Page 148 of The Carnage We Keep

“Noted.”

“However,” she smirks. “If you come to class with me with said hickeys this visible, you’d better believe I’m going to want fucking details. At minimum I need to know who the hell you’ve been hooking up with.”

“I…”

Gosh, Galina. I’d love to tell you, but unfortunately, these hickeys are from my husband, whom I haven’t told you or anyone about because with the exception of the psychopathic Albanian crime boss who wants to murder us for killing his pedo son, our marriage is staying a secret due to ongoing family business.

“It’s…” I huff out a breath. “Fine. It’s just a casual hookup, okay?”

She beams at me. “I knew it!”

My eyes roll. “Yeah, I think we can agree the hickeys are a bit of giveaway?”

She giggles before her eyes suddenly fly wide open.

Shit. Why does she suddenly look like she can read minds?

“We need to get to class⁠—”

“Damiano?”

I wish I could say I casually shrug it off. But the truth is, the second she says his name my body stiffens and my pulse skips. My face heats with a blush I can feel spreading over my cheeks, even through the heavy white makeup.

Galina’s jaw drops.

“No! Way!”

I pull closer and hiss at her. “How the hell did you⁠—”

“You did have me put that present in that locker.” She smirks. “I knew it was his. Aside from it being the most organized men’s gym locker in history, he had a photo of his family taped up in it.”

Goddamnit.

“I didn’t want to ask before. I figured it wasn't my business. But now…”

Her gaze drops to my throat again.

“Girl, I want deets.”

Fuck fuck fuck fuckity fuck.

I don’t want to talk to her about Damiano. One, nobody's supposed to know about us. Two, I’m currently mad at him, so he’s on my shit list.

Actually, three: I’m mad at myself that I’m mad at him.

The ignored video was one thing. But then late last night, after Ari ditched me for her mysterious booty call, I made the mistake of replaying my night with Damiano while I was in bed. That resulted in me getting very horny, and very wet.

So I migggggght have sent a “you up?” text to Damiano.

…Who did not reply. At all.

That’s cool. I didn’t need my self-esteem and dignity anyway.

Asshole.

Now it’s mid-morning the next day, and I still haven’t heard shit from him. I can’t decide if he’d better be dead or better be waiting in my room hard and raring to go when I get back.

Whatever. Fuck him.