All I've Never Wanted(101)

I reached down to pick up the flowers with a trembling hand, my heart hurting so bad it was a wonder I could still breathe. I couldn’t shake the image of his face out of my head. Before he’d left, I could’ve sworn I saw real pain there, but it was probably just my imagination.


He was probably secretly jumping for joy over the fact he didn’t have to put up with my lowly commoner presence anymore. In fact, he was probably going on a date with Solange or some other six-foot-tall fashionista right now.

I shut the door behind me, sliding my back down against the wood until I was sitting on the floor. More sobs broke the silence in the guesthouse as I pressed my forehead to my knees.

I’d done the right thing, the only thing I could’ve done if I didn’t want my heart broken. I knew that. Roman and I never would’ve worked out, even if he did like me back, which I’m almost positive he didn’t. If he did, he had plenty of chances to show it, but that never happened. I knew I had just saved myself a whole lot of heartbreak in the future.

So why did it feel like my heart was broken anyway?

CHAPTER 23

“Is there something wrong with your food?”

Adriana looked up from her perfectly cooked steak to where Parker’s jade-green eyes were assessing her quietly.

“No, my food’s fine,” she answered, taking a sip of her wine. “I’m sorry, I’m a bit distracted tonight.”

The candlelight flickered over Parker’s sculpted features as he nodded in understanding. “Let me guess. Roman and Maya?”

“Bingo.” She sighed. “Those two are way too stubborn. I’ve never had so much trouble playing Cupid.”

“If it makes you feel better, you’re the hottest Cupid I’ve ever seen.” Parker smirked.

She rolled her eyes at his cheesiness but smiled. “I bet you’ve seen a lot, huh?”

“Well, I don’t mean to brag…” he bragged.

Adriana snorted. “Ok, player. We all know you’ve had your fun. If you cheat on me though…” She waved her fork threateningly in the air.

“I would never. I waited too long for this,” Parker said seriously.

She almost melted in her seat. Who knew there would be a day when she’d succumb to Parker Remington’s charms? As she’d learned over the past few weeks though, those charms were just too irresistible.

“I just wish they’d admit their feelings to one another. Being in a relationship isn’t as horrible as some make it out to be,” Parker half-joked, cutting into his own steak.

Adriana nodded in agreement. “How’s Rome? Still moping like a baby?”

Parker shook his head. “He’s even more bipolar now than before. One day, he’s cleaning out his bar and muttering about how much his life sucks. The next, he’s flirting with every girl in a skirt.”

“And Maya refuses to even go near him. She practically runs away whenever someone brings him up.” Adriana threw her napkin on the table. “This is ridiculous. There are our friends. We have to help them.”

Parker cleared his throat. “Trust me, we’ve all tried talking to them. I would do it again, but I’m not suicidal. I’m far too young and good-looking to die.”

“You’re not too young and good-looking to go without sex for a month because your girlfriend is mad at you,” Adriana said sweetly.

Parker froze, then straightened up. “Ok, what’s your plan? I’m all ears.”

One hour later

“Talk to him? That’s your plan?” Parker exclaimed as Adriana rang the Fioris’ doorbell. “That’s the worst plan I’ve ever heard. We tried that already, remember?”

“Yes. You, Carlo, and Zack tried. I haven’t yet.”

“What difference does it make?”

“I’m a girl,” Adriana said simply.

The doors swung open, and the couple blinked in shock at the beautiful, elegant woman before them. Her black hair tumbled past her slim shoulders, framing a heart-shaped face with gold-flecked hazel eyes, high cheekbones, and red lips. She wore a pair of sleek satin Christian Louboutin pumps and a black silk Prada cocktail dress that stood out in stark contrast to her creamy alabaster skin. A pair of diamond studs glittered brightly under her earlobes, battling with the foyer’s chandelier for eye-catching brilliance, and for once, she looked sober.

Adriana was the first to recover. “Giselle, you look absolutely lovely, as usual,” she said smoothly, stepping forward to give Roman’s mother a double air-kiss.

“Adriana, my dear, you are too kind,” Giselle lilted with a small smile made a bit stiff from Botox. “Boarding school in Switzerland suits you.”

“Actually, Adriana goes to Valesca now,” Parker spoke up. “She just transferred this year.” He also gave Giselle a double air kiss. “Look at you. You look better than some of the twenty-year-olds I’ve met.”


Giselle smiled, obviously pleased. “Parker. Always the charmer.” She smoothed down the front of her dress. “Are you two here to see Roman?”

“Yes, is he home?”

A shadow crossed her face. “He’s in his room. I went to check on him and he seems to be quite—intoxicated. Gloria tells me it’s been a near daily occurrence. I am wondering if I should send him to the rehabilitation center in Arizona. I heard it does wonders.”