I look around the room and then shake my head. There is no way he has cameras in here.
After showering and dressing, I find CJ lurking around in my living room. “You’re still here?” I ask, surprised he hasn’t left yet.
“Aurelio and Daniella De Bellis will be arriving in fifteen minutes. Dad asked me to meet them and make sure they have—and I quote—the best suites,” CJ says.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me they were coming?”
Aurelio and Daniella are childhood friends. Our parents do business together. I guess Aurelio is part of that business now. The one he says isn’t a place for women. They’re from Australia. And, well, the De Bellises are very easy on the eyes.
He keeps tabs on you.Bradley’s words repeat in my head again, and an idea forms. I smile.
“I need to change. Don’t go down without me. I want to see them,” I tell CJ before running back to my bedroom.
I strip out of the very sensible business suit I had intended to wear and dig through the closet for something a little more… revealing. Finding a red bodycon, I grab a pair of black Louboutin pumps and then pick up my phone, dialing Brad as I get dressed again.
“Miss me already?” he answers, sounding surprisingly alert at this hour of the morning.
“Always. Tell me… you saidhekeeps tabs on me. Is he watching me through the cameras in my casino, Bradley?” I wouldn’t put it past Jake to hack into the system.
“I cannot confirm nor deny,” Brad replies.
“He is. Asshole,” I groan. “Well, you might want to tell your friend to switch his creepy monitor on, because I’m about to make it very clear how much I don’t think about him.”
“The very reason for your call is to talk about Jake. You sure you’re not thinking about him, Jazzy?” Brad mocks.
“Not at all. Gotta go. I’m meeting a friend downstairs—a tall, dark, and handsome kind of friend,” I say.
“Well, now, you’re just playing with fire.” Brad chuckles.
“It’s a good thing I love the heat then,” I retort, and cut the call.
I reach for the tie currently holding my hair in a ponytail and pull it out, letting the strands fall around my shoulders. When I walk back into the living room, CJ looks up from his phone screen.
His eyebrows draw down. “What the fuck are you wearing?”
“A dress.” I look down at myself.
“Why?” he asks.
“Because I like dresses. Come on, let’s go meet these De Bellis siblings.” I smile innocently at my brother.
“For the love of God, tell me you do not have a thing for Aurelio De Bellis,” CJ grunts.
“Ew, of course I don’t. But I do plan on taking him for coffee, so you’re going to have to entertain Daniella for a bit on your own. Something I’m sure you won’t struggle with.” I laugh.
It’s a well-known fact that CJ and Daniella have been crushing on each other since they were about ten. I don’t think either of them has ever actually acted on that crush, though. Who knows? Maybe now’s their time.
I think back to prom, the one night it was my time. Mine and Jake’s. The only night I’ll ever have with him. Because I’m not stupid enough to fall into that trap again. I won’t be made a fool of. It’s not that, though. It’s more that I’m scared I wouldn’t recover from him breaking my heart twice over.
My lips tingle as I remember the kiss he gave me yesterday.Why did he have to do that?I was fine, pretending I didn’t remember what his mouth felt like. Now that memory is freshly seated in my mind.
Fuck him. I hate him.I wish I never bothered to see him yesterday. I should have just disposed of his little listening device and left it at that.
As soon as CJ and I get to the lobby and my eyes land on Aurelio, my smile widens. It’s a genuine smile because I do like seeing my friends.
I pick up my pace, and when I’m close enough, I jump and throw my arms around his neck. Aurelio doesn’t miss a beat, catching me as his arms tighten around my waist.
“Pretend you’re here just for me and you’re really, really happy to see me,” I whisper into his ear.