by Ana Huang
“Don’t worry if he never mentioned me,” Rico drawled. “He rarely does.” His eyes burned through my towel, and I clutched it tighter to me.
“Oh. W-why?”
There was something about Rico that made me incredibly nervous. Forget swimming. Just go back in the guesthouse! my mind screamed.
Rico smirked. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” There was a strange inflection in his voice, but before I could do anything, another voice cut in.
“Rico! What are you doing here?”
I nearly collapsed with relief when I saw Carlo stride over angrily. He looked madder than I’d ever seen him. Actually, I’ve never seen him mad before, period. It was a little scary.
Rico shrugged, seemingly unperturbed. “Just getting to know your friend, little brother,” he answered cavalierly. “Besides, this is my house too.”
“For now,” Carlo muttered. He switched his gaze to me, concern filling his face. “Are you okay?”
I nodded.
“Are you sure?”
I nodded again, wondering why he looked so on edge.
“Come on, let’s get you back in the guesthouse,” Carlo murmured, guiding me inside.
“It was nice to meet you!” Rico called out laughingly. “I’ll see you around…very soon.”
Carlo’s hand stiffened on my back, but neither of us said anything until we were inside.
“What was that?” I breathed. You could’ve cut the tension between Carlo and his brother with a knife.
He shook his head. “Just my brother being a jerk, as usual.” He frowned down at me. “I’m sorry you had to run into him.”
“It’s no big deal. He didn’t do anything.”
“Good.” Carlo sounded relieved. “Just—be careful around him, ok? He’s not the nicest person on the planet.”
“Hey, if I can take on Roman, I’m sure I can handle him,” I half-joked.
A sad smile flitted across his face. “It’s not necessarily the same thing. Just promise me you’ll be careful?”
I bit my lip. “I promise.”
Carlo’s shoulders relaxed a bit, and the smile reappeared. “So tell me. What are you going to do about Roman?”
Now it was my turn to stiffen. “What do you mean?”
A mischievous twinkle lit up his dark eyes. “Well, you are going to get revenge on him for what he did, right?”
I frowned. “I never thought about it.”
“You should. It’ll be pretty easy, he gets jealous quickly.” Carlo smirked.
I rolled my eyes. “You can only be jealous if you like someone, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t like me. What?”
Carlo was staring at me in disbelief. “Are you sure you’re an honor student?”
“Of course I am!” I huffed, insulted. “I’ve been an honor student all my life!”
“So you’re honestly telling me you don’t think he likes you?”
I blinked. “Um. No. I mean, yes.”
He laughed. “Wow, this is going to be fun.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He just shook his head. “You’re coming with us to celebrate Adri and Zack’s birthday next week, right?”
“Of course. We even picked out Zack’s present together, remember?”
Carlo grinned. “Good. That’ll be the perfect time.”
“For what?”
“To make him jealous.”
I stomped my foot. “I told you, you can’t make someone jealous unless—“
“Unless they like you, yadda yadda yadda.” He tugged on a lock of my hair. “Come on, don’t knock it till you try it. Besides, wasn’t he trying to make you jealous yesterday? Why don’t you give him a taste of his own medicine?”
“I’m pretty sure he was just trying to be a pain in my butt yesterday, as usual,” I sniffed.
Carlo just looked at me. I threw my hands up, letting the towel fall to the floor. “What do you want me to do? I’m not good at this stuff!”
He laughed. “Wearing that bikini might be a start.”
I made a face. “What a perv.”
Carlo smirked, ruffling my hair. I grumpily tried to swat his hand away. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you out. Just consider it a social experiment of sorts. Have fun with it. Even if it doesn’t work, just consider it an ego boost."
Part of me still wanted to say no. Considering I’ve never had a real boyfriend, I’m not so good at these flirting games people pay. On the other hand, what if I could make Roman jealous? Or at the very least, upset?
I suddenly flashed back to the scene on the staircase, after I came home from the amusement park with James.
A small smile curved my lips. Huh. Maybe was Carlo right. It was time to give Roman a taste of his own medicine.
* * *
“Thank you for an amazing day,” Solange cooed, as Roman pulled up in front of the hotel where she was staying.
She trailed her fingers down his chest until it rested precariously close to a certain region below his belt. “You can come up with me if you want,” she breathed. “I have a hot tub in my room.” She eyed him suggestively.
“No, thanks,” Roman answered curtly, grasping her wrist and placing it in her lap. “You should get some sleep. You leave early tomorrow.”
Solange pouted. “I can make time for you.”
Jeez, couldn’t she get a hint? “I’m tired,” he snapped.
