Holdings. But I feel like I need to spread my wings before I put down roots.”
“We need you,” Ari said. “I need you.”
A low rumble came from Nicco.
“Relax, husband,” she teased him, “I need you too.”
“Gross, I think I just regurgitated some chili dog.” Matteo grabbed my bottle of water. “Mind?”
“Go for it.” I motioned for him to continue.
“So how did things go with Captain America?”
“Captain America?” My brows knitted.
“Yeah, Luca. He has that whole Chris Evans vibe working for him.”
“Now that you mention it, he kind of does look like Captain America,” Nicco added.
I held up my hand. “Can we please stop referring to him as Captain America?”
“They have a point, Nor.” Arianne chuckled.
“Oh God, not you too.”
“Who’s Luca?” Tristan said, watching us with mild confusion.
“Just some guy who wants in Nora’s pant—”
“Enough!” I smashed my hand over Matteo’s mouth, drowning out his voice. “Luca is my new neighbor.”
“Ah gotcha.” He smirked.
“I give up. I’m going to hang out somewhere else.” I grabbed my bag and got up. “Somewhere where my friends aren’t complete assholes.”
“Nora, babe, don’t be like that,” Matteo called after me. “We’re only joking.”
I flipped him off over my shoulder and kept walking. The truth was, I didn’t want to deal with any of this right now. I didn’t want to deal with my confusing feelings for Luca or my unrelenting feelings for Enzo.
What I wanted was quiet. My hungover brain couldn’t handle much else.
Just as I reached the doors out of the food court, a hand snagged my arm.
“Nora, wait.”
“I’m really not in the mood, babe.” I stared at my best friend with pleading eyes.
“I know, and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“No, you did nothing wrong. I’m just… ugh, I’m so confused.”
“Why don’t we blow off classes this afternoon and have some girl’s time?”
“Yeah?” My mood instantly lifted.
“Yeah. It’s been too long.”
“Ice cream, face masks, and Magic Mike?” I asked, hopeful.
“If that’s what you want, then that’s what we’ll do.” She tucked herself into my side and we walked out of the food court like that.
“The guys are sorry too.”
“No one needs to be sorry.” Any other day, I would have given them some snarky reply. But I wasn’t feeling particularly snarky today.
“Everything’s different now,” I whispered, allowing myself a vulnerable moment.
“I know.” Ari let out a soft sigh, gripping my arm tighter. “But you’re still my best friend, Nor. Nothing will ever change that. I hope you know that.”
“I know,” I replied.
Because I did.
Arianne stayed until she could no longer keep her eyes open. We’d gorged ourselves on ice cream and candy, drooling to the sexual revelation that was Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer.
Nicco sent Luis to pick her up, and I watched as he carried her down the hall, half-asleep. I closed my door and began cleaning up. This should have been our life together: movie nights and pamper sessions, sitting around gossiping about boys and classes.
But now she was married, and I was… pining after a guy who would never want me for more than what my body could give him.
A frustrated cry spilled from my lips as my chest heaved. I hated feeling like this. Weak and sorry for myself.
I wasn’t weak.
I was a freaking firecracker.
I wasn’t the kind of girl to sit around and wait for a guy to wake up and realize I was everything he needed.
I made things happen for myself. I took control of my own destiny.
And I refused to sit around and wait for Enzo Marchetti to pull his head out of his ass when there was another guy who saw me.
Luca saw me.
Without thinking, I marched out of my apartment and across the hall, banging on Luca’s door.
“N-Nora?” He stared at me, wide-eyed, a towel wrapped firmly around his narrow waist. “Is something wrong?”
I didn’t reply. Instead, I threw my arms around his neck and leaned up, crashing my mouth down on his.
“Whoa.” His arm went around my waist as we stumbled back into his room, the door clicking shut behind us.
“Kiss me,” I urged him, nervous energy zipping through my body. “I need for you to kiss me.”
“Slow down…” He broke away, gazing down at me with concern. “Not that I’m complaining, because I’m not…”
“You don’t want me?” I batted my eyelashes at him, liquid lust coursing through my veins.
I wanted this.
Needed it.
“Nora, you know I do.”
“So, what’s the problem?”
Because I could feel the evidence of his desire pressed up against my stomach.