Soulless Devil (Sons of Valentino #3)(44)

“No, it won’t. Every second I’m not with you hurts.” When he says things like this, my heart does a little flip. He is more attentive than I can handle at times. I have no doubt that if I asked him to stay with me, he would. I don’t want to take him away from his family during the holidays though. I’ll figure something out. “You are coming back, aren’t you? If you go home, you will come back, right?” Romeo asks.

“Without a doubt,” I tell him with a small smile. I may not be planning on going home. I am, however, planning on coming back here.

“Okay, I’ll arrange for the jet to fly you home the day before I have to leave for Canada.”

“You don’t have to do that. I can arrange a flight.”

“I know I don’t have to. I want to.”

“Okay.” My brain whirls, trying to come up with a solution for how I’m going to get out of this whole going home thing now. Then a lightbulb goes off.

I pull out my phone and message my high school best friend/ex-boyfriend, Kirk. His family has a cabin not far from town. We always laughed about the fact they chose to have a vacation house so close to home. But, right now, I’m praying it’s empty over Christmas. I’m also praying that Kirk will help me. We haven’t spoken since I left to come to New York.

Me:





I need your help. Is your cabin empty for Christmas?





He responds right away.

Kirk:



What’s wrong? And, yes, it is.





Me:





Can I use it?





Kirk:



What’s wrong, Olivia?





Shit, what do I say?

Me:





I’ll explain when you pick me up from the airport. I’ll send you details later. Thank you so much. Also, please don’t mention that I’m coming home. My parents can’t know.





Kirk:



Are you in trouble?





Me:





No, please just let me explain later.





It’s odd that messaging Kirk is a familiar comfort. We used to tell each other everything. All day, every day. I didn’t realize how much I missed having that. I know I was never in love with him. It was never like what I feel for Romeo.

Am I in love with Romeo? I’m 99.9% sure that I am. Then there’s that 0.1% that isn’t certain I’m not using him as a security blanket right now. Maybe the time away from each other will be eye-opening. Maybe it’ll do us both good to get some sort of clarification for what’s happening between us.

He’s been a saint, considering the circumstances. I don’t know too many college guys who would stick around and help someone after what happened to me. I still tense when he tries to hug me or kiss my head. I’m thankful he hasn’t tried to do anything more than that. We haven’t kissed; we haven’t fooled around at all. Honestly, I know I’m not ready for that. But how long is Romeo prepared to wait?





As soon as I exit the plane, I find Kirk waiting for me by his car. I’m wearing a huge pair of sunglasses and a black baseball cap, both of which Izzy brought over for me yesterday, along with a suitcase full of clothes. I haven’t gone back to my dorm. Romeo offered to go and get my stuff, but I told him to leave it there.

I lied to Sandra, telling her I went home early. I couldn’t face her. I don’t want to face anyone after what happened to me. It’s easier if people don’t know.

“Livvy? You need to start explaining some things,” Kirk says as he approaches me.

I stop with a hand held out. “Sorry, I will. Let’s just get out of here,” I say, walking around him and jumping into the passenger seat of his car. My anxiety about being here, being alone with someone, being away from Romeo, is at an all-time high right now. My knee bounces uncontrollably as Kirk starts the engine.

He looks over to me. “What happened?”

“I… I was…” I can’t even say the words.

“Shit, Liv. Why didn’t you call me?” he asks. “I would have come to New York.”

“I don’t… I… I just want to forget it, Kirk. My parents can’t know about this.”

“Where do they think you are?”

“I told them I was going away with my roommate and her family to Vancouver.”

“And they were okay with that?” he asks, his eyebrows raising with the question.

“Not at all. But I can’t let them see me like this,” I say, pulling the glasses off.

“Shit. Olivia, you should have called me,” he hisses, with his wide eyes glued to my face.

“Eyes on the road, Kirk.”

He shifts his gaze out the windshield again. “So the private jet?” he asks. Although it’s not an actual question, I know what he’s getting at.

“It’s, uh, my boyfriend’s. Well, his family’s.” My voice is quiet, shy almost. I don’t think I’ve uttered those words out loud to anyone. Romeo Valentino is my boyfriend…

“Your boyfriend? Is he… did he do this, Livvy?”