Page 8 of Valentino

“The pleasure was all mine.” I smile, I glance over to Giuliano to see him looking at me stone faced.

“Bye girls.” I pick up my book and smile dreamily as they walk away.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Giuliano whispers.

“What?”

“Don’t what me,” he snaps. “Whatever you’re thinking…the answer is no.”

“What do you mean?” I splutter.

“You are not fucking this up for me.”

“How would I fuck this up?”

“I like Francesca, like really fucking like her. You do not mess around with her friend Anna, do you hear me. You screw it up with her, then Francesca will dump me.”

I screw up my face in disgust. “Come on, man.”

“No,” he snaps. “Absolutely fucking not.” He turns and walks toward the door.

I roll my eyes as I trail behind him.

He glances over my shoulder. “What the hell are you doing with that book?”

“Anna borrowed it for me.”

“What for?”

“We started a book club.”

He stops on the spot, looks at me deadpan, I chuckle at his expression…. Or lack thereof.

“You’re fucking killing me,” he mutters under his breath.

“What day are we coming next week?” I smirk.

“No.”

“Same day then?”

“I said fucking no.”

The music pumps through the speakers and a frenetic energy fills the place.

Drinks getting spilled, bad music through bad speakers, and shit-talking conversations. It’s been a long time since I went to a house party and now I remember why, losers in every direction I look.

My eyes linger on the couple across the other side of the living room. A big guy is looming over a woman, half yelling at her. I can’t hear what he’s saying but it’s obvious they are in a heated discussion.

Do they know each other or….

She says something and he steps toward her, she cowers in fear as he says something before hitting the drink out of her hand.

I push off the wall as I watch.

She goes to walk off and he grabs her by the arm and pulls her toward him.

She cowers again.