Chapter 14: Bad Decision

Fabio’s POV

Three days.

Three days and twenty-two hours since I had the most insane public-washroom sex. Since I came and still wanted to do it all over again. Since I last saw him- the man who finally taught me the true meaning of an insatiable need. It was a desire so unquenchable that even now, seated across a table surrounded by my friends, I could not stop thinking about him. Was this even healthy?

And now, it was only a matter of minutes before he walked through that door, radiating that effortless cockiness and sexiness, seducing my mind, body, and soul into a haze. He made me conjure fantasies so filthy that even the devil would call me a slut. And honestly? I would wear that title with pride.

"Fabio. Hey, man. You’ve been miles away tonight. Anything you want to share?" Dante, the guy sitting next to me, asked as he gave my shoulder a tap.

"Nothing, just a little... tired." It wasn’t entirely a lie. I was mentally exhausted from obsessing over a man who might not even be giving me a second thought.

"Tired? How come? It’s not like you have a real job," Dante teased, handing me a fresh glass of wine.

"Unless... it’s a different kind of job," another guy chimed in suggestively, earning knowing smirks and dirty grins from the rest of the table.

"It’s not entirely out of the question," I muttered, gulping down my drink.

Predictably, the guys groaned, each reaction louder and more dramatic than the last.

"When are you finally going to settle down with one person? Seriously, you’ve never been in a real relationship," Dante pushed on.

"I’m not mentally or emotionally cut out for... that kind of thing. You of all people should know that."

Relationships and me simply did not belong in the same sentence. That was a hard fact, and I had my reasons.

Dante slung an arm around my shoulders and looked straight into my eyes.

"Just wait until you meet someone you can’t get out of your head. You’ll fall right into that trap before you even realize it. You can’t control it; it just happens, bro- no plans, no warning. Until then, just enjoy yourself."

Someone I couldn not get out of my head? There was already one. But between us, it was strictly physical, so Dante was way off base. I was entirely in control of my mind.

Lost deep in my own thoughts, I barely noticed my phone vibrating until Dante gave me another nudge, pointing to it.

"Who the hell is... Pretty Trouble?" Dante boomed across the table.

I picked my phone up. "Someone way prettier than you," I shot back with a wink before taking the call.

"Hey." Even I could hear the immediate shift in my voice from casual to low and attentive.

I listened to the line and felt a small smile tug at the corner of my lips. "Maybe. Probably. What about you, did you miss me?"

The other end went quiet for a beat before a reply came through.

I chuckled at what the person said, then murmured, "I’ll be right there."

I hung up, drained my wine glass, and looked up at the guys.

"Catch you later, freaks," I announced, pushing away from the table.

"Deserting your friends for a hookup? What a traitor," Dante complained dramatically.

"Zero regrets," I called back over my shoulder.

"Fuck you!" Dante shouted as I slipped out of the casino and headed straight for the parking lot.

Scanning the mostly empty lot, I quickly spotted a bright yellow sports car and strode toward it. Standing right by the driver’s side was a young, stylish woman- wait... Let’s redo that. Standing right by the driver’s side was my little twin sister, who had vanished off the face of the earth for the past year, probably hiding out from our parents. She was wearing a denim skirt that barely defied gravity and a top I did not even have a name for.

I walked over, and the moment she saw me, her face lit up.

"Fabiooo!"

Did I mention she is overly dramatic and relentlessly affectionate? She pulled me into a fierce hug, kissing my forehead and both cheeks. Honestly, what could be worse?

"Alessia," I managed, flashing a strained smile. "I see you haven’t changed... at all."

Alessia, the eternal beauty queen, struck a proud pose, checking out her own reflection. "Really? You know, this guy I was dating actually dumped me because he claimed I was gaining weight. Can you believe it?"

"Yeah. He’s legally blind."

She laughed, hooked her arm through mine, and rested her head comfortably on my shoulder.

"So, tell me, how have you been?" she asked.

"Can’t complain. Same old, same old," I replied smoothly.

"And mom and dad? Have they dragged you back yet?"

I shook my head. "No. They’re holding up their end of the deal."

My sister sighed, pulling back slightly. "You know you don’t always have to play by their rules. Live a little, like me. Free."

I stayed silent for a second before answering. "I listen to them sometimes because I know they ultimately want what’s best. So far, it’s fine. No real issues."

I could feel Alessia’s sharp gaze on me, but I kept my eyes forward. "As long as you’re happy, that’s what matters. If anything goes wrong, make sure you call me, okay?"

I nodded. We stood in comfortable silence for a minute, until my phone rang again.

I glanced at the caller ID, and my brain instantly short-circuited.

Judging by the look on her face, Alessia saw it too. "Who the hell is... Bad Decision?"

I pressed my lips together tight, but I could not stop a grin from breaking through.

"Just some troublesome person I ran into," I lied smoothly, trying to sound completely unfazed.

Because in reality, I was a complete mess. Marco, my literal bad decision, was calling me. And since this was a first, how on earth was I supposed to keep my cool? I’m on my knees, tell me, please.