I looked over to where his fiancée stood scowling at me.
“I’m perfectly capable of talking to the manager myself, Mylos—I mean, Paolo.”
He leaned forward and kissed my cheek.
“What was that for?”
“I miss you, Pia, more than you know. Ciao!”
“Whatever,” I mumbled, turning around to see the line hadn’t moved forward at all. I looked at the large clock above the concierge desk. The party would begin in a half hour, and I wouldn’t be there.
I turned back toward the front desk when I saw the man beneath the clock stand. “Can I help you with something, miss?” He too looked down at my bare feet.
“Yes. I was locked out of my room.”
“Come. You don’t have to wait in line.”
“Grazie.” I would still be late, but not quite as late as I would’ve been had I been forced to wait.
11
Grinder
“Have you heard from Pia?” my sister asked.
“No. Why would I have?”
“I don’t know.” She checked the time. “She’s late.”
“Ring her.”
“You could ring her.”
“Lily, you’re the one who’s worried about why she’s late. You ring her.”
She studied me with scrunched eyes. “Did something happen?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re acting funny.”
I put my arm around my sister’s shoulders and led her far enough away that no one could hear us speaking. “I’m acting funny? Do you want to tell me what you did with my medication?”
“It’s in a safe place. And, I spoke with Carson—”
“Bloody hell, Lily. What the fuck do you think—”
“Problem?” asked Wills, coming up behind me.
“Ask your wife.” I stormed off, seriously considering leaving when I saw her walk in. It was one of those moments when time seemed to stand still. When Pia’s eyes met mine, everyone—everything—in the room faded to nothing as she slowly made her way toward me. God, she was gorgeous. The word itself paled in the face of her.
Her long, flowing gown was the same color as the stone I was never without. The closer she got, the more tempted I was to fall to my knees and beg her to forgive me, beg her to love me. Instead, I stood where I was, anxious to hear what she would say, but then I couldn’t wait. “You’re late.”
I took a step closer so I could breathe in the glorious scent of her as I reached into my pocket and fingered the heart-shaped stone. I ran the tip of my digit over its facets, softly stroking it like I would the folds of her pussy—if only I was capable of being with her in that way.
“It’s your fault, Mylos.” Her breath hitched as I stared into her eyes. The music began to play; I held out my hand, and she took it.
“Dance with me, Pia.” I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her body close to mine. As we floated around the ballroom floor, I rested my cheek against her hair.