Page 17 of Useless Love

“What the fuck is your problem?” she says, stepping onto the floor.

“Explain to me what I did to deserve you as a sister?”

Grabbing a towel, Arianna rolls her eyes again. “Don’t be dramatic.”

“Dramatic? You spend most of your time mocking or deceiving me!” I yell. “All I ever try to do is support you and be a good sister, and you just use me, again and again.”

She’s unfazed by my outburst, wiping her brow. “I see you talked to Father. Listen, you wouldn’t have done it if I had simply asked. But it’s a great plan. Even Father has to admit my plan will work.”

My eyes prick with tears. “You took my choice away and toyed with my emotions, making me fear for Victoria’s safety. You moved me around like a chess piece on your board.”

She throws the towel on the floor. “Luca is dead! I don’t have time to baby you. I did what I had to do so grow the fuck up.”

My chest tightens. “I know Luca is dead. You aren’t the only one who misses him.”

A sadness flashes across Arianna’s eyes for a moment, like she’s remembering the day he died. I had come in here ready to scream at her all night, but now I’m softening. She was almost raped. She saw Luca die. She’s been through so much. Based on what I’ve learned in school, she’s probably just lashing out and trying to avoid her emotions. I’ve seen this before—when a brother dies, she takes it out on the family for months. Why won’t she just let me comfort her?

Arianna attempts to leave the gym, so I run over to the door, blocking her exit.

“Move, Gaia,” she demands.

“No.”

“Move. Before I—”

“What? Go ahead, hit me. I’m not moving. You need to talk to me.”

Chuckling, she says, “We both know if I lift one finger, Father would drop my ass before my hand makes contact.”

“I’m glad you fucking know it!” Father booms from behind me, and I flinch. He’s standing in the hallway staring daggers at Arianna.

I step aside, shivering from that stare that could send shivers down anyone's back.

Arianna sighs as he walks over to us. She’s trying to look casual, but I can see her entire body tensing.

I cleared my throat, attempting to deflect Father’s wrath. “We were just playing around, talking about nothing—”

“Shut up,” Father orders, then narrows his eyes at Arianna. “You better than anyone knows what I’d do if anyone harmed Gaia.”

“Father,” I say quickly. “It was my fault. I was yelling. She only tried to leave..”

Our father ignores my comment. “Arianna, are you willing to marry Carmine Gaudino and help this family achieve peace?”

“Yes,” she says quickly.

“Good. Including Gaia wasn’t my intention, but you do have a habit of rubbing people the wrong way. I’m going to allow this swap for the time being.”

Arianna lowers her head to hide her smirk. No doubt she feels justified in lying to me to enact her plan. I really don’t know what to do with her. I know she has pain and trauma…but she can also be a bitch.

Father glances at me. “Gaia, as I said earlier, if you are willing to help this matter along, I won’t forbade it. Just be careful around Carmine.”

With that, Father leaves the gym, and Arianna marches out right after him. I decide to go to my room to rest. As I reach my bedroom door, my phone rings incessantly. I figure it’s probably Victoria, who went out with some friends, but I’m not in the mood to explain this mess to her just yet.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

Annoyed, I finally grabbed my phone from my back jeans pocket and glance at the screen. My heart does a little flip. Carmine?

But how did he get my number? I sigh. It must’ve been Carla—we exchanged numbers after a few study sessions together.

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