She frowned. “Fine,” she huffed, grabbing her new Gucci purse angrily and opening the door. She stopped and looked back at him hopefully, as if he were going to call her back.
When he didn’t, she slammed the door shut.
The minute she did, Roman peeled away from the curb. God, dealing with Solange for an entire day was insufferable. Trying to have a normal, intelligent conversation with her was like trying to pull teeth.
If it weren’t for Maya, I wouldn’t even have to deal with her, Roman thought angrily, slamming his foot on the brake at a stop sign.
He’d only brought Solange back to the house yesterday because he thought Maya might be up, but she wasn’t. Then, the model had downed an entire bottle of wine by herself, babbling about shopping the whole time until he finally told her he’d take her to the mall today just to shut her up. Solange ended up spilling some of the wine on her dress in her excitement, hence why he’d reluctantly let her borrow a shirt. And on top of all that, she’d passed out before he could call a cab to take her home.
Roman had planned to make up an “emergency” so he could get out of the shopping trip, but then freakin’ Maya had waltz into the kitchen. He certainly wasn’t about to cancel in front of her.
His hands tightened on the steering wheel as he thought back to the kitchen scene.
“He really was the perfect date. I’m going to have to find some…method of making it up to him.”
No need to ask what her “method” entailed.
A low growl erupted from his throat as he pulled up in front of his house, tires squealing.
Carlo, Carlo, Carlo. Of course Carlo could do no wrong. He was perfect.
Roman stomped angrily into the house, his boots echoing loudly in the marble halls. What did Carlo have that he didn’t anyway? Did girls seriously like that oh-so-sensitive bullshit?
It was wimpy as hell, in his opinion.
Of course, what really galled him was the fact that seeing him with Solange seemed to have no effect on Maya whatsoever. Just picturing her sitting there at the kitchen table that morning, calmly eating her stupid muffin, made his blood boil. She wasn’t supposed to be so nonchalant!
Well, what did you expect? a voice asked smugly inside his head. Did you really think she could like you?
“What’s there not to like?” Roman growled out loud. “I’m Roman Fiori!”
Yes, but that doesn’t mean a thing to her. Honestly, she’s better off with someone else. Someone like…Carlo.
“Shut up!” Roman roared, causing a passing maid to shoot him an alarmed
look and scuttle into the closest room as fast as her feet could take her.
Why do you care so much anyway? Could you possibly have feelings—
“No way,” Roman muttered furiously. “I’m just mad because she’s the only girl who isn’t fawning over me the way. She’s. Supposed. To!”
He yanked open the door to his room and slammed it shut behind him.
He only took two steps before he stopped, turned, and stormed across the hall to her room. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to say to her, but he had a feeling she was lying about being sick yesterday.
At least, he hoped she’d been lying. She seemed pretty upset when she saw him kissing Solange.
Roman scowled even more at the memory of the kiss. It had been a necessary evil, or so he’d thought. Now, it just seemed like it had all been for nothing.
“Maya!”
He stepped into the Greek suite, searching for a glimpse of her dark hair. Roman’s eyes scanned the empty room, puzzled.
Her bed was perfectly made, and he couldn’t hear any noises. That was weird. She was usually back by this time.
“Maya?”
No response.
His heart speeding up a bit, Roman thoroughly checked the bedroom. Something was off, but he couldn’t tell what. By the time he’d gone through the dressing rooms, bathroom, study area, and the rest of the suite, he was full-on panicking.
Where the hell was she? Had she been mugged? Kidnapped?
His heart tugged violently at the thought.
Roman quickly pressed the intercom button, and the head housekeeper answered immediately.
“Gloria, where’s Maya?” he barked.
The housekeeper paused. “I don’t believe I’ve seen Miss Lindberg all day, Mr. Fiori.”
“Well, she’s not here!”
“Perhaps she went out?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, where could she possibly have gone?” he snapped. “Find her!”
“I—“ Before Gloria had a chance to answer, Roman released the button.
He whipped out his phone, calling Parker, Adri, and Zack in succession. None of them knew where she was, which left him no choice.
Roman reluctantly speed-dialed Carlo, and the Colombian picked up after three rings.
“Hello?”
“Have you seen her?” he demanded without preamble.
“Seen who?” Carlo asked calmly.
“Maya!”
“Yes.”
Relief filled Roman’s lungs. “Where is she? She’s not here!”
“I know. She’s here, with me.”
And just like that, the relief was replaced with roaring jealousy. Roman’s grip tightened on his phone. “Where is ‘here’, and why the hell is she there at this time of night?”
“She’s in my guesthouse.” Carlo sounded almost amused. “Didn’t she tell you? She’s staying here for the next two weeks.”
