Chapter 20
TWENTY
While sitting at my desk in Sophia’s lab, I fold my hands and rest my chin on them. Then take a moment to stare at the mug she gave me today. It reads, Spill the tea, sis.
It’s like Sophia has an endless supply of these dorky things.
She’s in the office next door, chit-chatting about a case with a coworker, and I’m here, convinced that the universe is out to get me.
For the second time in no time at all, Clay and Josh have seen me at my worst. They know where I live, watched me searching for dollar bills, figured out my little sister is shit at sneaking out, and now they’ve met Roberto.
I swear, I would have disappeared into the ground last night if I could.
If it weren’t for them, Roberto would be behind bars. Del Moro didn’t give a fuck about my pleas. He would have loved every second of it.
And now, to top it all off, I’m supposed to thank Josh and Clay for what they did. There’s no way the incident can be forgotten. My luck isn’t that good.
I groan, shifting my head to rest my forehead on my hands, my eyes shut tight. I mumble under my breath, “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” while lightly thumping my head on my knuckles.
Just as I’m about to let my head drop again, a hand intercepts, palm up.
“Knock it off. You’re gonna hurt yourself,” Josh warns, coming out of nowhere, startling me. I recoil while staring at him with wide eyes. “It can’t be that bad, can it?” he asks, a grin on his face. But then, his gaze shifts to my temple.
It hurt like hell for a few hours last night, but now it’s just swollen. It doesn’t look as bad as it did this morning since I managed to cover the redness with makeup, but there was no hiding the lump.
“What happened?” Josh asks, stepping closer and gently lifting my chin with his finger.
His touch catches me off guard, making my stomach tingle, and I let him lean in to take a closer look before regaining my senses and leaning back out of his reach.
“It’s nothing.” I brush it off.
“That sure as fuck doesn’t look like ‘nothing,’ ” Clay chimes in from the other side of my desk.
Damn, I didn’t even notice him there.
“Did your uncle do this?” Josh asks, studying my face.
I don’t want to lie, so I tell him, “He hit me while falling, flailing his arms. It’s not as bad as it looks.” My tone grows colder with each word.
“Yeah, about that,” Clay starts, but Josh holds up a finger to stop him.
“Do you need to see a doctor, Carolina? It looks bad,” he asks.
I roll my eyes. “No, I don’t.”
“She’s fine. It’s just a minor bruise, right? Nothing important, no big deal,” Clay says, his tone carrying a challenge, gaze narrowing at me.
“Oh, I’m sure you’d know if it wasn’t, seeing as you seem to have a vast medical knowledge,” I retort.
He huffs. “Now you’re overestimating me.”
“Well, it’s hard to underestimate you,” I say.
“Yep, you’re okay.” Josh chuckles.
“So, spill the tea, sis,” Clay says, smirking down at that ridiculous mug. “What was the deal with yesterday?”
Is he really asking me to talk about Roberto? No freaking way. I’m just about to tell him to fuck off when he goes on.
“What’s your beef with Del Moro? What’s the source of all this bad blood between you guys? Is he an ex?”
I nearly choke on my own spit. “Hell no.”
Josh seems to relax next to me, making me glance at him.
“So, what’s up? I’m curious too. You guys seem to genuinely hate each other.”
I could tell them it’s none of their business, but they did bail me out yesterday, and it looks like that won’t be our last run-in with him.
Fuck.
“We do hate each other, but it wasn’t always like this.
His father was a family friend, and our families used to hang out a lot.
His dad and my uncle were especially close.
We saw each other almost every weekend and at school.
Then, some stuff happened between my uncle and his dad, and they never came over again.
They moved out of the neighborhood, and he started bullying me at school.
And I don’t mean harmless name-calling. It was brutal. ”
Clay’s jaw clenches as he asks, “What did he do?”
“I’m not going into that with you,” I say. “I’ve already said too much.”
They exchange a look just as the door swings open, and Sophia walks in.
“Hey boys, what’s going on?” she asks.
“Karen just told us why Del Moro is a total asshole to her,” Clay informs her.
“Oh?” Sophia raises an eyebrow at me.
“Yeah, no valid reason, just a grade-A bully. I know that type all too well,” Clay says, pulling out his phone. A second later, mine buzzes. “That’s my number. If you ever need anything, if he gets too close, or if you ever feel unsafe, you call me.”
He locks eyes with me, and my heart misses a beat before I remember that people say stuff like this all the time but hardly mean it.
I scoff. “Sure, whatever.”
Clay places his hand on my desk and leans in close until our noses are almost touching. “I mean it, Carolina. If you need me, you call.”
The fact that he’s calling me by my real name for the first time ever gives me pause, and I nod, dropping my gaze to my hands.
“So, are we grabbing something to eat?” Josh attempts to change the topic.
“Oh yes, I dreamed about spaghetti last night, and I absolutely need it now,” Sophia states.
“I think I know the answer, but I’m still gonna ask. You coming with us, Carolina? Please?” Josh asks, flashing me his dimpled smile.
“No, thanks. I’m gonna finish up here,” I say, and he nods.
“I won’t give up.” He winks at me.
Is he flirting?
No way.
But why must he be so cute, nice, and drop-dead gorgeous? Even after everything he witnessed?
“See you, Karen.” Clay reverts to his usual somewhat jerkish self, which I can’t deny I’m starting to like.
The guys are so caught up discussing their dinner plans that they don’t notice Sophia lingering behind.
“Carolina,” she starts softly, causing me to look up.
The concern in her eyes is palpable. “You know, I noticed the lump earlier, although you did a good job trying to hide it.” I open my mouth to deflect, but she continues, “You don’t have to tell me everything or anything at all, really.
But if you ever need to talk, you know I’m here, right? ”
Swallowing hard, I nod. The sincerity in her eyes is hard to ignore. “Thank you. But it was just an accident.”
She approaches, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Even accidents can leave scars, visible or not. Always know you have people around who care…” She pauses, her gaze searching mine. “Are you okay?”
For a moment, I contemplate lying, saying everything’s fine. But with Sophia’s empathetic gaze on me, I murmur, “I will be.”
She doesn’t have to know it will take two years to get there.
“Whenever you’re ready, just spill the tea, sis.” She indicates my mug with a gentle smile, offering a moment of levity.
Feeling a little lighter, I manage a small smile. “Thanks.”