Page 126 of Someone Exactly Like Me (Wounded Hearts 1)
“Destiny, I know you’re upset. I don’t know what we saw there.”
“You don’t?” I ask, sitting in the seat on the other side of the boat from the helm. “I do. What we saw was Nicco being Nicco and Giovanna finally getting the man she’s always wanted.” My mouth tastes bitter.
“I don’t think so.” His compassionate eyes don’t soothe me.
“No?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “Nicco isn’t the man he used to be. I’ve seen a change in him over the last few months. A change for the better. He’s not the man he once was. And it’s because of you.”
I can’t hold back my tears any longer. “It doesn’t matter.” Looking out into the water, I let the tears fall.
He starts the boat and takes off. The wind thrashing at my face can’t numb the pain in my heart.
Nicco
Reflexively reaching under her arms, I lift Gigi up, pulling her off me and stand up. “Enough, Gigi. No,” I say with finality as I pick up her dress and hand it to her. Impatience pulses in my neck.
“Why?” She pouts. “We’re perfect together. We’ve known each other forever. We want the same things. And we’re both gorgeous,” she says, batting her lashes, tilting her head, and raising her shoulder to her chin.
“We’re so far from perfect together.” I point back and forth between us. “And we may want some of the same things, but for very different reasons. You expect the world to drop at your feet and shower you with luxury because God made you gorgeous. I want to earn my luxury and be an example to others of what’s possible for them if they work hard and never give up on their dreams. I want to make a positive impact.”
“I can’t help that God made me gorgeous. What do you want me to do about that?” she asks, wrapping her dress around herself.
“Nothing.” I shake my head. “You asked me why Destiny’s here. She’s here because I asked her to be here. Because I want her to be here. She lives her life with integrity and kindness. With purpose. She helps others out of the goodness of her heart, not because she expects something in return. She’s the kind of person I want to surround myself with. You could learn a lot from her.”
Her pout turns bitter. “With your career taking off and me by your side, you could’ve had it all,” she seethes, blind to her self-serving attitude.
“You and I are never going to be together. Never. Go, Gigi. Now.” I point my finger in the direction she came from.
Like a sulking child, she stomps off, her butt bouncing with each pound of her steps into the tiled floor.
I have a cigarette to calm my frustration while I wait for Destiny. By the time I’m done, I go back into the house to check and see if she’s ready. Her bedroom door is open so I go in.
All her things are gone.
Fear, rage, and panic intertwine and combust inside my chest. I run out to the kitchen. Angelina glares at me, the corners of her lips turned down, her brows pinched together.
“Gigi?” She shakes her head with a pained look of disapproval that quickly interlocks the puzzle pieces in my head.
One of them saw Gigi kissing me. Destiny knows. She’s gone.
My body ignites. “No!” I fume. “Where is she?” I ask, stalking toward her.
“She packed her things and Marco’s taking her to Naples. How could you?” She shakes her hands at me, scowling.
“No, I didn’t.” Blood curdles in my veins.
“Marco saw you.”
“No. It wasn’t anything. She kissed me and I pulled her off of me and told her to leave.”
“Well, all they saw was you and Gigi kissing.”
“Destiny saw?” My face burns as my heart jackhammers in my ears.
“Yes, she saw. Why do you think she left?”
“Cazzo.” Shoving my hands through my hair, I pace.
