Page 74 of Forbidden Arrangement

He pressed his lips together.“He’s trying to get to me.I know that’s what he’s doing.”

“Stefano, you can’t let this shit affect you.Elise is going to date.”

“Why would she want to date a fighter?She doesn’t even like me fighting.”He rolled his eyes.“This is absolutely ridiculous.”

“It’s okay, bro.Remember why you’re here.Elise is cheering you on.She’s not cheering on Bradley.”

Stefano just looked at me.

“I’m just pissed off.”

“I understand.”

I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket, and I pulled it out.It was Valentina.Stefano looked at the screen, and his eyes widened.

“Oh, so it’s not over completely yet?”

“Shut up,” I said.

I pressed end, sent her to voicemail, and put the phone back in my pocket.

“You’re not going to talk to her?”

“No.Why should I?”

“Well, don’t you have a job to complete?”

I stared at him for a few seconds, sighed, grabbed my phone again, and called her back.

“Hey Sam, I’ve been trying to reach you for the last—”

“What do you want, Valentina?”

“I was trying to call you because I was hoping we could—”

“I’m at Stefano's match right now, and it’s really important, so I don’t really have much time to talk.”

“Can I come and see?”

“I mean, if you want to.”

“If you don’t want me to …”

“It’s just not a good time right now, Valentina.”

“Is this because of the other night when I was supposed to come after my dinner with my dad?You know my dad cooked this amazing meal for us and—”

“Yeah, sure.Okay.”

“Are you mad at me, Sam, because I didn’t see you that night?I already told you that—”

Valentina, I’m sorry.I can’t talk right now.I’ll speak to you later.”

“Okay,” she said.“Call me when it’s done.Let me know how it goes.”

“Yeah, sure.”

I hung up and then looked at Stefano.He raised an eyebrow.

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