area so there are plenty of bars and restaurants and good takeout. There’s a gym downstairs too, if that’s your thing.”
From his muscular biceps I assumed it was.
“I work out occasionally, but I prefer to run.”
“There’s a park one block over that’s popular with the jogging crowd.”
“Sounds good.” He sipped his coffee.
“So didn’t anyone else on the floor answer? Or have you been drinking coffee, making small talk with the neighbors all morning?”
“Yours is the first door I tried.”
“I see. Well lucky for you I was feeling neighborly then.”
“Indeed.” His eyes glided down to my chest again, and heat flashed through me.
“Maybe I should change my t-shirt,” I suggested with a playful lilt.
“It’s very… eye-catching.” He chuckled.
“Men,” I mumbled to myself as I drained the rest of my coffee and rinsed the mug under the faucet.
“Strange time to move, on New Year’s?”
He shrugged. “As good a time as any. Besides, I’m not a fan.”
“You’re not a fan of New Year’s?”
“Bad break up a couple of years ago. Kind of ruined it for me.”
“Say no more.” My stomach knotted thinking of a certain blue-eyed mafioso who had been avoiding me ever since I’d found him in bed with a busty blonde.
Of course, the first guy I set my sights on after arriving at MU had to be broody and dark and a total asshole.
Enzo Marchetti was as ruthless as he was cold. And now he was my best friend’s family. Talk about a stroke of bad luck.
“Nora?” Luca’s voice yanked me from memories I’d rather forget.
“Sorry, you were saying?”
“Actually,” he stood, “I should be heading out. But thanks for the coffee. It was nice meeting you.”
“Oh, okay.” His departure seemed a little abrupt, but I wasn’t about to beg him to stay. He was a stranger, and I wasn’t desperate.
“I’ll see myself out,” Luca added. “Maybe I can repay the favor soon?”
“Sure.” I smiled. Why did things feel awkward all of a sudden?
Luca gave me a small nod and headed for the door. When he reached it, he glanced back. “It really was nice to meet you, Nora. Shirt and all.” He smirked.
Then he ducked into the hall and was gone.
“He just invited himself into your apartment?” Arianne shrieked down the line.
“Babe, relax. Maurice was right down the hall. Besides, I thought everyone who moves into La Stella was vetted.”
“They are,” I heard Nicco grumble in the background.
“Not the point,” Ari hissed. “He was a total stranger and you let him into our—your home. Sorry.” Regret coated her voice.
“Don’t be. I could have moved back into dorms, but I didn’t want to. Besides, it’s nice having my own space.” The lie rolled off my tongue. “And now I have a new friend who lives across the hall.”
“You met him once,” she pointed out.
“And he offered to repay the favor next time.” I chuckled, but she didn’t join me. “Ari,” I added, “I’m going to be okay, you know?”
So she was married now. It wasn’t like I didn’t have other friends, and we’d still hang out. Nicco would have mafia business to take care of, and me and Ari would have girl’s time.
Things wouldn’t change that much.
“I know,” she finally said, breaking the beat of silence. “I really miss you, Nor. I want you to know that.”
“But you’re happy, right?”
She hesitated and then let out a dreamy sigh. “I am, I really, really am.”
“Well, that’s all that matters, babe. Friendship doesn’t die just because you went and got yourself a husband.” My laughter almost sounded convincing. “When do you get back?”
“Tomorrow. Nicco has to go see his father so I was thinking we could have girl’s night at our apartment.”
“Sounds good. Just let me know what time.”
“I will. I should probably go. Nicco is taking me on a private river cruise to Ellis Island.”
“Have fun. I’ll speak to you tomorrow.”
“And Nora?”
“Yeah, babe?”
“No more inviting strange guys into the apartment.”
“Yes, Mom,” I hung up, smiling.
But it quickly fell when I realized this was my reality now. Arianne was gone. She had a new life, a husband, and a whole new family.
And what did I have?
I had a t-shirt with boo bees on it.
Chapter 3
Enzo
“Ari,” I said thinly as she opened the door to her and Nicco’s place in Romany Square.
“Hello, Enzo.” She smiled and dammit if it didn’t soften something inside me. This petite, shy girl had stood up for the Family, she’d stood up for Nicco… I would never forget that. If it ever came to it, I would lay down my