Page 127 of Claimed At First Sight

Me: Maximo found the book. I have no idea how.

Three dots appear.

Rory: Fuck, I’m so sorry. I left it at the gatehouse because I was running late to help Dad with planting more trees in your greenhouse. It didn’t even occur to me they’d inspect it for anything suspicious.

I frown at the screen and slowly sit upright as a terrible realization creeps in.

Me: What do you mean, inspect it for anything suspicious?

The three dots appear, indicating Rory is typing. Then they stop and don’t resume.

Me: Rory?

The message changes to “Read”, but my new friend still isn’t responding. Oh God, this is bad, isn’t it?

Me: Are you trying to tell me some guards saw the book too?

The typing bubble appears. Disappears. Appears again.

Rory: Umm…

I drop my forehead into my hand.

Suddenly Maximo finding the photographs isn’t the worst part anymore. Some complete strangers standing around in a gatehouse flipping through pictures of me in lingerie might actually kill me.

I should book a flight back to Sicily tonight. But the tales of my adventures would travel there too. Soldiers are the worst gossipers. Maybe moving to Antarctica would be safer.

Me: I can never leave the house again.

Rory: You’re being dramatic.

A second message follows.

Rory: You have nothing to be ashamed of. You look amazing in those photos. Be proud of them.

I stare at that for a moment.

Me: I wish I could comment on that, but I haven’t seen them yet.

The typing bubble immediately reappears.

Rory: What do you mean?

I let out an exasperated laugh.

Me: Maximo kept the book.

There’s a noticeably longer pause this time before her response arrives.

Rory: Fuck.

Me: Exactly.

I toss my phone onto the bed. The more distance I get from the conversation downstairs, the angrier I become all over again.

Embarrassment is one thing. Humiliation is another. But the sheer arrogance of confiscating something that belongs to me and then acting as though I’m the one who needs explaining?

I grab my phone again.