Chapter 39

Chiara

The farther I get away from the pavilion, the lighter I feel. It’s like the claws of that Juliet are finally easing off of me, and I can finally breathe. It helps to know that the people having dinner there don’t seem to notice that I’m gone.

Well, except Alessio.

“Chiara!” he keeps calling behind me, and I want to just walk farther away without addressing it, but I can’t, even though this little flame of jealousy inside me doesn’t feel so little anymore.

Taking a deep breath, I finally turn around to face him.

He stops in his tracks, his face taut with confusion. Even though I’m standing still, he still approaches me carefully like I’m some sort of a rare bird that will fly away if he gets too close.

"Hi," I say awkwardly, waving around as though I'm trying to show him something when in reality, I'm just keeping my hands busy. "Very great night, huh? Really pretty."

"Yeah." Alessio inhales slowly and frowns at me. "Did I do anything wrong?"

My eyes go wide. Shit, he's onto me.