Afraid•Niccolo Genoveder Rossi •

Twenty-three

|Serena|

I shouldn't have kissed him.

Such a stupid, hurtful mistake.

And yet I would do it again.

We all sat in the hot tub still, the hot water bubbling the tension to come.

Why?

Why did he have to come here? Couldn't he stay at Virginia's? It's more private. And, less tense between everyone. But nope. He had to stay here to torture me. To kiss me when nobody's looking and then go back to his show with Virginia. I can't be the other woman. I won't be the other woman.

He can't have us both.

"I'm gonna shower and get changed". Niccolo finally says, standing up. 

"Take your time, will ya?" Camilla bitterly spat.

"Virginia's gonna loooove that". Niccolo retorts.

"Well she likes seeing you naked, so it seems to work out just fine". I shot, feeling the betrayal in my stomach. 

Niccolo turns pale.

"Someone's jealous". Niccolo said quietly, taking a towel off a patio chair. 

"You wish".

"I don't have to." Niccolo says, smirking and walking inside.

Camilla looks at me. "What was that about?"

"Nothing, Cami".

"You're in love with him". She blurts.

"No I am not!"

"He kissed you in the kitchen didn't he?"

"Cami-"

"I'd rather you than Virginia. For one, you two have the whole enemies to lovers thing going on, and you've had time to actually like him".

"Just drop it".

"Do it. Date him".

"He has a girlfriend, Camilla".

"Virginia is hardly a girlfriend."

"You're right, she's a dictator".

"I'm being serious, Serena". 

"Well I am too".

"Let's just go inside." Camilla says, standing up.

We walked inside and changed into pajamas.

I pulled on a pair of sweatpants and an oversized shirt.

Niccolo emerged from the bathroom, his hair damp.

He wore the same sweatpants as I did and an athletic shirt.

"I'm changing". I abruptly say, when Cami and I collided in the hallway with him.

"Save yourself the time. Your ass looks fine in them". Niccolo sarcastically shot.

My jaw dropped.

He winked and then walked past me, purposely shoulder checking me on his way to the living room to get the door, where Virginia was.

|Niccolo|

She heard what I said.

And I liked that reaction. 

And I liked what she wore.

And she needed to know that.

"Hey Virgi". I say, as she walks in. "Hey Nicco". She replies, giving me the eyes she normally does. 

"Not now". I whisper.

She glances at Serena, who was sitting on the couch, texting someone.

"Then when?"

"When the time is right". I say taking her hand as we sat on the couch across from Serena.

She didn't glance up once.

Cami came in, and sat next to Serena.

Serena smiled at her screen, and laughed a little.

She skillfully avoided my gaze.

"Who are you texting?" Cami asks her.

"Marco." She says, handing her the phone.

Cami laughs, and texts with her.

"Having a little party?" I interfere, trying to get Serena to look up at me.

She still didn't.

"Marco's a comedian. And so is Serena. I mean, matchmade in heaven". Camilla says, laughing.

Oh hell no.

Matchmade in hell.

Marco will not have her.

And yet she won't look at me.

But I know she's hella jealous.

But I want here to know that this is a temporary arrangement.

She's more than the one I kissed.

Virginia snakes an arm around me, taking photos.

"Should we watch a movie or something?" Virgina asks, her eyes looking up at me. 

I felt my jaw clench when I gazed over and saw Serena smiling at her phone again. 

Camilla found a movie, and Serena put her phone down.

All I got was her side profile.

No gazes.

No nothing.

It's been an hour now, and Virgina's getting impatient. 

And I needed to get some air.

"I'll be back." I tell her, as I stand up and walk down the hall to the bathroom. 

I let out an exhale. 

 I noticed small pimples on my face.

Serena got my mind running.

She's why I have these on my face.

So why won't she just give in?

She almost did.

I stepped out of the bathroom, ready to face whatever was left. 

That's when she bumped into me.

She didn't say a word, she instead tried getting around me.

I grabbed her waist and pulled her back to me. 

"Don't play whatever you're doing". I say.

She ripped my hands off her, getting past me.

I grabbed her wrist again. 

"You're jealous of Virginia."

She still didn't speak.

"Your ass looks good in those sweatpants." I say, knowing I'll get some type of reaction from her.

"Stop." She says lowly.

Oh hell no.

I leaned in.

She puts her finger on her lips.

"Stop." I say.

"Then leave me alone". She says bitterly.

This time I could see her eyes.

They were hurt.

And I couldn't have that.