high crashed and burned as I stuttered over the words. “Nothing happened.”
“Nor, I’m not stupid. Enzo was extra grouchy after you left, and Matteo said he saw the two of you slip out of—”
“He’s such a gossip,” I grumbled under my breath.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“There’s nothing to say.” My shoulders lifted in a small shrug.
“I don’t believe that for a second.” A beat passed as Ari searched my face for answers… answers I didn’t have.
I couldn’t explain why I felt drawn to Enzo, why I wanted to understand him, to fix him. Sure, he had that bad boy appeal, but it wasn’t only that. I saw the torment in his eyes, felt his defenses ripple around him like a shield every time we were close. Enzo Marchetti was a complicated guy—layered and complex—and I wanted to strip back each layer and uncover the real him. The guy he didn’t let anyone else see.
Even if I didn’t like what I found.
“Did he tell you he won’t be starting MU on Monday?”
My stomach sank as I tried to school my expression. He’d been inside me, fucking the very soul from my body, and he hadn’t mentioned a goddamn thing.
“No,” I steeled my spine. “He didn’t… You knew?”
“Nicco only confirmed it last night.” Sympathy shone in her eyes. “You know there’s stuff he can’t tell me.”
“So that’s it? He’s just throwing away his entire college career?”
“Nora, you know that’s not how it works.”
“Nicco and Matteo?” I asked, knowing it was a stupid question. Nicco wouldn’t leave Arianne, and Matteo… well, he was different. Something told me he wanted life to be as normal as possible.
But not Enzo.
He’d never really fit in at MU. It didn’t make it any easier to hear though.
“What will he do instead? Wait, forget it. You can’t answer that either.”
She reached over and took my hand. “Because I don’t know. If I did, I’d tell you.”
“I guess that explains last night then,” I murmured, trying hard to erase the images of last night from my head. Enzo’s hand around my throat, his body riding mine.
“The two of you—”
I nodded. “It was goodbye.” The thought hit me like a wrecking ball. Enzo hadn’t dragged me to that storage room because he was jealous, although I didn’t doubt that had a little to do with it. He’d done it because he wanted one last time with me.
That cold bastard.
He’d stoked the flames of hope in my chest while knowing he didn’t have to see me every day around campus.
A wave of nausea rolled through me.
How foolish I’d been.
Enzo didn’t care about me. He cared about what I could give him. A warm, willing body. My stubbornness had refused to accept that, because I felt the threads connecting us. And until this moment, part of me had truly believed that if I pulled hard enough, eventually, I’d find Enzo on the other end.
“Oh, Nor,” Ari said, squeezing my hand.
“I’m fine.” I shot her a weak smile, surprised to feel the dampness on my cheeks.
I rarely cried.
I was stronger than that.
But I was also only human and being wrong about Enzo cut deep.
“There’s someone out there for you, I promise.”
But what if I’d already found him?
What if I’d found the guy I was supposed to be with, and he refused to accept it?
What if he rejected me?
I guess I didn’t need to wonder anymore.
My heart withered in my chest as reality crashed over me.
“Yeah, well, I think I need to focus on other things for a while.” I stuffed the last bite of pastry into my mouth.
“I hate that he hurt you again.”
“It’s fine.” My shoulders lifted in a half-hearted shrug.
“Nora, it’s not fine. You deserve so much better. Enzo is… complicated. He doesn’t know—”
“I really don’t want to talk about this anymore. He’s not coming back to school, so it’s a moot point.” I’d probably still see him occasionally at family events, but I could handle that. “Tell me about the party. Did Arabella enjoy it?”
“She did… until she got caught taking shots with Bailey and Dane. You should have seen Matteo, he lost it.”
“Oh wow, I’m sorry I missed it.” My lips curved.
“Everyone missed you.”
I didn’t believe that for a second, but I appreciated the sentiment.
“Bella and Sia made me promise we can all hang out soon, just the four of us.”
“We totally should. We could have a girl’s night. Face masks, manicures, champagne, a movie…”
“They’ll love that. Sia is always talking about you. You’re like the older,