Chapter 6

• APRIL
• "Let me guess. Eyes you could drown in? Body like something out of a dream?" Aria's voice is playful as she grins over the rim of her mug.
• "I didn't say that," I mutter, trying to sound casual even though I can feel my cheeks heating up.
• "You didn't have to," she says, smirking. "I think my sweet April Morgan has finally fallen in love."
• "I didn't say that either."
• "So, did you at least talk to him? Give him your number?"
• "Nope."
• "Did you talk to him at all?"
• "Sure, I did."
• She raises an eyebrow. "Apart from when he ordered his drink?"
• "Then no," I admit.
• Aria sighs dramatically and slouches back in her chair. "This is not exactly the thrilling story I was hoping for."
• "There's nothing exciting to tell," I say, trying to sound bored, though the thought of his dark eyes still lingers in my mind.
• "What did you talk about then? You must have talked about something."
• "He asked me my name," I begin quietly, "and asked about my Italy pin. I told him I've always wanted to live in Rome."
• Aria sits upright, eyes wide. "Holy crap, really?"
• "Yes. So?"
• "So you told me never to share your dreams with anyone, remember? You said it's safer to keep them secret so no one laughs at you. What makes this guy so special that you'd tell him?"
• I look down at my hands. "That's not even the weird part."
• "What is?"
• "He told me I should take tomorrow night off work."
• Her brows lift. "That's... odd. Why did he say that?"
• "I have no idea," I say truthfully.
• "So are you going to take the night off?"
• "Joe wouldn't let me."
• "I think I know what's going on," she says, snapping her fingers. "He's married and bringing his wife tomorrow night. Doesn't want the girl behind the bar to ruin his fun."
• "Since when do you describe me as the girl behind the bar?" I laugh.
• "Fine, fine," she grins. "Let's go with muffin. Or bagel. Something you can spread butter on."
• "How about none of the above?"
• She yawns. "Whatever. I'm going to bed. You should too. You've got your test tomorrow, right?"
• I stretch, stifling a yawn of my own. "Haven't even had time to study for it."
• "It's community college Italian 101, April. Just show up and say ciao and you'll pass."
• "Thanks for believing in my dedication."
• She grins, softer now. "I mean you'll do fine. You actually want to be there this time, and that's half the battle. Just don't spend the day daydreaming about Mr. Mystery Man and you'll ace it."
• "I'm pretty sure that's not his name," I mumble.
• "Until you find out, that's what I'm calling him," she says with a wink. "It's been, what, three years since you moved here with me?"
• "Your point being?"
• "You haven't hooked up with anyone since Kenny Brown."
• "Don't remind me," I groan. "He was... terrible."
• "You've not got much to compare him with, babe."
• "I don't need much to know thirty seconds isn't enough to enjoy anything."
• Aria laughs. "That's not even enough time to preheat my oven. Maybe you should get yourself a little taste of Mr. Mystery and make a proper comparison. Let him take charge, if you know what I mean."
• "Yeah, I get it," I say dryly.
• "Come on, I'm just saying it wouldn't hurt you to start dating again. Download Tinder, have some fun. The world's full of men waiting to meet you."
• "I tried Tinder, remember? Then I deleted it."
• "Yeah, but maybe try it again without talking about Italy to every guy who swipes right on you."
• "I don't always talk about Italy," I protest.
• "Ancient Rome is still Italy," she reminds me.
• "Oh."
• "It's not exactly flirty conversation, April. Don't you ever wonder why they stop replying?"
• "Not all of them did."
• "Really?"
• "Some sent pictures first."
• Aria snorts. "Classy. You go, girl." She stands, stretching, and grabs her coffee cup. "Anyway, you need to stop living in your head and start living in the world. There's a whole buffet of men out there just waiting for you. Imagine them all lining up at once."
• I shake my head, laughing. "I'd rather not. That's your kind of chaos, not mine."
• She grins, blows me a kiss, and disappears into her room. A few seconds later, her phone pings and she shouts through the wall, "It's the guy's mom! She's asking me on a second date! What do I say?"
• I call back, "Tell her I've grounded you!"
• Once her laughter fades, I crawl into bed, staring up at the ceiling. She's right-it's been a long time. I start counting back. Kenny Brown. Fumbling in the front seat of his car. He cried when he finished, then apologized. I didn't cry. I didn't even finish. It was over before it started, and then he spent weeks telling everyone at school that I was frigid. Said I was too "dry" to turn him on. Started calling me a tease in the hallways.
• I'm not saying that's the only reason I dropped out and left Colorado, but it didn't help. Aria was already moving to Chicago, and she needed a roommate. I needed an escape. My mom was struggling to keep her store open since the megamart opened nearby. Moving out was the best way to stop being another mouth she had to feed.
• Things have been okay here. Not perfect, but okay. Still, sometimes I wish I could meet someone real. Someone special. Not like Jammie, who only dates to cheat. Not like Aria, who dates half the city.
• I just want one person. Someone who looks at me and sees me. But not yet. Not when I'm still barely scraping by on a part-time bar job and a shared apartment I can barely afford.
• Still, I can't stop thinking about him. The stranger with dark eyes. Diablo Romano. The one who threw out that jerk who spilled beer on me.
• Before I fall asleep, I reach for my small vibrator. It helps me relax when my mind won't stop spinning. I let myself drift away, imagining his voice, his hands, his eyes. Maybe I shouldn't, but I do anyway.
• And for a few quiet moments before sleep takes me, he's right there again-dark, dangerous, and impossible to forget.