Chapter 39: Chapter 39

Bianca

Bianca did her best to appear as casual as possible as she made her way back to the table with the rest of the girls. One glance over at the guys by the bar had her heart racing. Felix eyed her and he didn’t look happy. Could it be possible he knew what she’d been up to? The idea that he may have had one of his security guys follow her, even as a security precaution, didn’t even dawn on her until she was on her way back, but now it was a major cause of worry.

Felix started toward her as she got closer. She slowed, not wanting to be too close to the girls now if they were going to argue. Starting to smile as he stepped in front of her, Bianca’s smile went flat seeing the fiery contempt in his eyes. “Where’ve you been?”

Assaulted by the stench of tequila followed by his slurred speech, Bianca realized he was drunker than she’d ever seen him. “To the ladies’ room. I got caught up on my way back when I ran into someone from school.”

His eyebrow jerked up at that. “A guy?”

“No,” she tried not to sound too defensive. Obviously, his reaction was fueled by the alcohol because he’d never once been angry with her, and now his body language and the obstinate glare almost frightened her. He was more than angry; he was furious. “A girl I have class with.”

“You sure?”

Bianca swallowed hard. What did he know? “Of course I’m sure.”

“You think I haven’t noticed, Bianca?” He spoke through his teeth, now lowering his voice but stepping closer to her, speaking right in her face. “Suddenly I’m not allowed to touch you, but I have to watch while you smile and giggle at all your fucking little texts: texts you say are all from your mom?” He took another menacing step forward as she took a cautious one back. People around them started to take notice. His eyebrow arched again sharply, as a sardonic smirk spread across his lips. “Oh, you thought I hadn’t noticed, did you? How stupid do you think I am? You were probably on the phone with him now, weren’t you?” When she didn’t respond, he raised his voice. “Weren’t you?”

What happened next was a giant blur. Gio jumped in Felix’s face. “Calm your ass down, man.”

Noah and the others followed as Felix continued to bark at Bianca to answer his questions.

“He’s drunk,” Noah attempted to downplay Felix’s erupted temper.

Felix suspected she was cheating but apparently had no idea with whom because his anger was all directed at her. The girls all stood as one of the bodyguards informed them it was time to go, while the guys continued to try to calm a now completely unreasonable and belligerent Felix.

The last words she heard fly out of his mouth were, “Fucking whore!” That’s when Gio’s fist flew into Felix’s mouth. Bianca felt her stomach drop and chaos ensued.

Between Felix’s bodyguards, Noah, the rest of the guys, and the bar security trying to get control of the situation, the place was a mess. Toni tugged at her hand. “Let’s go,” she urged.

Bianca didn’t understand the urgency until she saw the cameras. First it was just a couple of people with their phones, snapping pictures, but then she saw what appeared to be paparazzi. They’d been there the whole night, and she hadn’t even considered the possibility that she might be seen by them earlier.

Toni and Bianca rushed out the back, but even then cameras flashed in their faces. Hurrying to the van, Toni searched in her purse for her keys.

“I have them,” Bianca said, handing them to her as Toni’s eyes widened.

“Why do you have my keys?”

Her heart still pounding and feelings of guilt mounting by the minute, Bianca was beginning to feel as if she might throw up. “I’ll explain later; let’s just hurry and get out of here.”

Bianca had asked to borrow Toni’s compact after watching Gio bolt out of there, obviously upset about seeing Felix kiss her. Having told Bianca about the van situation earlier that day, Bianca had acted on a panicked whim and took the keys without Toni’s knowledge. Then she’d rushed out saying she had to use the ladies’ room and called Gio. The guilt was coming in from every direction—even this one. Toni hadn’t been thrilled about the predicament Bianca had gotten herself into. Just like Bianca knew her mother and Nana would think, while Toni did think it exciting, she also thought it was dangerous. Tonight had proved exactly why. Things could escalate quickly and unexpectedly. Hearing Felix call her a whore still burned in her ears, and here he didn’t even know the whole truth.

As they drove away in stunned silence, Bianca thought of Gio’s words. No regrets. She still didn’t have any—even after tonight’s disaster—but she did regret that she hadn’t decided to leave Felix’s place sooner. She wouldn’t be going back to his cabin. After tonight, she couldn’t, not just because of the way he’d behaved or because it was plain wrong to continue to stay at his place while completely betraying him, but because tonight she’d seen firsthand how a guy she thought she knew, could turn into someone completely different when angry. Felix didn’t even know what was really going on. She cringed to think what might happen if he did.

“You think you’ll be able to go get my things from Felix’s place sometime this week?”

Toni turned to her and pulled off the road into a gas station. She stopped then turned off the engine. “Of course, I will.” She smiled. “First let me just say, holy shit, Gio and his friends are hot. But Gio’s eyes, my God! I can see why you’d be so tempted. But can you explain why you had my keys and . . . ” Toni squeezed her eyes shut, crinkling her nose. “Bianca, tell me you didn’t. I noticed you and Gio were gone for some time, and I figured you might be doing something sneaky, but . . . ” She turned to look at the back of the van, and Bianca saw the flicker of horror in her eyes the moment Toni spotted it—the condom wrapper. “Oh my God, you did!”

