Chapter 8
Bea had just settled into bed, when a sharp knock hit her bedroom door.
She glanced up, already smirking. “Come in, stalker.”
The door swung open to reveal Nico Marchetti standing there in dark slacks and a black button-down, his glasses catching the low light from the hallway. He looked unfairly pretty when he was irritated, all sharp cheekbones and simmering annoyance. Bea smiled wider.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite jealous man.”
“I’m not jealous,” Nico said flatly, stepping into the room and shutting the door behind him.
“Mm.” Bea looked back at her laptop. “Have you tracked down all three of my boyfriends yet?”
His jaw clenched. “That’s actually why I’m here.”
Bea slowly lowered the laptop into her lap and turned her attention fully to him, all wide eyes and faux innocence. “Oh?”
Nico crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the footboard, trying for cool and failing spectacularly.
“You really expected us to believe that?” he asked. “Three television characters?” Bea blinked at him.
“You have to be incredibly lonely if you have to pretend fictional men are your boyfriends. Is it because you can’t get real ones?”
The words hung in the air for exactly one beat before Bea’s whole expression changed. Her mouth parted. Her shoulders curled in slightly. And when she looked up at him again, there was sadness in her eyes. Nico’s confidence faltered instantly.
Bea swallowed hard and looked down at her hands. “You’re right,” she said quietly. Nico frowned. She gave a small, shaky laugh that sounded painfully close to real. “I’m just a fat lonely woman, and no man would actually want to be with me.” Nico went completely still.
Bea blinked fast, and when she looked back up at him there were tears gathered along her lashes, her hazel eyes glassy and hurt.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’ll keep to myself. I’ll stay out of your way.” The silence in the room turned sharp.
Nico’s face drained. “Beatrice…” he said and for the first time since being in her presence, all the bite had left his voice. “I-I’m sorry.” Bea sniffed delicately and looked away. He stepped closer, clearly panicking now. “That isn’t what I meant.”
Bea said nothing.
Nico pushed a hand through his hair, he’s clearly horrified with himself. “You’re a beautiful woman.”
That made her pause. Slowly, she turned her head and looked at him through wet lashes.
“You think I’m beautiful?” she asked in a small voice.
Nico looked like he wanted the floor to open and swallow him whole, but he nodded. “Yes,” he said, quieter now. “You are very beautiful.” A beat passed. Then Bea’s face cracked. She barked out a laugh so suddenly Nico physically startled. His eyes widened. “What?”
Bea wiped under her eyes, still laughing. “Oh my god.”
Nico just stared at her. She sat up straighter, grinning now, the tears gone as if they’d never existed.
“Oh, poor Nico,” she wheezed. “You should see your face.”
Realization hit him all at once. His mouth dropped open. “You little-”
Bea laughed harder, clutching her stomach. “I do not give two shits if people think I’m crazy for calling three television characters my boyfriends. And as for loneliness?” She shrugged. “My own company is a delight. You can’t hurt me with your words, pretty boy.”
Nico’s whole face turned red. Not soft embarrassment this time, it was pure rage. “Oh, I really don’t fucking like you,” he ground out.
Bea gasped dramatically, pressing one hand to her chest. “But you still think I’m beautiful, right?”
Nico spun on his heel and yanked the door open. “Fuck you!” Bea cackled as he stormed down the hallway.
“Noted!” she called after him. “Still beautiful!”
“Go to hell, Beatrice!”
She laughed so hard she nearly fell sideways across the bed. By the time she kicked the door shut with her foot, she was wiping real tears from her eyes.
“God,” she muttered to herself, still grinning, “these men are too easy.” Then she reached for her phone.
BEA: Update: Nico just came in here to confront me about the Winchesters and accidentally admitted I’m beautiful.
A second later, Barb replied.
BARB: Told you, you’d have those men wrapped around your pretty little finger.
Bea snorted and flopped back onto the pillows, still smiling. Maybe living with the Marchetti brothers wouldn’t be boring after all.