Page 2 of Her Cruel One-Sided Love

"PARTY TIME!"

The words, yelled out by a sunglass-wearing driver of a convertible, takes me away from my thoughts, and I absently watch the guy's red-hot Camaro slow down to let security inspect his car with metal detectors and bomb-sniffing dogs.

Guests who aren't from around here may think this is overkill, but this isfamigliaterritory, after all, and so security here has always been White-House-levels tight.

'Evening, ma'am,'I overhear security address the other passenger.'Mind if you open the glove compartment for inspection?'

'Oh, sure.'

My head jerks up at hearing the other passenger speak.

That voice!

Iknowthat voice, and my incredulous gaze flies straight to the brunette seated next to the driver.

That can't be her, can it?

"Julio, look!" I elbow my cousin's side and ignore his grunt of pain as I tiptoe and crane my neck in an effort to get a better look at the other girl. "Isn't that Ynez?"

The car speeds away before Julio can take a peek, and I bite back a groan.

Argh!

"I really think that girl—-"

Julio cuts me off with a glare. "Stop it,cuginetta.Remember what we came here for?"

"But I really think—-"

My cousin cuts me off with a groan."Smettila!"The words translate to 'stop it' in Italian, and I feel slightly guilty after hearing the genuine dismay in Julio's voice.

"Don't you remember your promise, Ysa? Or don't you care anymore about not making your Mama feel guilty for moving on?"

"Of course I care—-"

"It's been four years since you last had fun," Julio stresses."Four years!"

I bite back a sigh. Maybe he's right, and I'm worrying too much over Ynez again. "You win."

Julio shakes his head. "Not enough."

I make a face, but my cousin still isn't satisfied.

"I want to hear you promise,cuginetta. No more acting like you're Ynez' babysitter.Capisce?"

"Bene, bene." Fine, fine.

"Still not good enough," Julio retorts. "Give me your word, Ysabel Fiore—-"

"Yes, okay, you have my word."

"Good girl."

I slap his hand off when he tries patting my head, but Julio only laughs since we both know getting a rise out of me has always been one of his favorite hobbies.

The guy in front of us suddenly turns to Julio, asking him something about the lineup for tonight's live concert. You can practically see sparks flying between them, and by the time it's Julio and the other guy's turn to have their IDs scanned for entry, I've had the distinctly awkward pleasure of witnessing their first makeout sesh.

Ugh.

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