Page 38 of Ruined in Vows

The past…

It’s been eight days since my birthday.

Eight days since I last saw Dante.

Eight days since he gifted me with a love bracelet.

Eight days it has been encircling my wrist.

Glancing down at it, I run a finger over the band, smiling. I still can’t believe Dante went to the trouble of buying it for me. It must mean something, right?

Just as I think that, my phone chimes, alerting me to a message.

Snatching it up off my nightstand, my heart flips when I see Dante’s name on the screen. It's not unusual for Dante to send me a message or check in with me, but this feels different. I’m proven right when I swipe the screen open, and find his words are a little…flirty?

Dante: Principessa, I will be joining your brother in The Hamptons this evening. I hope to see your gift where it belongs.x

A thrill runs through me, and I shiver, my heart beating at an unnatural speed. My fingers tremble as I try to type out a response. In the years I have known Dante, he has never messaged me to tell me he will be visiting. And he has definitely never kissed me. I also love how he calls me by a pet name? Couples call each other by cute names and I like being called princess.

I want to be Dante’s princess.

Me: I want to see you. Alone.x

I hit the send button before I can question my reply. It's bold of me, but I want to talk to him, tell him how I feel and hopefully move forward in our relationship. It's presumptuous of me. For all I know, Dante still sees me as an annoying little sister and the message he sent means nothing. Just a courtesy text. God, I hope not. Dante is now within my reach, and I will be damned if I don’t act on it.

My phone chimes again, stomach dipping in anticipation. I suck in a breath, not wanting to look at the screen but knowing that I have to. Squeezing my eyes closed, I take a deep breath before opening them and glancing down.

Dante: I don’t know if that’s a good idea…

Nausea swarms in my gut at his reply. Though he has left it open ended… or am I just being delusional and reading too much into this. Fuck, I don’t know. This back and forth, the tension between us, is all too much sometimes. But I wouldn’t change it for anything. I may not be experienced with men, but I am sure over our last couple of interactions, Dante has been showing romantic interest in me. The gift. The way he looked at me at my birthday dinner. The message. It is all adding up to one thing.

He likes me.

I am sure of it.

My fingers race over the screen, typing out a serious, albeit flirty response.

Me: It is. Don’t turn back now. You know you want to. I know you want to. Just give in to what is meant to be…

Okay, I have gone from zero to a hundred, but I can’t bring myself to care. I was going to make a conscious effort to be honest with Dante tonight. Looks like I am starting now.

Chewing my bottom lip, I hold my phone waiting for him to reply. Two minutes pass, then five, then ten before I give up, dropping my phone down on my bed. Maybe he is just busy or I did read this all wrong and go too far.

I groan, flopping down on my pillows.

Though I may have just ruined our friendship, I can’t bring myself to regret what I said.

At least Dante now knows that my feelings toward him aren’t familial, but romantic.

A knock at my door wakes me from my sleep.

Groaning, I search for my phone to check the time. 1:00 a.m. Groaning, I realize that I must have fallen asleep and missed my chance to talk to Dante. But… my gaze snaps to the closed door, hope building inside me. Maybe it's him.

Clambering off my bed, I pad across my room, pulling my door open in the next second.

All the air leaves my lungs when my eyes land on Dante. His dark hair is mussed, lips tipped up in a lazy smile. My gaze rakes over him and oh my god. In black pants and white dress shirt, undone at the collar, he looks like every woman’swet dream. I hate that other women have seen him like this. He should be for my eyes only.

“Can I come in?” he murmurs quietly.

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