Page 13 of Did My Heart Love Till Now?

“Oh, for fuck's sake!” I spun on my heels briskly.

Joey threw his head back laughing, collapsing back on the sofa. The girls stared anxiously at him, unaware of the reason. He cleared his throat, sat up, and concealed a smirk that could break into a laugh at any moment.

“I’m sorry for that.” I shook my head. “We were just talking about something funny.” I offered Juliet a smile. “I’m Gavino and that's Joey.”

She blushed shyly. “Hi.” She darted her gaze back and forth between us.

Joey crossed his arms. “What are you girls doing today?”

Chiara waltzed toward the kitchen. “We're going to a beach party later, so we are going shopping. Juliet wanted to see Gav's studio, so I brought her here before we head to the mall.” She appeared around the corner carrying two cans of the diet soda she kept in the fridge.

I placed the paintbrush down and picked up a smaller one, creating thin brown lines down the center. “Isn't it a bit cold for a beach party?” I scolded in my older brother tone.

The girls both snickered.

“You guys should come.” Juliet chimed in confidently.

Spinning around, I shook my head. “Hard pass on that, sorry.”

“Wait a second!” Joey snapped.

I stopped and turned around.

“Maybe this is what you need, G.” He smirked at the girls. "Your brother needs a distraction."

I scoffed. “I do not need a distraction for fuck's sake.”

The girls' eyes shifted their gaze as if they were watching a tennis match intently.

“Um, is something going on that I don't know about?” My nosey sister snorted.

I scowled at Joey. “No there is nothing you need to know.”

Chiara sighed. “Sooo—”

“Fine.” I bowed my head toward the girls. “If there are drinks, I'm there.”

They nodded simultaneously.

“We'll leave in a sec.” Chiara pulled Juliet toward the hall. “I’m going to show her my room.” She shouted as they disappeared.

I knew that painting right now was going to be useless. I was now bored with it, distracted, and knew Joey was going to want to talk some more after they left. I cleaned up my supplies then walked into the kitchen to rinse my brushes out.

A shrieking sound resonated through the thick, white walls. Joey and I hurried to see what spider had made its way into Ciara's room. It was the only thing that caused my sister to scream like that.

When I entered, my face dropped as the girls stood next to Chiara's bed staring at my t-shirt balled up on her wrinkled blankets. Gnawing the inside of my cheek, I jumped forward, yanking the shirt. I draped the top that Sofia had been wearing over my arm as Chiara scowled.

“My room?!”

“Nothing happened!” I huffed.

She threw her arm out, gesturing toward the door. “Why my room when you have your own”

“First of all,” I shouted, “this is my place not yours!”

She gritted her teeth. “I will see you and him tonight.” She lifted a brow at Joey who had been leaning in the doorway. She pushed past him angrily as Juliet shuffled behind her trying to keep the pace.

“Ugh!” Tightening my glare on Joey, I growled. “Don't you say a fucking word.”

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