Chapter 39
-MILLIE-
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I looked up from the magazine I’d been reading when the door opened. Like a puppy waiting for its
owner, I sat taller on the couch, shoulders slumping when it wasn’t Damian standing at the entry.
Candice and Andrea stood by the doorway, their hands cram-full of groceries and shopping bags. Our
eyes met. I forced down the disappointment coasting through my chest and put on a convincing huge
grin… or so I thought.
“Gee… if I had known we weren’t wee here, we wouldn’t have gone through the trouble of buying
you Korean food and assembling the cavalry.” Candice rolled her eyes and stepped aside, allowing the
said cavalry to make their way up the threshold.
Gianni Molina.
“Oh my Go d.” I gasped, handsing up to my mouth at the same time mist clouded my sight. War
mth inst antly swallowed my gloomy mood. Gian barrelled through the house, enveloping me in his
warm embrace, and I c ould n ‘t h o ld . my so b s back.
Gian and I had been friends since college, and I hadn’t seen him in over a year.
“I hope those are happy tears, Amore,” he murmured against my hair. I nodded and curled my arms
around his waist, soaking his shirt with my tears.
Candice and Andrea joined our little group hug.
“I’m a little hurt that you didn’t cry when you saw us, but I also cried when I saw Gian at the airport, so I
forgive you.” Andrea mumbled. I chortle against my so bs.
“I’m still mad that Gian would leave his little hut in Thand for Millie and not for my wedding, Candice
butted in, making all of usugh.
Gian went off the grid, only sending us emails and holiday greetings to let us know he was still alive
and well.
“Isn’t my gift enough topensate for my absence?” Gian murmured in his defense. He gifted
Candice and Aaron an all- expenses-paid trip to Italy, which she had yet to use.
“You can’t bribe me, Gianni Molina!” Candice giggled, wiggling out of our group hug pping Gian’s
shoulder yfully.
-Mel
“Me! Me! You can bribe me,” Andrea squealed, hands raised. “I’d love to see Italy.”
“Did y
you get married?” A crease formed on Gian’s forehead as though he were ruminating over his own
question
Andrea frowned, lips pouting. “That’s not fair. I hate weddings!
“You’re a wedding nner!” I pointed out.
“That’s why I hate weddings!” she countered, crossing her arms and stomping her feet like a petnt
child.
All Gian could do was shake his head and draw the three of us into a giant bear hug again. “I can’t say
I miss the tantrums and draina.“
And we fall into a fit ofughter.
“Damian called you?” I asked Candice,ying the takeouts on the ind one by one. They brought
ingredients for samgyupsal along with japchae, rabokki, kimchi, bulgogi, tteokbokki, and soju.
Damian flew to California yesterday afternoon for business. To say I hadn’t gotten a wink of sleepst
night would be the understatement of the year. To Damian’s credit, he called me as soon as the ne
lying.
A week has gone by, and I’m already attached to Damian and this house like a love-sick puppy.
“Yeah.” Eyes narrowed to slits, Candice tallied all the ingredients like she was at a budget meeting.
“We forgot the portable burner, Andrea sighed, frowning.
“Damian has a camping cook set somewhere here,” I said, sliding from my seat and searching the
shelves for the camping
stove.
2-On her
“Yeah?” Andrea questioned, amusement dancing in her eyes. “You’re really ying house well with
Damian, huh?” tippy toes, she helped me search the top cab for the cook set
Sitting silently on the other side of the ind, Gian asked. “When did this even happen? You and
Damian?”
Apart from being Candice’s stepbrother, he doesn’t know Damian on a personal level. Gian and I met in
college, he instantly became the girl’s version of Candice in my life. I’m sure he doesn’t know about my
childhood crush on Damian, but why does it sound as if he does?
This isn’t part of my ns. If Candice hadn’t bought my lie about Damian, I had no doubt Gian would
also see through my lie. Gian’s assertiveness was on a different level
Shoulders stiff, I tried my luck and grabbed the camping stove from the top shelf, set it on the ind,
stering a toothpaste-worthymercial smile.
