Will you be home before noon? The guys will be here in a couple of hours and we were thinking of going out for lunch.

She’d just finished reading his text when she got another one from Gio.

This weekend should be interesting. We might even get some time alone. How long till you get back today? I miss you already.

They’d probably just finished their morning workout and Gio was back in his room. Felix said today’s workout would be a short one. As usual, her insides were already mush. And like she always did, she reread the text smiling brightly before responding.

I miss you, too! I shouldn’t be too long. Just getting my hair done then I’ll head back. I hope you’re right about this weekend. This is torture!

She hit send and waited flipping through the magazine again until she heard the ping again. She smiled hitting the envelope again.

I know it is and something’s gotta give. SOON. Things can’t stay this way much longer. I’ve been giving it some thought. But I’m not sure if this is what you want. We’ll have to talk as soon as we get a chance.

Bianca reread and stopped at the most intriguing part. If this is what you want? She hadn’t put much thought into what she wanted. All she’d allowed herself to do was to be grateful for what little he could give her under the circumstances. Up until that moment, she didn’t think anything more could come of their relationship except a forbidden one even after she and Felix broke things off, which she knew was inevitable and barreling down on her.

Is was only a matter a time before Felix would question the point of having a girlfriend he wasn’t allowed to touch. Especially since there were a million girls out there who’d be more than willing to oblige.

“I’ll be with you next, Bianca,” Toni informed her as she walked her previous customer to the register.

Bianca clicked back to the main screen of her phone to check the time. It wasn’t even ten yet. She had plenty of time. “That’s fine,” she said, getting back to her text screen and responding to Gio. Afraid to ask and agreeing with his final comment, she’d wait until they could speak in person to find out what he meant by what she wanted. So she kept her response simple but sweet.

I can hardly wait. Xoxo

She stood slipping her phone in the front pocket of her jeans. As she made her way to the salon chair, still thinking about Gio’s text, her phone pinged again and she pulled it out. How something so simple could excite her was beyond any reason. She smiled big then quickly frowned when she saw the text was from Felix. Her stomach dropped when she saw she’d sent that last text to him, not to Gio. His response was nothing more than a question mark.

“Oh my God.” She brought her hand over her mouth.

“What?” Toni asked as she walked back toward her.

The salon was empty now that her last customer had walked out. Bianca couldn’t be happier about that because she had so much to tell her. Things she didn’t want others hearing. But right now she had to figure out how to explain this.

She was still standing there her hand over her mouth trying to calm herself. This could’ve been so much worse. Some of the responses she’d written to Gio’s texts this past week would’ve completely buried her. Especially since she’d been so cold and indifferent toward Felix. Even sending x’s and o’s to him now might be questionable. And it obviously was, judging by his response. “Shit,” she muttered as any suitable response eluded her.

With her mind still racing she gasped when her phone rang. It was Felix. Not only did she have to lie, she wouldn’t be able to hide behind a text to do it. Damn it!

Toni must’ve seen the panic in her eyes because Bianca saw the worry in hers when she asked, “What’s wrong?”

Bianca lifted a finger to her lips then answered her phone bringing her hand to her forehead. “Felix, Toni was about to wash my hair. Can I call you back?”

He was quiet for a moment then spoke slowly and a bit cautiously. “Bianca, was that last text you sent meant for me?”

She laughed nervously. “No, actually. I meant to send that one to my mom. She’s making my favorite empanadas this week.”

More silence then. “Oh, okay. I thought that was weird. I’m glad it was for your mom and not anyone else.” Bianca couldn’t be sure but his laugh sounded as forced as the one she responded with. “So, you’ll be back in time for lunch?”

“Yeah.” Her hand was now firmly over her closed eyes. He suspected something. She could hear it in his voice—his strained laugh. This was bad. How could she be so careless? “I should be out of here in under an hour.”

“Okay, I’ll see you then.”

She was about to say okay and get off the excruciatingly uncomfortable call when he interrupted her. “And hey.”

“Yeah?”

“I can hardly wait.” His chuckle was more genuine this time.

As much as she tried, her own laughing response to that wasn’t even remotely genuine. “Me either. I’m already hungry.”

She knew that’s not the response he was going for but she didn’t care. She was finally off the call and walked over to the salon chair, plopping her emotionally drained body into it while Toni stood there and stared at her.

“What in the world?”

“God, Toni. Where do I start?”

CHAPTER 20

Jack, Abel and Hector arrived first. Gio and Felix walked out to meet them. Felix had offered to send a car for them but Abel insisted on driving his newly purchased Gran Torino. Gio and Felix laughed when Abel revved the heavy engine as they pulled in.