“Hey. Where are you?”
“Gucci Store with Stell. What’s up?”
“I want to discuss something with you on Monday.” I roll my eyes. Not another thing I’m being given to handle because of my perceived compliance with the family.
“Okay. Why’d you call me now?”
“Because I intend to make sure that the incident with Stella and her ex is permanently resolved. We don’t need anything to make us look weak.” I furrow my brows. Ex? She definitely failed to mention that at breakfast.
“Yeah. Of course. She assures me the shot was taken at the wrong time. There is nothing romantic between the two.” I wish my words were reality, but I have no idea if that’s the case. I didn’t even know she had feelings for him. Her carefully ordered words gave me the impression that he was just being too handsy. I had no idea it was because he probably still wants her. I shouldn’t care. The only reason it matters is because Vince wants answers I can’t really give him without continuing to lie.
“Alright, well, I’ll let you two get back to it. See you Monday at eight. My office.”
“Okay.” I hang up just as I feel someone approaching.
“I’m hungry.” Stella holds her stomach, a Gucci bag in both hands.
“Damn. What’d you get?” I tilt my head to peek inside, but she pulls it away from me.
“Food.” She exaggerates.
“Alright.” I roll my eyes at her and cross to the door as the employees thank Stella (for spending more than they make in three paychecks).
After we drop her bags off at the car, I convince her to walk with me to a food truck down the road. It’s vegan, which is quintessential LA and the opposite of what our families stand for. It’s quite funny that we’re walking the streets with it, paps on our trail asking random questions as I wrap my arm around her waist and kiss her forehead.
I would be annoyed that they’re following us in any other circumstance, but I get to be as touchy as I want with Stella, and I don’t know why that makes me so pleased. Though, I will say it doesn’t make it any easier— this whole trying not to fuck her thing. We kept busy, though, going in and out of stores and filling the car with things I know she doesn’t need, but bought because she can.
The sun is setting, and Stella’s friends begin to message her group chat about plans tonight. Paps aren’t around, so we’ve drifted apart a bit, and she’s lagging behind me with one of my security.
“They want to meet at Olivetta.” She calls to me, and I raise my brows.
“Basic. But okay.” I call, and she’s silent for a moment.
“Whatever.” She snorts.
“Was that Jens’ idea?” I ask a little too loudly as she nears me so we don’t have to yell. At least, that’s why I thought she was coming close until she intertwines her fingers in mine. The clicks of cameras follow as we near the car parked just at the end of the road.
“Stella! Who’s your new boyfriend?” One of them shouts and shoves a camera in her face a little too close, and something in me snaps. I slap the camera out of his hand so hard it falls and breaks on the cement.
“What the fuck, man?” All of them swarm even more, shouting as my security closes tighter, the way they should have been the whole time, but I’ll yell at them later.
“You okay?” I say into her ear, and she nods, pulling my arm closer to her, and I let go of her hand to wrap my arm around her. I’m still fuming when I help her up into the car, flip them all off, and close the door on their incoherent yelling. As security walks around the car to get in, they bang on my window, screaming with this scumbag’s broken camera. I can understand them now.
“You’re gonna pay for this—” one of them is mid-shout when I reach into my wallet, pull out a thousand bucks and throw it out the window at his face just as the car takes off.
It’s silent for a moment, then Stella begins to laugh. I turn my head to her like she’s crazy, but the moment I meet her eyes, I can’t help it.
“It’s not funny.” I fail to prove my point with a stupid smirk on my face. She reaches a hand to the corners of my lips, pulling them down with her index and thumb as she giggles.
“Tell your face that.” I shake her away, but I like when she touches me, so I instantly regret it.
“We should change into something matching tonight. Really, give everyone the message that we’re together.” She begins talking about her plans of what to wear, but I’m just watching her lips move and nodding along. I attempt to refocus, but all I can hear in my head is don’t fuck her, don’t fuck her, don’t fuck her, on a loop.
“Antonio.” She flatly prods, crossing her small arms over her chest. I tilt my head and raise my eyebrows in question. “Are you paying attention?” The car stops in front of my house, saving me from fully answering. I hop out in response, and she scoffs, following me to the front door. Damnit, if she wears another number that shows more of her body than I can stand to see, I’m really not going to be able to control myself.
“I want to pick out what you wear tonight,” I say as we step inside, extra security moving past us and out the door to unload Stella’s many bags.
“That’s not—”