Page 8 of Prideful Union
Santino entered in a blaze of glory, and he left, practically burning my house down.
“I can’t believe that happened,” I mutter.
Antonio pats my arm. “Sorry, Lucia. I’m sure Mom will find someone else for you to marry.”
“Oh, no. I am going to marry Santino.”
He blinks. “Uh, what?”
“I’m going to marry Santino. He agreed to a marriage alliance between us before meeting me, and he’s going to keep to his word. I won’t be made a fool of.”
“You did that all on your own.” With those words, Antonio rejoins Nina, and they leave together.
I gape. I did nothing wrong. Santino was the one who came in here and judged me. I came in with an open mind.
Mia approaches me. She’s in her second trimester of her pregnancy, so she’s still looking cute. “So, that was … strange.”
“No, it wasn’t. Santino is an asshole. But I’m going to marry him and prove him wrong. I am more than worthy of his hand.”
Mia sighs. “Lucia, do you really want to be married to a man who treats you badly? With Killian, from the moment we met, he was nothing but kind to me. That’s the kind of husband you want.”
“I’m not like you, Mia. I don’t settle. I go for the best, and Santino is the best.”
“Oh, ouch. And two, why is Santino the best?”
“Because he’s gorgeous. We would make a beautiful couple, and I want that.”
Mia shakes her head. “That’s not a reason to marry someone.”
“Well, it’s my reason, and I’m going to make it happen.”
“How?”
Shoot. I hadn’t gotten that far. “I just will, Mia. Ok?”
She holds her hands up in surrender. “Ok.”
“Ok.” I stare out at the party of people, from my brother throwing up to Gemma and Victor dancing like they don’t have a care in the world. I’m going to get what I want. Santino will not have the last word.
The following day,I’m still fuming about Santino leaving me hanging. He just walked out and decided for himself we aren’t going to marry. If anyone was going to announce that, it should have been me, so I could see his smug look as he cried because he wouldn’t have me.
I’m so distracted I can’t even do one of my cardio dance routines in the morning.
Luca tries talking to me, but I just shout at him to leave me alone.
“Jeez,” he says. “I was just trying to apologize for throwing up at your party.”
“Then you shouldn’t have gotten drunk in the first place, Luca. Now, get out of my room.”
He rolls his eyes and shuts my door behind him. Well, more like slam.
“Be careful!” I shout.
“I don’t care!” he shouts back.
I flop onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. But what I’m really doing is imagining Santino’s smug face before me. I can’t figure out if I’m going to kiss or slap him the next time I see him. Either way, it wouldn’t be “classy” enough for a man like him. Well, fuck him.
I still kind of want to be married, though, just to prove him wrong.
