Page 128 of Made to Sin

After breakfast, I decided to give myself another day of lazying around before committing to a new routine. It was a drastic switch to go from not knowing when I would be beaten again to not knowing where I would sleep at night to not knowing when I would leave New York to now. There were so many changes in the course of months, my brain couldn’t keep up.

I needed a break before I became lost in the uncertainty and had another panic attack.

Chaos aside, I finally had time to read on my new Kindle. The paperbacks Luciano had gotten for me still sat on my shelf unread, but I was too excited not to try the new tablet.

I was about to start another romance novel when my phone alerted me of a message.

Unknown: Get ready, I’m taking you out to dinner tonight.

I didn’t need to consider if the message was sent to the wrong number. The totalitarian tone that demanded I go to dinner was classic Luciano Beneveti. Nobody else had the guts to be this bossy.

Me: Is this how people ask for dates nowadays?

Luciano: I wasn’t aware I was asking. I’ll pick you up soon.

I half-heartedly rolled my eyes at his cockiness and proceeded to send the same emoji over text.

He read it but didn’t answer.

Stronzo.

My book lay forgotten as I giddily rushed to my room to get ready. I hummed and smiled the whole time, not able to contain the feat of happiness. This was our first official date together, and, pathetically, my first date ever.

What should I even wear?

“Maria, emergency!” I hollered down the hall.

She was always good at dressing me up. Plus, back in the day, she was a gorgeous bombshell. She definitely knew how to make an appearance, and I needed her help.

She entered my room, holding her favorite feather sweeper as a weapon. When she didn’t see any danger, she dropped it to her side.

“What is it?”

I smiled. “I have a date tonight. Can you help me get ready, please?”

She huffed, aggressively placing her sweeper on top of a dresser and walking over to my closet. “Silly girl! Bob was on, and you distracted me.”

“Who was what?” I questioned, not having a clue who she was talking about, or whatever it was that he was doing.

“Bob, the weather forecaster.”

I tilted my head. “FromChannel 5?”

“Yes.”

“You’re still obsessed with him? Isn’t he like half your age?”

She stuck her head up high as if she wasn’t ashamed one bit. “Is there something wrong with it?”

“No, of course, not,” I sarcastically teased.

She glared. “Go shower before I change my mind.”

Jeez, someone was learning how to be demanding from another person in this household. Not wanting to test herpatience after removing her from her lover, I grabbed my undergarments and proceeded to do as she said.

Gone were the days of “meu bem.” Now, I seemed to always be wrong, and Luciano held all her sympathy.

She swore she adored me more than him, but I didn’t believe a word of it. I couldn’t even blame her, the man seemed to have everyone eating out of the palm of his hand.

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