Roman froze, ice filling his veins. “What?” His voice was hoarse.
“Her parents are extending their stay in Napa, and she’s decided to stay with me until they come back,” Carlo explained serenely.
By now, Roman was gripping his phone so tight he heard it crack a little. His stomach clenched painfully at the thought of Maya and Carlo. Alone. For two weeks. “Why didn’t she just stay here?” he hissed, even though he didn’t really want to hear the answer.
He could almost hear Carlo shrug on the other end. “She said she felt more comfortable staying with me. Can’t hog her all to yourself, you know,” he said jokingly, even though Roman did not find it funny at all.
He resisted the urge to reach through the phone and throttle his soon-to-be-ex-friend.
“Carlo? Who are you talking to?” Maya’s lilting voice in the background came through loud and clear. “Dinner’s here.”
A red haze formed before Roman’s eyes as he pictured them sitting together, eating a romantic dinner by candlelight.
“I’ll be right there,” Carlo called back. Speaking to Roman, he added, “Sorry, gotta go. I’ll see you later.”
Roman sputtered angrily as the other boy ended the call, a vein pulsing angrily in his neck.
“Dammit!” Feeling the need to break something, and violently so, he hurled his phone against the wall, not caring he’d paid almost a thousand dollars to customize it. It promptly shattered into pieces.
Later that night, Roman tucked his hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling in his darkened room. He couldn't sleep. The hopefully imaginary scene of Carlo and Maya eating dinner, finishing dinner, kissing, and maybe even doing more , kept replaying in his head like a broken record.
He turned on his side, closing his eyes and willing sleep to descend. It didn't work.
Roman gripped the top of his comforter in frustration. How did that girl manage to stay on his mind even when she wasn't anywhere near him?
A hollow feeling spread in his stomach as he thought about the empty suite across from his. For some reason he'd always slept better, knowing she was right there across the hall.
The dinner image was instantly replaced by a memory of that night she'd ran into his room, screaming about the girl from The Grudge.
A small chuckle escaped his throat as he remembered how freaked out she'd been. She was pretty cute when she was scared.
Roman buried his face in his pillow, trying to push her out of his mind. It wasn’t until three hours later that he finally managed to drift off to sleep, a picture of a certain green-eyed brunette's face lingering on his mind.
CHAPTER 21
I’m in Hawaii.
Seriously, I’m in freakin’ Hawaii. I never thought I would get to visit Oahu, but here I am.
I have to say, being friends with the Scions did have its perks. Plus, at least I finally know what Adriana’s birthday present is.
“I can’t believe you guys flew us all the way out here for our birthday,” Adriana was saying, as Carlo checked us all in at the counter of the ultra-exclusive Halekulani resort.
“Yeah, well, we knew how much you guys loved Hawaii. We had so much fun last time we were here,” Parker explained with a grin, leaning down to kiss her on the cheek.
“Why does my sister get all the special treatment?” Zack huffed good-naturedly, his hair looking even blonder than usual under the lights.
“Why, you want a kiss?” I teased, feeling much better than I had all week. I mean, who could blame it? I was in paradise.
The past week had been pretty relaxing, with the exception of a few more run-ins with Rico at Carlo’s house and Roman at school. I tried by best to avoid both of them, sticking with Carlo, Venice, and Zack. Adriana and Parker had been in their own little world lately. I’d also started talking to James again, and I was glad he’d gone back to normal. He didn’t sound upset with me anymore, nor did he even hint he wanted anything more than friendship. It was a huge relief.
Of course, I was determined to leave all my worries behind, at least for this weekend. After all, I was in Hawaii. I didn’t even care that a certain violet-eyed boy was standing less than two feet from me, tapping furiously on his brand-new phone. He was probably texting Solange. Honestly, his old phone had seemed perfectly fine, but I guess rich boys liked to switch up their gadgets as much as they did their girls.
No. I’m not going to think about it.
Taking a deep breath, I smiled at Carlo as he walked over with our room keys, but my smile faded a bit when I saw the look on his face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. He looked slightly upset.
“Uh, there was a bit of a mix-up with the rooms,” Carlo said apologetically.
Roman’s head snapped up. “What kind of mix-up?”
“Well, we have two suites and one smaller room—“
“Isn’t that what we’re supposed to have?” Zack pointed out.
“Let me finish,” Carlo said patiently. “We have the Royal Suite, which has two bedrooms. That’s the one you, I, Parker, and Adri are supposed to be staying in.
Then we have a single room for Venice, per her request, and one for Roman and Maya.”
“What?!” Roman and I shouted at the same time.
“What do you mean, one for Roman and Maya?” I asked furiously.