Page 20 of Bittersweet

“From Romy?” B looksincredulous.

“From having her heart broken when another woman she loves walks out of herlife.”

My sister’s tone is sharp as she says, “Her heart, oryours?”

I swallow hard and scrub my hands over my beard. “Both.”

B’s shoulders fall. “Oh,Elio.”

She steps forward, but I put my hand up to stop her from coming any closer. “I told you to leave it alone. Stoppushing.”

“You have met her, right?” Nico says, helping himself to yet anotherpastry.

I shake my head. “Yeah, and while we’re on the subject of ignoring our feelings, I gotta say, my sister is perfect foryou.”

“Oh, eww,” B says, screwing up hernose.

Nico’s mouth drops open midchew and he makes a disgruntled face. Finally, he sets the pastry on the counter and brushes the flaky crumbs from his hands. “Come on, man, what the hell was that? You put me off myfood.”

“Forget your food, Beneventi,” my sister says. “The idea of having sex with you is enough to turn me off men forlife.”

“Gah! Get the hell out of my café. Don’t forget to tip your waiter.” I toss my hands in the air and push into the kitchen where the doors swing closed behind me. The idea of my sister having sex at all is not a welcome image in my head. Not while my dick’s still semihard from holding Romy close. Not when all I can think about is her skin under my hands, her body under mine, her ass on my counter, and her moans filling mykitchen.

Jesus, I need to grow a pair, and I need a fucking freezing cold shower.Outside. InDecember.

8

Romy

“It was a mess,”I groan, turning the car onto Mom and Dad’sstreet.

“I’m sure that’s not true.” Emma tries to console me, her voice clear through my Bluetoothspeakers.

“Sweet of you to say, but I promise, I gave him the ‘kiss me’ eyes. I stood, I lingered, I stared longingly at his mouth and licked my lips—I couldn’t have been clearer,” Iprotest.

“Did you tell him that you liked him?” sheasks.

“We went hiking together! I’m at his café every single day,and—”

“Did you tell him that you liked him?” she asks, that “mom” voice coming into play oncemore.

“No,” Iconcede.

“Maybe you need to make that clearer. Guys aren’t as smart as us when it comes to interpreting the signs,” she says, then changes her tone of voice. “Except for you, Mr. McChubberson. When you grow up, I’ll make sure you know how to treat a womanright.”

My heart warms. “How isIsaac?”

“Draining me like I’m a cow. I swear, I didn’t even have my boobs out this much when Drew and I first started dating.” Emma sighs. “Now, back to the subject at hand. Are you going to make a move onElio?”

“I just don’t know if I should. He confuses me, Em. He flirts with me. He said I have a hotass—”

“Youdo.”

“Thanks.” We both know my ass is far from hot. “But then I try for the kiss, and he acts as if he’s amonk.”

“You know, not all monks arecelibate.”

“That’s hardly the point.” I sigh. “Elio is just so confident. I can’t understand why he hasn’t made a movealready.”

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