Page 81 of Lost Love

“You’ve got nothing to worry about, Francesca.” I kissed her on the cheek and said goodbye.

She walked outside without turning back.

Get it together, Connor, before you lose it all.

18

Pepper

“So Ari invited us to his grandmama’s haute couture fall event. The afterparty is at Sky Deck. Ari knows everyone. Hot models, gorgeous women, it’s going to be amazing and the hottest ticket in town!” Lourde said.

“I’ll sit it out,” I said, feeling conflicted after last night’s dinner turned out to be a clusterfuck of emotions felt in just one kiss.

“You will not!” she protested down the line.

“You are coming… and Olivia, of course, we need to set her up with someone.”

“I don’t know,” I said, painfully listening to my own whining.

“What is up? Are you still thinking about Mr. Hot Guy?”

Every second of the day.“No.”

“You lie like the Pope, Pepper.”

“Okay, well, maybe I am. But I’m also thinking about Jake.”

“Well, isn’t that a good thing?”

“Is it? I don’t know. I’m so confused.” I stared out the window of my apartment, wanting to feel anything but this.

“It depends what you’re thinking?”

“We went out to dinner last night, and he was thirty minutes late again. There was no shred of remorse, either. Just excuse after excuse. I just doubt every word out of his mouth, and now I’m doubting we were even in love in the first place.”

“Really? Oh, hun. I’m sorry you feel that way.”

I picked off an invisible layer of lint on my activewear. “Yeah…”

“Why do I feel you’re leaving something out here?”

“We also ran into Connor and Francesca at dinner… they ended up joining us at La Trattoria,” I admitted, trying to sound as casual as possible and wanting to let Lourde in on my secret.

“Oh, excellent. Sounds like he’s trying, at least. That will make Dad happy.”

“What do you mean?”

“Everyone knows Francesca can be painful, especially Connor. They’ve been on again and off again for years.”

“Do you think he is in love with her?” I asked, my stomach in a ball of knots, waiting for her to answer.

“No way. I don’t think my brother is capable of love.”

A deep and unwavering sadness replaced the instant relief I felt. A fuck was a fuck, and that’s probably all we were, just like the many before me.

“He’s never ever serious. You know Connor. He was like Barrett, a bachelor all his life.”

“Well, Barrett is a changed man. Maybe it takes the right woman to change his ways.”

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