“I think we’re really meant to be,” I said. Andrea and I settled back in our seats. “You remember I had a
huge crush on him in high school?”
“You did?” Andrea’s eyes were wide as dinner tes. “I didn’t know that!” The usation was crystal in
her tone as she pulled up her long, red hair in a high ponytail.
Guilt gripped my throat. I’ve forgotten that Andrea doesn’t know about my agreement with Damian as
well.
“I did,” I said, helping Candice ce the meat on the grill pan, the mouthwatering vors of meat
permeating the air as it simmered in the pan. “But it was a long time ago. I mean, I was in high school,
and I thought I hid it well.” I nudged Candice’s shoulder.
My best friend rolled her eyes. “You have googly eyes every time Damian is in the room, Millie.”
Andrea’s eyes nted. “I think there’s a backstory here, but go on. Tell us how it happened,” she said,
scooting closer to Gian as though she had found an ally against Candice and me.
I kept a steady face, looking straight at Gian’s striking blue eyes, ignoring the chills spiraling down my
spine. Gian was the silent type of guy back in college, and we only got together when we needed to do
a project together. He might have kept to himself, but because of his natural Italian streak, he attracted
attention from the opposite S** without even trying. He stood a towering six foot three, with dark blue
eyes, natural glowing olive skin, sharp jaws, and messy dark hair. And he had that unapologetic gaze
that tells you he’s assessing you whether you like it or not. Right now, I am the subject of those dark
eyes.
“Well, you already know how things ended between Hunter and me, right?” I busied myself by turning
over the sizzling meat on the pan.
Candice and Andrea hummed, but Gian’s jaw fluttered. I forgot he was out of the loop.
“I told you that stronzo is good for nothing,” Gian said through gritted teeth, reaching for the bottle of
soju. He ran his gaze down thebel, frowning. “Where is the f ucking wine, Bambina? He asked
Candice..
Candice pouted. “Can’t you at least try something other than wine?”\/\
“Did
you
ask something. Bambina? Hm?” Gian stood. As if he’d been here before, he went straight to the wine
cab and
took out a bottle of Cabe Sauvignon. Taking a wine ss from the side of the ind, he took a long
sip. Each gulp and bob of his Adam’s apple felt like a timer to my sentence.
In my time knowing Gian, I learned how overprotective he could be with the people he cared about.
“Tell me how that stronzo hurt you, and I’ll decide what to do with him.”
“Gian-” I groaned. “It’s all in the past.”
+5]
“Past my as s.” Candice grabbed the soju Gian abandoned and filled two shot sses, handing one to
Andrea. Since I was still on medication, it’s ssic orange juice for me. My mouth watered for a single
taste of their alcohol.
Gian’s eyebrows knitted together, pinning me with a ‘dare to f ucking lie to my face look.
I sighed and narrated how I found Hunter and Natalie in his apartment. When I was done. he had
almost finished the entire bottle of wine.
“What are you thinking?” I asked, stuffing a bacon strip into a lettuce leaf and chewing it slowly.
“You don’t want to know,” he murmured, epting Andrea’s stuffed lettuce leaves.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I frowned. It’s not his statement that bothered me; it’s the way he
looked and how dark his eyes were. The urge to physically hurt someone vibrates off of him. It’s both
scary and surprising.
Tell me about Damian,” he pressed. “Is he treating you right?”
Oh, he’s treating her like a princess, Andrea answered for me. “Have you seen those bodyguards
patrolling outside? He turned this ce into a fortress in just over a week.”
Apart from the bodyguards, Damian had installed rms and smart locks in the house.
“And she deserved to be treated like a princess,” Gian murmured. “That goes for you two as well. If
Nick ever treats you like sh it, tell me, and I’ll put him in his ce. And I don’t care if you’re married to
Aaron. If he f ucks up, he’s dead.”
Candice made a pff sound. “What the hell happened to you in Thand? You sound different.”
“Yeah. You almost sound like Nick and his crazy motorcycle gang members, Andrea piped in..
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