CHAPTER 7
Arianna
When my eyes fluttered open that morning, the bed was cold and empty. I stretched, my body nude under the silk sheets That’s when it hit me again what had happened.
It hadn’t all been just a dream.
I closed my eyes, somehow feeling both ashamed and pleased with myself as I let the night replay in my mind.
I can’t believe what I just did, I thought to myself.
Slowly, I sat up on the bed, clutching the sheets over my body, somehow feeling self-conscious despite the fact that Gio had seen and touched every inch of my body just hours beforehand. I yawned and ran a hand through my hair before another problem arose in my mind.
Swearing under my breath, I looked around his bedroom in search of a clock. It was early—still before seven o’clock. There was no doubt that my parents were going to be wondering where I was and why I hadn’t come home. They were probably worried sick and had called my phone a million times. And I knew if I didn’t report back to them soon, my brothers would be sent out to search for me.
Hastily, I climbed out of bed and pulled the sheets off with me, wrapping them around my body so that I could cross the room to retrieve my phone from my purse. As expected, I had a dozen missed calls and texts.
I quickly dialed my home phone number.
“Arianna! Ari—are you okay? Where are you?” my mother’s voice came out in a rush.
“I’m fine, Mama.”
“Why are you whispering?”
“Because Angela is still sleeping. I hung out with her all night and got tired and fell asleep at her place instead of driving back home. I’m sorry to have worried you.”
“Oh,” my mother said, sounding much more at ease. “Honey, you should have told us. I was about to call your brothers to tell them to see if they could find you.”
“I’m sorry, Mama. We were just having so much fun talking and…thinking about my wedding, I left my phone in my purse and didn’t hear it ringing.”
“Well, I’m glad you girls had fun. But you hurry and get back home soon. You’ve got a big day ahead, you know.”
My stomach turned a flip, but not in a right way. “I know, Mama. See you in a little bit.”
“Okay, sweetheart.”
I ended the call, feeling somewhat unnerved by how easily the lies had sprung from my lips. But there was no use thinking about it. My adventure had come to an end, and it was time for me to get back to the real world and the obligations before me.
I searched around the room for my clothes, finding them tossed haphazardly on the floor from where Gio had practically ripped them off me.
I could hear him stirring about from somewhere in the front of the apartment.
Quickly, I unwrapped his black satin sheets from around me and placed them back on the bed.
“Morning.”
I gasped and gave a start at the sound of his voice. I spun around, finding Gio standing in the doorway and getting another eyeful of me as I stood before him, completely naked.
Heat rose to my face, and I crouched over, attempting to cover myself.
Gio laughed. “So, you’re a lot shier in the daytime, I see,” he said. He crossed the room and picked my clothes up from the floor. He then handed them to me, without really looking directly at me.
“Thank you,” I said, watching him turn his back to me to provide me some semblance of privacy as I quickly squeezed into my clothes. That’s when I noticed that he was already showered and fully dressed.
“I was going to let you sleep in, but I’m actually glad you’re awake,” he said. “I don’t want to be rude, but I have somewhere to be.”
“Oh,” I said after a slight pause. Heat rose to my face again.
Gio glanced over his shoulder to see if I was dressed. Seeing that I was, he turned back around and headed towards his dresser to get a watch, which he began fastening to his wrist.
“Do you need me to call you a cab?” he asked, his voice too nonchalant for my liking.
A bitter taste formed in my mouth. “Uhm…where’s your bathroom? Do you mind if I wash up a bit first?”
He blinked and checked the time on his watch. “Sure. Right down the hall. Hey, listen—do you think you could let yourself out then? I’ll go ahead and call you a cab. When you leave, just lock the door, all right?”
I swallowed over the lump in my throat and nodded. I then hurried down the hall toward the bathroom, where I quickly shut the door behind me. I pressed my hand over my mouth, stifling a sob.
What was wrong with me?
It was like he didn’t even care. That’s what was wrong.
After the passionate night we’d shared together, he was carrying on as if it meant absolutely nothing to him. He was practically rushing me out of his apartment because he had better things to do now.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, almost not recognizing the woman—the simple-minded girl—staring back at me.
What did you expect from a one-night stand? A voice in my head chastised. How could you? And you’re about to be married! No respectable guy would want a woman who participates in this kind of sordid antics.
Turning on the faucet to run cold water over my face, I realized just how much of a mistake this night had been after all. My rebellious streak had been nothing but stupidity. And I knew for certain, that the deeds I’d done the previous night had to remain a secret for as long as I lived.
It was time for me to pack my things, get in the cab, and prepare for the rest of my life without ever looking back at this wild night.