And I wonder, passively, what he means by that. If, perhaps, he’s not talking about Violetta and our current reality at all. If what he’s saying goes far, far further back. Back to a boy, and a girl, sitting on a rooftop in the early summer. And him calling her Daisy. And her staring at him in the
I’m dressed very poshly today as Frankie and I walk into Lupa, perfectly on time for my lunch shift. Nico insisted I look good – not at all try to hide myself away in any clothes that made me look shy or innocent. No, he insisted I dress like I always do – or sexier, if I’m being honest. I didn’t
The bar is busy and tense today, everyone – workers and guests alike – keeping an eye on the door, knowing that the mafia world exploded last night and that shit is going to go down. None of the guests – I can tell – are tourists. Just insiders today, which I suppose makes sense. Until this is all s
Romano begins the interrogation by snapping questions out at me, fast. I stumble through my answers, suddenly grateful that Nico put me through my paces this morning – made me repeat the story so many times that I could do it in my sleep. I realize, suddenly, that he was preparing me for this – and
And I tilt my head, my eyes sliding shut, my lips parting just…just a little, hoping… But the door behind Frankie opens, and I never get to figure out whether or not he would have kissed me. Because I open my eyes, and Frankie turns, and we both lift our eyes to where Christian is standing. Franki
I’m exhausted by the time Frankie and I get in that night, and a little relieved when I come through the door to see that Nico and Christian are already there, slumped on the couch. A smug little thrill of pleasure runs through me when I see that Violetta is again absent. “Is there any whiskey lef
It is only after we’re all stuffed and on our second or third drinks that I notice that things are…cozier…than I expected them to be. I’m slouched a bit on the couch, leaning against a large pillow close to Christian with my legs curled up to my side. And as I watch the movie I realize, after a lo
“All right!” I say, probably a little louder than I need to, snapping my eyes away from Nico’s wicked grin. “That’s enough movie for me!” I rip my hand from Christian’s in the same moment that I swing my legs off the couch and out of Frankie’s grasp, knocking my blanket to the floor. Quickly, I stan