Bianca covered her face with her hands. “I didn’t plan it. I swear.” She turned back to Toni and spoke rapidly, hoping she’d understand. “I mean, it’s insane, Toni. I don’t even know how to explain it, but with Gio, I just think differently. I do things I would’ve never done in a million years. I did hope to get a moment alone with him tonight, but the whole van idea didn’t come to me until Felix kissed me right in front of Gio and I saw that crazed look in Gio’s eye.

“I just kept thinking of how I would feel if it were the other way around. I probably would’ve been in tears, and I’d seen the way he was looking at me earlier. I knew he was questioning my behavior with Felix.” She shook her head, glancing out at the falling snow. It reminded her that she’d left her coat at the resort. “Since all his friends were there tonight, I didn’t want to be so blatant about continually rejecting Felix’s putting his hands on me. So I was a little more accommodating with the holding hands and allowing his embraces, and I was dead right: Gio did think something had changed.”

Her phone beeped in her hand, making her flinch. It was a text from Gio. She glanced at Toni and couldn’t help but smile. “It’s him.” It amazed her that the world could be falling apart around her and just knowing she was about to read his words made everything better. She clicked on the envelope.

Text: Where are you? Are you okay?

She texted back quickly, her insides warming at his obvious concern.

Text: I’m fine. I’m with Toni. She’s taking me home. I’m not going back to Felix’s cabin anymore. I can’t.

She sent it and turned back to Toni. “So what now?” Toni asked.

“I don’t know. But after tonight, I just can’t go back there.”

“You shouldn’t,” Toni agreed immediately. “But maybe you and Gio should cool it just a little until all this blows over. No telling what kind of stuff will be all over the TV and Internet by tonight.”

Bianca thought about that, chewing the corner of her lip for a second. The thought of being separated from Gio, even for a short period, was one she didn’t want to entertain.

Her phone beeped again. His message made her gasp, and she was instantly near tears.

Text: I’m not either. Well, I will tonight only because he’s already passed out, and Noah and the guys are insisting I do, but I’m going back to LA first thing tomorrow morning, hopefully before he even wakes.

Obviously noticing her sudden change in mood, Toni asked if something was wrong.

“Yes,” was all she managed to whisper as she rushed to text Gio back. She’d long ago decided she wouldn’t hold anything back. She always said what she wanted and asked what she needed with Gio, and she wasn’t holding back now that it mattered most. So she sent her text, needy as it might sound.

Text: Why? What about us? When will I see you again?

Bianca knew the answer to her first question. She’d just hoped maybe he'd stick around a little longer. She wasn’t ready for him to be gone so soon.

Text: I promise you. There is more of an us now than ever before. But I can’t be there anymore. It was wrong from the moment I realized I was falling for you, but it was worth the guilt to be around you. After tonight, I just can’t justify it without feeling like a total dick even if you’re not there anymore.

The second she read it, she began responding, feeling an enormous relief.

Text: Okay, but you didn’t answer my third question. When will I see you again?

His responses came as fast as hers did, and she was eternally grateful for that because her heart was still at her throat. Even though he was promising everything would be okay between them, she had no idea when she’d see him again—be in his arms—feel his lips on hers again.

Bianca was no longer embarrassed to admit she felt addicted to him. Forget the embarrassment, this scared her. She clicked on his text the moment it came through.

Text: Soon. I promise. I miss you already. We just got to his cabin. I’ll call you tomorrow.

That calmed her a little, and she glanced up, realizing Toni had been watching her and waiting patiently. “I’m sorry, Toni. I didn’t mean to ignore you, but he’s telling me he’s going back to LA tomorrow, and it just freaked me out a little.”

She texted back. Her final text mimicked what he’d once texted her:

Text: I miss you too. SO MUCH.

She began telling Toni about what Gio had said when another text came through and she stopped to read it.

Text: Love you! Goodnight.

Toni laughed as Bianca quickly responded saying she loved him too. That made Bianca look away from the text and at her friend, just then realizing she was smiling hugely. “What?” She hit send, feeling all fuzzy inside.

“Girl, I’ve never seen such a display of emotions like the one you just put on for me. In a matter of what? Five minutes? You went from mortified to excited then giddy then suddenly panicked and teary-eyed to giddy all over again.” She shook her head. “You weren’t kidding when you said this guy has you all tied up in knots.”

Now Bianca was a little embarrassed, but she wouldn’t deny it. “I don’t know what it is, Toni.” She glanced out the window at the falling snow, remembering the first day he kissed her. “I’m beginning to wonder if maybe I should be a little worried about how addictive this feels. Just like what we did tonight, I feel like I’d do anything, take any risk.” She glanced back at Toni, knowing she’d be looking at her disapprovingly as she had earlier that day when Bianca had said something similar. “Within reason, of course. I wouldn’t risk my life for him or anything like that.” She didn’t feel entirely sure about the sincerity of that last statement, but she’d leave it at that.

“You may not believe this, but you already have.” Toni started up the car. “That boy back there was furious. And he doesn’t even know the half of it. Things happen in the heat of passion all the time, Bianca. All I’m gonna say is I’m so glad you’re not going back.”

Bianca thought about that. Until tonight, Felix had never even raised his voice at her, and she admitted he had spooked her a little when she thought for a moment that he knew she’d just had sex with his friend out in the parking lot. She was thinking earlier when she decided she wouldn’t be going back to his cabin that she’d finally come clean with Nana and her mother about what was going on. Maybe now she’d keep it to herself and just tell them it didn’t work out.