My first thought was that it was Mr. Capuano, armed with a machine gun, ready to pump me full of lead.
My second thought, that it was one of Mr. Capuano’s henchmen, like Ottavia’s driver, seemed more realistic. Surely Mr. Capuano didn’t do his own dirty work, right?
But when guilt crested Ottavia’s face, and she couldn’t even bear to look me in the eye, I knew who itreallywas: her boyfriend.
Oh no … you lied?I thought, my heart sinking.
And I’m surprised at how much that realization hurt. Because honestly, I’ve never really been a stand-up character when it came to women. In the very few and short-lived relationships I’ve been in, I’ll admit, I failed to take commitment seriously. And I know, for a fact, girls have cheated on their boyfriends with me before. And it never bothered me.
So why, then, didthisbother me?
I didn’t know, but Ottavia and I didn’t have time to explore this mystery of emotion, as the penthouse door quickly opened and the other man stepped in.
Ottavia and I had only a precious few seconds before he found us—with the back of the couch facing the door, the dude didn’t have a direct line of sight to see his girlfriend lying with another man. But with how the spacious suite was set up, there wasnochance of us hiding or escaping.
Slowly, I pulled my hand out of the slit of her dress. It seemed like theleastI could do.
“Tavi? You home?” the poor bastard asked as he wandered in.
Tavi? That’s what he calls her?I thought, repulsed, somehow. Ottavia was such a beautiful name, so fun to say and lovely to hear—and yet he wanted to call herTavi?
You don’t deserve her,I thought, which I’m not proud of, because I know absolutely nothing about that guy and, hell, very little about Ottavia herself.
Ottavia began to stir. Slowly, she poked her head up and peeked over the back of the couch.
Her boyfriend chuckled. “Why, hello there. You’re popping up like a mole. Did I wake you?”
“Leo …” she said, her voice sullen.
“What’s wrong?” Leo responded, instantly knowing something was up.
“I’m … sorry.”
“Sorry for what, hon?” he asked, slowly stepping closer.
Guess that’s my cue.
Slowly, I sat up.
Leo looked a little younger, probably closer to Ottavia’s age, but he wasn’t a bad-looking dude. Dressed in a sharp suit, he exuded an air of confidence—though, admittedly, it quickly dissipated when he saw me staring back at him.
“Hey, bud.” I gave the guy a half-hearted wave and made that face politicians always do when they’re caught in a sex scandal. You know the one—the exaggerated frown with your cheeks puffed out, as if to say,Yep, ya caught me, and yep, I’m guilty.
He didn’t wave back. He turned to Ottavia. “Tavi,” he began slowly, “pleasetell me you didn’t bring someone back to our suite.”
“You told me you weren’t coming back,” Ottavia replied defensively.
I bent over and started putting my shoes on.
“That doesn’t mean you can just do whatever,” he said, sounding annoyed. “Besmartabout it,Tavi. There are rules for a reason.”
She sighed.
Something seemed odd here—I mean, yeah, obviously he’d just walked in on his girlfriend with someone else—but the way they were arguing about it seemed really …odd.Like they were actually arguing over something else entirely. Maybe they were swingers or something?? Or one of those couples that was always getting back together just to break up again a week later? I didn’t know. Regardless, it wasn’t my place.
“I should probably get going,” I murmured, catching Ottavia’s eyes.
She frowned, mouthing the word,No.
