Mel giggles over the phone. “Shut up and ask me already!”
“Do you think it’s a bad idea to seduce Luca into behaving well?”
“Whoa… wait. My mind went blank when you said seduce. Excuse me? Who are we seducing?”
I laugh as I turn out of the parking lot. “Luca.”
“Oh, girlfriend. Is this even a question?”
“I’m serious!”
“Okay, break it down for me. How did a meeting with your dad give you the idea to seduce Luca? And what do you mean exactly byseduce?”
Her logic is comical, andIfind myself gigglinglike a giddy schoolgirl. “Nothing to do with my dad, ew. I just promised him the situation with Luca is under control when it clearly isn’t. I tried talking to Luca earlier, andhe infuriates me. But how else will I make sure he behaves?”
“So keep him in check with sex, hmm? Brilliant. I like it.”
“And don’t forget—keep on hating him, so no feelings happen.”
Mel cackles. “Nev, is it you I’m really talking to? Sex with no strings attached? You sure you can handle it?”
“No, that’s why I called you. Talk me out of it,” Isayeven though I’m joking.Wellsort of.
Thatsex,fuck it was so good. But Mel’s right. Sex gives me feelings, and feelings are not good.
But I’ve never kept up a sexual relationship with someone I hated. Surely, it’s different, right? But what if it doesn’t work? What if he continues his playboy life?
Fuck, this is all a mess.
“It could work. But there’s more to it than just sex, Nev. And things could get complicated. Remember what our old English teacher always said:There’s a thin line between love and hate, and sometimes you forget which side you’re on.”
I sigh as I pull up in front of my apartment building. “You’ll keep me on the right side, won’t you, my best friend in the whole wide world?”
Mel snickers. “Shit, girl. You’re already doomed.”
“Don’t I know it.”
11
Neveah
I workedfrom home the rest of the week, finalizing Luca's marketing plans and catching up on some paperwork for my brother. Being completely in charge of the drivers leaves everything up to me, sometimes too much.
But without distractions, especially hot drivers I have no business messing with, I get a lot more done.
That is until on Friday morning, when the buzzer to my front door goes off, making me jump out of my seat.Jeez, was it always that loud?Maybe I just don’t hear it enough, considering Mel and AJ both have a key, and my parents always announce their arrival.
The alarm buzzes again, and I almost drop my mug of coffee. “Alright, alright.” I put my coffee down on the side table and push off the couch. Shuffling over to the intercom, I press the talk button, “Hello?”
“Hey!” His voice hits me square in the chest. “Sorry to bother you, but can we talk real quick?”
I gasp like I’ve been holding my breath for so long and was dying for any bit of oxygen.LucaDeMellois here. Right now. Wanting to come inside. What do I do?
Invite him in. It must be important if he came here. How the hell does he know where I liveanyway? And my phone… where the hell is my phone?
“Neveah? You still there?”
Shit.I look down at my pajama shorts and tank top, my hair in a messy bun, and decide what the hell. It’s his fault for showing upwithout anywarning. “I’m not showered and look like I just rolled out of bed.You’ve been warned.” I press the door release button and wait for the slam of the old heavy door.