Page 53 of Frayed Bonds

“There is nothing to tell.” I retake my seat on the couch and pull out my phone. “He needed a date, and I was free, it’s nothing. Just a couple of old friends hanging out,” I shrug.

I feel bad about lying, especially about the real reason I agreed to be Ambrose's date. Telling Natalia would mean her worrying way more than she needs to.

“You and Ambrose have never been friends,” Natalia pokes.

I know what she's trying to do. It’s what she tried to do the entire evening. Stir the pot enough for me to say something that could sound like I’m interested in Ambrose. Which I'm not.

“I was practically third wheeling whenever I wasn’t with Leo.”

“It isn’t third wheeling,” I sigh. “There are no wheels, I’m a unicycle riding around on my own.”

She stares at me in disbelief before she bursts out laughing. “What the fuck Val? I haven't seen you so defensive over him since we were like sixteen,” Natalia laughs.

I frown and focus on my phone again. In my vain attempts to seem unfazed, I seem to have somehow made her suspect it even more.

Natalia isn't wrong, Ambrose could do nothing wrong in teenage Valerie's eyes, but I’m not the same girl I was back then. I’m more mature and less naive, I’ve been more exposed to the trash of the real world. Especially in terms of men. Especially men like Ambrose

“Okay,” Nat says. “If you're okay with the idea of dating Ambrose, then say nothing.”

As I’m about to jump to my own defence, I can’t help but play out the scenario of what that would be like. What Ambrose would be like as a boyfriend and maybe even mo- “I KNEW IT!” Natalia jumps up, and my heart nearly explodes out of my chest.

“Wait, no,” I shake my hands in front of me. “I was weighing up my options.” It’s no use, my pleas are like white noise behind Natalia’s squeals of excitement. “Shhhhh,” I hiss. “If Papá wakes up, you can stay over to babysit him,” I threaten, and it’s enough to snap her back to her senses.

“It’s so sweet to see my little Val living out her manifested romance dreams,” Natalia swoons

“All jokes aside, no matter how I felt, or feel about the situation, I’m pretty sure the feeling isn't mutual.”

“Are you crazy? Did you not see the way he was looking at you? If I had someone looking at me that way I’d jump their bones every second I get," Natalia stares at me wide-eyed.

A small laugh leaves my lips, and I know it’s forced. His words replay in my head:

You're not mine to have.

“Trust me, he made it crystal clear. I think the age gap is probably still weird for him,” I shrug.

“I don't want to dwell on this anymore. Can we go back to watching movies?” I ask, and she nods.

“Before we do that, did I see correctly that you and Adriano were at the after-party together?” I ask, and Natalia freezes, wide-eyed as she stares ahead.

Chapter nineteen

Valerie

You can’t escape your responsibilities no matter how much you try. They always come back to bite you in the ass. I’ve been staring at an email from the insurance company for the last ten minutes, terrified to open it. The subject line titled ‘Outstanding Debt’ doesn't seem all too promising.

The ringing of my phone pulls my attention away from the mail and allows me a few seconds to breathe.

“Hello?”

“Val, hey, how are you?” Antonio’s voice comes through the receiver more cold and clipped than usual.

My brows furrow at his tone, I would have thought he'd be happier to finally speak considering how busy he's been with the prep for his trip.

“I’m great, and yourself? How was your trip?”

“Shit, we couldn’t come to an agreement due to some drama with the stock prices. It was weird not being at the dinner though, but I see you were there.” I can hear the annoyance in his tone.

All it does is remind me how I was seconds away from kissing his brother, behind his back.

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