Page 90 of Hostile Secret
“He’s not my type. That’s all. I like older guys.”
“With more experience.” Ana waggles her brows at me. “I’m certain Fabian has plenty of moves in that department. Apparently, he’s quite the dirty talker. Anyway, you want to come to prom with us, right?”
“Of course, I do.” More than anything. Going to prom is a mandatory right for all high school graduates. “But––”
“Play your cards right and Fabian might ask you to go with him.” She interrupts. “I heard him mention it in Elysian. Why would he do that if he wasn’t thinking of asking you to go? Even if you’re not into one of the hottest guys in Thornhill Academy, he’d show you a memorable evening, that’s for sure.”
“I’d rather fly solo.” I huff, throwing myself back onto the pillows. “He hasn’t asked me. And I wouldn’t say yes even if he did.”
“You’re not telling me everything, India, are you? No girl with eyes and a vagina would turn that guy down.”
My eyes focus on the ceiling, where hundreds of twinkly lights are embedded in the plaster to mimic the cosmos.
“I can’t go to prom, Ana. It’s not happening. My brother and I have an important family commitment. There’s no getting out of it.” I lie through my teeth.
“You’re joking? Are you for real?”
I shrug. “For real.”
“Okay,” she says thoughtfully, squeezing my shin. “Take whatever you want from my closet for tonight. They’ll be here soon.” Her brow creases as she thinks. “Maybe we could arrange our own party a few days later. A Vargas post prom party.” She clasps her hands together. “Oh my God, I can see it now. We could replicate the event, but make it invitation only… intimatevelada.”
Oh, holy fuck.
I won’t break the news to her this evening, but hopefully I’d be jetting off to Italy by the time prom is over.
She stands, holding an ivory silk blouse against her chest. “It would be an injustice if you didn’t mess around with Fabian… just a little bit.” Her eyes sparkle with wicked intentions. “I’m sure he’d be one hell of a ride. You could do worse.”
I roll my eyes at her. “You’re relentless, Ana.”
“I know.” She smirks. “Why waste a good dick, right? Ever since Fabian invited you to Elysian, Seb has started to message me. I’m sure it’s a tactic to get you two closer, but I’ll take the attention for now. This way, I can remind him what he could have had.”
“Could have had?” I throw a cushion at her. “You literally drool whenever he walks past us in the halls.”
“I do notdrool!” She feigns indignation. “Anyway, I’m going to take a quick shower before the boys arrive. There’s a guest bathroom down the hall if you want to freshen up.”
The second she’s away, my stomach knots. Fabian is coming here and if Giovanni finds out, he would think I’d planned it all along.
Unable to settle my nerves, I jog into her closet and scan the designer clothes and racks of shoes. Nothing interests me, not even the sexy Louboutin heels I had my eye on a few months ago in the Miami store.
In a blind panic, I grab a pair of dark skinny jeans and a white cami top from a hanger. What should have been a chill evening with my friend is now a blatant set up.
Getting out of earshot, I hurry to the guest bedroom a few doors down the landing and lock myself in the adjoining white and powder pink bathroom.
I need Reno, so I unlock my phone and tap on his number, waiting for the prompt to leave a message.
“Hey… Reno… it’s me,” I say on a shaky breath. “So much has happened. I wish you were here. I’m so lost without you. I’ve done something… with Gio. He isn’t that bad after all. In fact, he’s shown me a side of himself I never expected to find. He has a…” I stop talking, aware of my soaring heart rate. “It doesn’t matter. I used to tell you everything, but that’s changed now.”
My eyes sting at the revelation. “I like him, and I don’t need your approval because… you’re not here anymore.”
I’m walking a track over the tiles, spilling my thoughts in a babbled voice message when it beeps because I’ve run out of time.
Calling him back, I start all over again. “Sorry, I got cut off.” I pointlessly explain. “Anyway… I came to Ana’s for a girly night, but she’s invited a few guys from school. I swear I didn’t know they were coming. It’s a fucking nightmare. Gio will think I lied to him. I’ll lose his trust. He’ll hate me, Reno. But I don’t want him to hate me. I can’t leave now, or Ana will think there’s something odd going on.
“And I—I had sex with Gio… because I have a huge crush on him.” I sigh heavily. “I know, I know… I can practically hear you yelling at me.”
I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My skin is pink from panic and my eyes are bloodshot.
“It’s okay. I know we don’t have a future together,” I whisper the admission, staring at my reflection as I say it. “He doesn't have space for me in his life. So, I shouldn’t get too hung up on him, right?”
