look really nice also.”
