Page 34 of Ruin

I roll my eyes. ‘Babe’ and invoking my father. Not a great start.

My phone keeps buzzing, and I yank it out of my bag. Dozens of texts from Tommy, but I scroll to the most recent.

If you don’t leave that restaurant

right now, I’m coming in to

get you.

Take a fucking hint, Tommy.

This is none of your God

damn business.

Talking to me like that is going

to get your ass spanked until

you can’t sit in a restaurant for a week.

Ooooooooooo. Fucking try me.

I drop the phone onto the table as the waitress brings our drinks. I down the first one while she’s going over the specials and start on Antonio’s as he orders. I didn’t look at the menu, so when the waitress looks at me for my order, I wave my fingers at him.

“Two of what he said.”

Antonio cocks his head at me when she’s gone. “Are you okay, Gigi?”

Ugh. Gigi.“I’m fine. I’m just—I don’t know. I’m moody today.”

He nods slowly, looking disappointed. “You’re still mad at me.”

Jesus Christ. All men think everything is about them. In this case, though, it works in my favor, so I go with it.

“Well. You fucked up. Why would you tell people you fucked me? Are you 15? You had to know I would hear about it.”

He’s ashamed, looking at me with his big brown puppydog eyes. His hair is on the longer side, like Tommy’s, and he lets a lock of it fall over his face.

Like Tommy, but without the borderline psychopath intensity. Or his ability to make me feel safe. His ability to get me wet with a look.

“I did fuck up, but I didn’t tell anyone that we fucked, Giovanna. Lexi texted me and asked. When I didn’t respond, she assumed it was a yes. And I didn’t correct her.” His olive skin is flushed with embarrassment. “I should have. I’m sorry.”

He looks truly miserable, and I feel bad for him. Lexi probably ran with the story because it made her feel better about hooking up with the guy I’ve been in love with since high school. Fuck—not in love with. The guy I’ve been trying to fuck since high school. Antonio just got caught in the middle.

God damn it. My plan to fuck and run sounded better when I thought Antonio was an asshole who was using me.

Reaching for his hand across the table, I smile. “Don’t worry about it. It really doesn’t matter.”

When my phone buzzes again, I ignore it.

Antonio’s eyes light up, and he takes my hand in both of his.

I hastily add, “But I just don’t think you and I have—”

My phone buzzes again. And again. And again. Antonio and I both glance at it and then back at each other.

“I’m sorry,” I say. I really am sorry. None of this is his fault.