Reputation's Play (Book 1)

Ch.13 Bello Mio

Chapter 13 Bello Mio

Gia watched Isabella swing her Tory Bruch tennis racket with all her might. Her pretty face twisted as she poured her anger into her swing and hit the ball.

"I like to pretend the balls are Dino's head," Isabella said, trying to catch her breath.

"Don't be like that," Gia frowned.

"Are you taking his side?"

"No!" Gia shook her head. "I'm not taking anyone's side. I'm just saying maybe he's stressed out too. Planning a wedding seems stressful."

"It wouldn't be if he would just like everything I have planned."

Gia laughed, "Last I checked, it's his wedding too."

"He just has to put on a tux and show up," Isabella rolled her eyes. "I'm sure he's smart enough for that."

"You'd be surpr-" Gia stopped as her Apple watch buzzed, alerting her of the new message on her phone. She lowered her racket and raised her wrist to read it.

I'll be on time, Daniel wrote.

Gia's heart lodged into her throat. She was afraid Isabella would be able to see how fast it was beating on her neck.

"Gia!" Isabella called impatiently to her partner. "Pay attention."

"I'm sorry," Gia held up her wrist. "I have to take this."

"Right now?" Isabella asked. "We have a no phone policy on court."

"Just a second," Gia jogged over to the bench and plopped down. She stared at Daniel's message on her watch as her tummy did funny things.

She couldn't possibly go to dinner with Daniel. It was preposterous. Such an idea shouldn't even exist.

Is there a reason why you're not answering my calls or texts?

Gia's watch lit up once more with another text from Daniel. She groaned and put her head in her hands as her heart flipped and contracted.

She didn't want to...but she wanted to...She wanted to go to dinner with him. She wanted all his attention on her. She craved it.

Gia couldn't remember the last time anyone had given her butterflies. No one had ever dared to go too far with her out of fear of her brother. All of her dates had been...safe. Selected and vetted by Luca or her father. Her previous relationships, if you could even call them that, were more like business proposals. Gia would grow bored within weeks and things would frizzle out like a cheap birthday candle.

But dinner with Daniel... That wasn't a cheap birthday candle. That was a whole explosion of fireworks. Gia liked fireworks.

"What's wrong?" Isabella, who had been waiting for her friend, asked as she watched Gia stare at the floor. Gia looked up as if realizing for the first time Isabella was still around.

"I have to go," she said, jumping up and grabbing her gym bag.

"Now?" Isabella stepped forward. "Are you kidding me?"

"I'm so sorry," Gia said, heading for the gate. "Let's get dinner tomorrow. And don't stress about Dino. He'll come around."

"Gia!" Isabella yelled, but Gia was already gone. She was halfway up the stairs when she pulled her phone out of her bag and dialed Daisy. Her hands shook and she couldn't stop smiling as she walked out of the gym and Daisy picked up the call.

"Hey, cupcake," Daisy greeted. "What's up? I have good news."

"You first," Gia raised her hand to hail a cab.