Page 40 of Arranged

I cross my arms over my chest indignantly. “I won’t.”

Santino stares at me for a beat, his emotionless mask still in place and his eyes completely shuttered from giving me any warmth like they did before.

Without another word, he grabs his wallet and keys from the counter and walks out of the apartment, leaving me frozen where I stand.

That didn’t exactly go as planned. But to be fair, I already know I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know how to be a girlfriend. I don’t know how to be a wife. I don’t know how to be with a man.

I look around the apartment, and now that it’s daylight, I can see how spacious, clean, andniceit is. I should’ve assumed as much, considering he’s the head of one of the remaining four families in the city and it’s a penthouse, but I always just assume men live like cavemen when they don’t have a woman in their life.

And there’s the problem. I don’t know him. I married a man I don’t know yesterday and I let him lick and kiss my body before eating my pussy like a starved man the same night.

Why did I do that?

I did that because despite not knowing intimate details of his life and all his likes and dislikes, he makes me feel alive. He makes me feel everything, all at once.

I could barely hold back from kissing him like a mad woman just before, and I don’t know what would’ve happened after that since I apparently have little to no control over my body and what it wants when Santino is near me.

Damn it, I need food. I can’t deal with all this on an empty stomach and no caffeine.

Pulling myself together, I go back into the kitchen, and something on the island catches my eye. A note from Santino.

My beautiful wife,

Here’s a set of keys to the apartment and one of my cars down in the garage, along with my credit card.

I have a surprise for you later if you’re up for it.

Your new husband who’s thankful his beautiful wife said yes to him last night,

Santino

A twinge of regret hits me in my stomach like a sucker punch, and I rub my forehead to keep an oncoming headache at bay.

Sighing, I pick up the keys and see a fob for a Porche attached to the ring. At least he’s giving me a fun car to drive. Despite living in the city, my brothers made sure I learned to drive, which Santino obviously knows or he wouldn’t have left me the keys.

I leave the note and keys on the counter for now and make myself scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast, with a side of the best cup of coffee I’ve ever had.

Damn, he buys the good stuff.

I spend the rest of the day rotting on the couch, watching a marathon of Vampire Diaries, wildly jealous of Elena. I would’ve chosen Damon, too. She’s lucky she had a choice. I didn’t get a choice. Or, maybe I did. I chose Santino in the club when I didn’t know who he was, and I was willing to give him everything.

Damn it.

I don’t know what to think anymore.

I turn the TV off and realize how hungry I am again. What time is it? I look at my phone and see it’s already past six. And look at that, no texts or missed calls from anyone in my family.

Did I play my part as the blushing bride so well that everyone thinks I’m okay?

No one, not even Aria or Gia, thought to text me to see how my night was? If Santino tried anything with me? If Ilet himtry anything with me?

I didn’t expect my mother to check on me since we haven’t spoken in over two weeks, but I am her only daughter. You’d think that would mean something considering I’m also the one who’s taken care of her for years so no one knew how bad her depression truly got. I gave up my time for years without a second thought because she’s my mom, and when I needed her,she decided I’m not important enough to fight for. She didn’t even try to help me plan the wedding.

I would’ve taken anything from her.

Letting out a frustrated growl, I make myself an easy dinner of pasta with sauce that I added sauteed mushrooms, onions, and garlic to, and then watch a couple more episodes of Vampire Diaries before my eyes grow heavy and I sink down into a laying position on the couch.

Where’s Santino?

---