“Nora, he gave you a ride to class when he works a five-minute walk away from your building.”
“Maybe he’s just a nice guy?” I shrugged.
“Yeah, and maybe I’m the Easter Bunny.”
“Hmm, I don’t see it.” My lips curved with amusement.
“Luca is nice… But he doesn’t have that dark brooding vibe working for him.”
“Oh, shut up. I’m not talking about this with you.”
Awkward silence fell over us and then Matteo said, “I know this can’t be easy for you. Watching Ari with Nicco. Being on the periphery to… everything.”
“It is what it is. She’s happy.”
“They both are. But still, it sucks to want someone who doesn’t feel the same.”
His words weren’t intended to be malicious, but it didn’t stop them from cutting deep. I did want Enzo. I’d wanted him the first time I’d ever laid eyes on him. There was something in his haunted icy gaze that caught my interest. It had pulled me in, shackled me to him whether he wanted me or not.
“What do you know about unrequited feelings?” I teased.
It was a joke, but the second the words came out I saw the flash of hurt in Matteo’s eyes.
“Matt?”
“Nothing.” He gave me a tight smile. “You’re right, I know nothing. But I know something about guys who give their neighbors a ride to class.”
Laughter bubbled in my chest. This was the Matteo Bellatoni I knew and loved. Funny and warm. But something bothered me about his earlier mood. Something I realized probably had nothing to do with me, and everything to do with his best friend.
“He’ll be okay, right?” I whispered, locking eyes on Matteo.
He let out a steady breath and clucked his tongue. “I hope so, Nora. I really fucking hope so.”
“Hey Lucii,” I said as I sat down in my Media and Society class.
“Hey, girl.” She smiled, her bright blue eyes twinkling under the strip lighting. “Did you enjoy the holidays?”
“It was okay, I guess. I’d forgotten how much parents fuss.”
“Tell me about it. My mom was constantly trying to feed me.” We shared a chuckle. “I’m relieved to be back. I’d gotten used to the freedom.”
“I feel you,” I grumbled, thinking how suffocating it had been being back at the house. I loved my parents, loved them something fierce, but being back on the Capizola estate, at the cottage… it had made me realize how small our lives had been there. How sheltered.
“I heard about Arianne. I can’t believe she’s married… that’s… wow.”
“Yeah.” I managed a weak smile. “But she’s happy.”
“Must be hard though, losing your best friend freshman year of college.”
“It’s not like that,” I said, even though I could see why Lucii thought that. People were probably expecting to see the baby bump soon.
“Hey, a few of us are heading to Mercutio’s tonight for happy hour. You should totally come.”
“I…” I hesitated. After everything that had happened last semester, my social life had taken a backseat.
“Come on,” she nudged my shoulder, “you know you want to.”
“Yeah.” A tentative smile spread over my lips. “Okay.”
“Yay. It’ll be fun. And there’s always plenty of hot college guys and graduates hanging out.” Her brows waggled suggestively. “I have your number still, so I’ll text you with the details later. You’re living in La Stella now, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh my God, I would die to live there. Is it awesome? I bet it’s awesome.”
“It’s pretty awesome.” Something inside me twisted. I liked Lucii. We had a couple of classes together and she always made an effort to talk to me, but she didn’t know me. Maybe it was time to rectify that though. My life was going to be different now Arianne was married. I needed to find my own way, I needed to make new friends and make a life for myself.
Because Enzo wasn’t coming for me. He wasn’t going to stride into the room and declare his feelings for me. And I was worth fighting for.
I was worth being the center of someone’s world.
Chapter 9
Enzo
“Tell me what I need to know.” My fist crumpled against the guy’s face, his sticky blood coating my hand. I’d left off the brass knuckles this time. I wanted to feel his bones crunch with every punch.
“I-I don’t know nothing, Marchetti, I swear.”
“That’s what they all say until they’re bleeding out like a pig, crying for their mama,” Gino chuckled darkly. He was leaning against the door, twirling his Tanto blade in his hand.