Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 125121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“Knock, knock.”
Victor snapped his head up. His eyes narrowed on sight. “What are you doing here?”
I shuffled closer, casually glancing around. Posters plastered his wall—bands, brands, and cars. They weren’t nearly as interesting as the photos.
Victor and Adonis were all over the place, smiling and goofing off in almost every famous spot around the world. It was easy to tell the siblings that doubled as best friends and those that could barely stand each other. Winter’s bedroom looked the same as this.
I assumed it did anyway. I hadn’t gone inside in months.
“I came because I think we should talk.”
He snorted, picking his book back up. “So you did it. Broke off from your folks and latched on to mine. Got Mom’s check in that purse?”
“Course not. Who takes checks anymore? It’s all done through direct deposit.”
Victor’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Then there’s nothing more you need from me, is there?”
I took another step, taking it as a good sign that he hadn’t ordered me to leave yet. “Victor, let’s get something straight. I never used or took advantage of you, or your family. I asked my father for tuition money, and he introduced me to my new fiancé. None of this was my plan.
“But now that we’re doing this, it was recently pointed out to me that you are using me and my baby-maker to prove yourself to your dad and take over his company. If I can be cool about that, you can be okay with me finishing my education.”
He blinked lazily. “You done? Good.” The textbook came back up. “Close the door on your way out.”
I leaped over the bed, tearing it out of his hands. “You know what? I’m done with this!” Reddening cheeks reflected in wide eyes. “Do you have any idea what I went through this weekend? I was attacked. Giovanni Natale was murdered. And I’m pretty sure my mom is never going to speak to me again. So if you think I’m putting up with your petty shit for another second, you’re in for a fucking surprise.”
Victor pushed on my shoulder. “Luna, calm down—”
“No!” I shoved back, toppling us both over. Wrestling him down, I straddled Victor—pinning his wrists to the bed. “Listen to me, Victor. Nothing happened between me and Adonis. It was one stupid kiss when I was drunk and sad.
“It was over in a second, and Adonis didn’t even kiss me back. He was as surprised it happened as I was that I did it. Afterward, I found out he was my professor, and I don’t need to tell you that he hasn’t let the stranger marrying his younger brother get in the way of the career he’s worked so hard for. All we’ve done since that night is talk. Like we did the night I apologized for putting him in an awkward position. I did the right thing, Victor. You’re the one who acted like a jackass!”
“Oh yeah?!” He reared up. “If it was all so harmless and innocent, why did you hide it?”
“Because it happened when we hated each other. Have you told me about everyone you’ve hooked up with before we agreed to give us a real shot?”
“You already caught me in the closet with Mara—”
“No,” I said, staring hard at him. “Have you told me about everyone?”
A second passed.
Two.
Three—
Victor looked away.
“That’s what I thought.” I ignored the pang in my chest. “We’ve both messed up.”
“But I didn’t do it with your brother,” he gritted, looking anywhere but at me.
“Neither did I. I messed up with a random guy I met at a party. He just turned out to be your brother.” I tipped my head, making him meet my eyes. “This wedding is happening, Victor. There’s no going back now. One thing you said that made a lot of sense is that we can either live in a home with the three of us—you, me, and our resentment. Or we can be friends and show the kids we might have many years in the future, an example of two people that respect each other. I don’t know about you, but I still want the second one.”
Victor’s eyes glazed, looking through me. “How is it not too late, Luna? We’ve been terrible to each other. Said and done shit we can’t take back.”
“We do it by not looking back. Right here, right now, we have a fresh start.”
“Fresh start?”
“Yes. With new ground rules and...” I worried my lip. “Complete honesty.”
“New ground rules?” he drew out. “Because something’s wrong with the ones we agreed to in the first place? Why do I feel like you’re building up to something?”
Complete honesty. Complete honesty.
“Something is happening between me and the Rogues. Some things have already happened.”
Victor wasn’t fighting to get me off him before I said that, so it didn’t make sense to say he’d gone even more still, but I sensed it anyway.