Page 33 of Her Dirty Secret
I shoot her a smile. “Missed you guys too. Did you have fun in Italy at least?” Sera turns bright red and Bryce chuckles. “Ew, never mind.” We all burst out laughing.
“So, you and Alessandro, huh?” Sera asks pointedly.
I heave a sigh. “Sort of? I don’t know.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, he’s pretty into you,” she remarks drily.
I snort. “Yeah, I got that much, funny enough.” I look down into my hands.
“You can say what you want. Bryce has promised to keep his mouth shut. Right, babe?” Bryce says nothing and Sera smiles mischievously. “See?”
I shoot him a smile and he wrinkles his nose at me and sticks out his tongue. I can’t help but laugh.
“It’s fine. I’ve never exactly held back around him anyway,” I tease.
“You have no idea,” Bryce grumbles in Sera’s direction. She shoots him a warning look and he pointedly shuts his mouth.
“Come on, Em. I’m here. Talk to me. I know Alessandro has his issues, but he’s a good guy. And if you’re really not interested in him, that’s one thing. But if you think you’re upsetting Bryce or I—”
“No,” I cut her off. “I don’t think that at all.” I let out a frustrated sigh. “I know he’s a good guy. And I know he’s into me. And I’m into him. I just don’t think I’m good for him.”
Sera looks over at me, astonished, then quickly returns her eyes to the road. Bryce, to his credit, makes not a peep.
“That’s the last thing I expected to be holding you back,” she says bluntly. “I mean, I don’t want to dismiss your feelings or anything, but you’re pretty freaking amazing, Em. I mean, seriously. He’d be lucky to be with you.”
I roll my eyes. “Thanks,” I reply, unable to keep the sarcasm out of my voice.
“You think I’d lie to you?”
“No, I think you have love blinders on,” I retort. “And I appreciate that. But honestly. I’m a freaking mess. What do I have to offer anyone right now? I’ve got no job, no prospects, and every long-term relationship I’ve had has blown up in my face. He’s gorgeous, smart, successful, and has women tripping over themselves to be with him. What do I have to offer someone like that?”
Even voicing the doubts has me squirming. I’ve never lacked confidence like this. But something about my whole life right now is making me feel like I’m doomed to fail. At everything.
“He’s not in love with those women; he’s in love with you,” Sera insists.
My eyebrows jump and I spin toward her, my jaw practically on the floor. “He’s what?”
Bryce face-palms. “Way to scare her, babe.”
I don’t even look at Bryce. I’m glaring down Sera. And she looks pretty damn nervous. “Are you assuming or did he tell you that?”
She clears her throat. “I’m guessing he didn’t tell you that, then.”
“Um, that would be a big nope,” I reply angrily. “I can’t believe you guys even talked about all of this behind my back. Oh my god, I’m so humiliated.” I put my hands over my face. This is just too much.
I’m silent the rest of the way to Mom’s, and neither of them says another word.
When we get there, Bryce gets out first, then Sera. I lean forward and put my head on the dashboard, trying not to cry.
A minute later, Bryce climbs in the driver’s seat, moving it back all the way to accommodate his long legs. I look up in surprise when he starts the car.
“What are you doing?” I ask, wiping at the tears that have mercilessly found their way out.
Bryce shakes his head and looks at me. “I’m taking you back,” he explains quietly. “Unless you want to go in there?” His expression is apologetic and full of concern.
“I don’t,” I agree. “Please, just get me out of here.”
We make the drive in silence. I stare out the window as we cross the bridge, wishing I was on one of the ships in the bay, headed far away from here. But when the car stops, it’s not at my place. It takes me a minute to realize where we are. Before I can even react, Bryce speaks.