I open the window wide, letting fresh air hit my face, but it doesn’t help. Nothing helps. I just want to go back. I want to be with Luca.
I never should’ve hooked up with him. Now I don’t know how I’ll be able to forget him and keep living my life as if nothing happened.
Luca gives me everything I’ve ever wanted and even things I didn’t know I needed. How can I just go back to my life when I know things could be so much better?
There’s still so much I don’t know about him but want to find out. I run my fingers over my lips and close my eyes, remembering his kiss.
Remembering his mouth.
His dark eyes.
His tattoos and scars.
He’s hiding things from me. I’m sure of it. But I’m doing the same thing to him, so I can’t really blame him.
It’s like we’re perfect for each other. We’re both people with secrets who can’t or don’t want to talk about themselves. We’re the perfect fit.
The door swings wide open, and I gasp, my eyes flying open as I turn around. My mother stands in the doorway, her gaze traveling up and down my body. I’m wearing the stupid light pink gown that she bought for me. I look like an actual princess.
Maybe pink bubble gum princess. My father’s friends must be TV ad makers or something like that if my mother thinks this is the right outfit for me. I look even younger than I am.
“Are you ready?” she asks, even though she can see that I am. “Come.”
I follow her out of the room. She has her hair lifted up into a tight bun, and she’s wearing a long cream dress with a deep neckline. The diamond necklace my father gifted her for her birthday is around her neck.
I never get anything for my birthdays. Actually, my father ignores them completely, and my mother barely sayshappy birthday.
“Remember, you need to be on your best behavior. Keep your head down and your mouth shut. Is that clear?” She turns to me before we enter the dining room.
“Yes, mother.” I can already hear the lively voices coming from the room.
The staff is rushing around with plates and glasses. I take a deep breath and enter the room. My father’s gaze briefly flickers to my mother and me. Five men that are about his age stop talking and all turn to look at me.
I want to turn around and run. Get out of here as soon as possible.
“Ah, my lovely family,” my father says with a smile.
My mother places her hand on my back, propelling me forward. The men look me up and down as if I’m an animal in a zoo.
Where are their families? Their wives? Why is it just them, and my mother and I have to be here too? I don’t understand.
My father’s eyes are on me when I take a seat at the table next to my mother. He gives me a warning look, even though I have no idea what’s going on here. What role are we supposed to play now?
The men break into conversation again, and I breathe out a sigh of relief. But one of the men keeps staring at me. His beady dark eyes meet mine. His short hair is grayish brown, and his beard is thick.
One of the servers pours some wine in my mother’s glass, and then in mine. I’m surprised my father is letting us drink alcohol, or maybe we’re just supposed to pretend we’re sipping on it.
All I want is to gulp down the whole glass, but my mother would probably stab me with her fork. I only need to sit here for long enough, and then it’ll all be over. The creepy men will be gone, and everything will be fine.
I focus my attention on the glass, tracing my finger over its base. My mother said I should keep my head down, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
“She’s pretty,” the beady-eyed guy says, catching my attention.
“I’m glad you think that, Orlando,” my father says. “My daughter is exactly what you’re looking for. Young, pretty, quiet, obedient, and she’s a virgin who’ll give you plenty of child—”
I jerk with a gasp, knocking over the glass. The wine spills everywhere, and Orlando narrows his eyes.
My father’s murderous glare turns to me while two servers rush to clean up the mess. I barely breathe as my heart pounds in my chest.