Page 20 of Ruins
And I envy her for it.
For the short-lived freedom she doesn’t even realize she has.
Wordlessly, I hand her the folder. She flips it open, her eyes widening as a long, low whistle escapes her lips.
A blush creeps up her neck, blooming across her cheeks.
“Wow, Vasi. He is really hot. You lucked out.”
I chuckle, shoving her playfully before snatching the folder back. “He’s handsome, but he’s astranger.”
Mimi shrugs. “Did you want to marry Jude instead?”
I grimace. “Definitely not.”
“So what’s the problem?”
I exhale, setting the folder on my nightstand. “I just… I wanted to know the man first.”
Mimi tilts her head, her gaze turning knowing. “The way you know Pietro?”
I freeze for half a second.
“There’snothingbetween Pietro and me. He’s just my friend.”
“A friend that youhada crush on.“ Her smirk is infuriating.
“Had. Past tense.”
Mimi sighs, studying me for a moment before her voice drops. “He’s here, you know.”
My stomach tightens. “Pietro?” I shake my head. “No, he said he was reassigned—” I trail off as she bites her lip, suddenly avoiding my gaze.
“Yeah. He did.” Her eyes flick toward my bedroom door.
A sudden, urgent pull drags me forward.
I rush to the door, yanking it open.
And there he is.
Pietro.
His gaze meets mine, heavy with something I don’t want to hear.
An apology.
“I was told to let Mimi know, so I came back,” he says, voice quieter than usual. “But I’m leaving for the night. I just wanted to let you know as well.”
I don’t think.
I move.
Throwing my arms around his waist with enough force that he lets out a quiet grunt before wrapping me up in return.
“I thought you were reassigned to another family!”
I pull back just enough to swat at his firm chest.
