Chapter 27 #2
The door opened before I could move to get back on my feet. Emilio stood shirtless, his sweatpants hanging off his hips. The sight took my breath away and a smile was beginning to cross my face until I hear a woman’s voice right before exiting the door.
“I’ll keep you posted.”
When she came to full view, I saw it was Grace.
She looked down at me with a confused face.
Her red lipstick was completely off, and her hair, which had initially been up in a bun, was now undone, falling past her shoulders.
So much for feeling secure with her and Emilio.
Then it hit me. She was the woman I was watching at the last sex party and I’ve seen her around Chicago before that as well.
“Bethany?” she asked.
Embarrassed, angry, and ashamed, I was speechless. My vision was getting blurry as they began to water.
Emilio cut in, “Get back safely.”
Grace hopped over me and left while Emilio glared down at me.
“What are you doing here?”
I shrug because if I were to speak, I’d begin to sob.
If I were able to run off, I would, but the shooting pain in my ankle was getting stronger.
Emilio huffed as he bent down to grab me to lift me into his arms. Shutting the door behind him, he takes me to the kitchen, placing me on the island across from the fridge.
He pulled out cubes of ice and placed them into a cloth so that he could ice my ankle.
“You shouldn’t have come here,” he stated without looking at me, pushing his hair back with his hand.
“Why, so that I wouldn’t be insulted knowing that you are sleeping with other people?”
He held the ice around my ankle a bit tighter. “Bethany.”
Pulling my ankle away from him, “Emilio.”
Not letting go of my ankle, he pulls it back toward him.
“What do you want from me?” he steps closer so that his other hand is leaning on the countertop beside where I was sitting.
“If you think this is going somewhere, you need a reality check.” He leaned in closer to my face.
“This is what I didn’t want to happen. I knew you’d get attached. ”
All I could muster was, “Get off of me.”
His words cut deeper than they should have. He was right—we weren’t dating or ever discussed exclusively sleeping together. I didn’t mean to get attached. Now I sat here looking and feeling a fool. All I wanted to do was end the night and forget this happened.
Emilio stepped back, letting go of my ankle and handing me the ice. Taking it, I avoided eye contact. I hopped off the counter, landed on my good foot, and limped.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“Home. Where else?” my reply was sharp.
He lifted me over his shoulder and headed to the bedroom without warning.
“Please put me down,” my skirt rode up, and I could feel my butt cheeks were exposed.
“You can’t drive. Stay the night, and I’ll get you a ride in the morning.”
Walking into his bedroom, he removes the covers and flops me onto the bed. Rather than lay beside me, he leaves. He shut the door as he left the bedroom, leaving me in the dark. My heart felt heavy as I turned onto my side and cried myself to sleep.
As I opened my eyes, they were puffy. I forgot where I was for a second until taking a deep breath into the pillow, and the scent of eucalyptus and mint reminded me.
It almost had me crying again. Rolling off the bed, my ankle was doing a lot better, and I could walk on it for the most part.
One of the dressers had a mirror over it, and I took in my appearance.
Looking a mess, I try to fix myself up best. My purse was in the kitchen, and I had no idea what time it was or if Emilio was awake. He never came into the room last night.
Slowly and quietly, I open the door and tip-toe down the hall.
The lights were all out except in the bathroom, where the sound of the showerhead ran.
I breathed a sigh of relief that I could sneak out without seeing Emilio.
Making my way to the kitchen, I pick up my heels, scattered on the floor with my purse and phone, then dash to the door, exiting quietly.
I’ve never driven home so fast, skipping the 4th of July holiday traffic before it got out of hand.
Walking through my front door, I toss off my shoes and head for the shower.
The plan was to take a nap before Tiffany’s pool party.
I was going to need the energy to get through.
Fresh out of the shower, I went to grab a bottle of water when my phone pinged from receiving a message.
Grabbing it, I was confused by the name on the screen.
Giovanni Pancelli. Why did that name sound familiar?
Why was he calling me? Or maybe the question was, how did his number get saved onto my phone?
Entering the passcode, the phone wouldn’t unlock.
Getting annoyed, I begin to examine the phone.
The back had one of those wallet inserts, and I pulled out the driver's license to see that it wasn’t my phone.
It was Emilio’s. Confused, I looked into my purse and saw my phone was there.
I had several missed calls from Alfie. A smirk crossed my face.
Emilio must be in hysterics, needing his phone returned, and since he can’t contact me directly, he would need to be discreet.
It felt like I somehow had the upper hand and wouldn’t disappoint.
If Emilio wants his phone, he will need to get it himself…
but first, I was going to have some fun with it.
Tiffany’s parties were full of attractive men, and I plan to use it to my advantage.
These butterflies for Emilio need to die and fast. I’m catching feels for a man who just has me on his roster—another notch on his belt to wear out.
Emilio can’t be the only one to have all the fun, and I wanted him to know it.