“This is like bondage. Seems pretty uncomfortable for a night of show.”
“But bondage for foreplay and show is what it’s all about.” I waggled my eyebrows at him.
He had the ribbons in his hand, and for a moment he cinched them tighter. “Don’t play, woman. We’re getting this shit off you, and you’re getting the other dress.”
“You still didn’t tell me what I get.”
“What do you want?” He sighed, like he’d finally tired of me and was admitting defeat.
Maybe that’s what I needed. For him to step aside so I didn’t truly become a victim of heartbreak in all this. Rome was my most dangerous downfall. I didn’t care about my life being at risk, because I knew that losing myself would be much less painful than losing someone I loved.
“Should I ask you to step aside?” I said. “Bastian and I could be comfortable, Rome. I’ve enjoyed being there with him. Should I ask you to stop whatever the hell we keep doing?”
“You could.”
My heart sank. He would let me go so easily. I knew it was an indicator for me to turn away, to leave him behind and ask him to do the same for me.
“You could, Katalina, but it wouldn’t matter.” His solemn tone signaled that he was in as much turmoil over what we had as I was. “I don’t step away from what’s mine, and you’re quickly becoming that. Even if I don’t want you to be.”
I looked up at him and ran a hand over his jaw. “Then I guess what I want is for you to claim me, because the harder you both pull the more I’ll relish the pain of splitting in either direction.”
“Ever the masochist, huh?”
“Takes one to know one.”
18
Katie
“I’m sorry, you said you’re coming over?” My friend’s announcement over the phone didn’t make sense.
“Yeah, we’re all coming over for movie night,” Vick repeated so loudly that I held the phone away from my face and curled my lip at Bastian in question.
He was lounging on the couch as he watched TV and scrolled through his cell. When I mouthed that it was Vick and she wanted to do a movie night here, his cheeks hollowed out and he widened his eyes, sucking on a chunk of pineapple from the bowl of fruit on his stomach. He looked absolutely ridiculous, and I could tell from the smirk that followed his loud eating that he was mocking me.
“You’re in on this, aren't you?” I popped my hip out and raised the phone back to my ear. “You talked to Bastian already about this, didn’t you?”
“Well, my husband was working with your boy toy this morning,” she started as if she was going down the list like the girl inLegally Blonde. “I might have mentioned last night that I haven’t seen you in a very long time. They discussed business quickly, and business is good, Katie. You know that. All of our businesses within Chicago are operating very well.” She emphasized each word. God, she was way too bubbly.
“I don’t understand how we ever became friends,” I groaned and flipped off Bastian when he started chuckling. I should have chucked my phone at him. He’d been weirdly available all afternoon, and now I knew why. He’d planned a damn movie night behind my back.
“Well, I can remind you. Brey and I became college besties. You and Brey had been high school friends despite all the baggage you both have. Lo and behold, you found you loved me.”
I sighed. “Vick, tonight probably isn’t the best—”
“We all need a night to relax. What better way to do that than with movies and friends? We’re coming over. I need to see you. Brey needs to get away from her little rascal. And I think Rome will—”
“He can’t come!” I shouted and then spun around to stalk toward my bedroom. My heart pounded as I tried to come up with excuses for why this was a bad idea. “It’s not the best time. Bastian and I have business to—”
“Business is good.”
“Look, I’ll see you all at the gala in a few days.”
“The gala will be all stuffy, and we’ll only be able to drink champagne when we should be able to drink vodka.” I heard her husband say something in the background, and she replied with, “Well, babe, of course I’m still going to drink whatever I want.”
“Vick, let’s just cancel. I’m not feeling that good.”
“Oh, get real, Katie. You’ve never been sick a day in your life. If you’re going to act like a badass all the time, suck it up and be one. We’ll be there at eight.” She hung up like she wasn’t at all scared of my badass vibe.