Page 3 of Reckless Desires

“It’s not easy when every guy has the same feedback.” Stasia shrugs. “You’re running out of options here.”

“Feedback?” I question. “You never said they had feedback.”

“You thought you were the only one with comments to make?” Stasia’s brow arches.

Selene steps in. “What Stasia means is that just because you weren’t interested doesn't mean that they were interested.”

“Why wouldn’t they be interested?” I shoot back. “Look at me. I’m drop-dead gorgeous.” I point my finger to stop Stasia from making a comment. “I’ve been told that multiple times, not because I think it. I’m all natural.” I hold out my finger again. “Makeup, lash extensions, and nails are not cosmetic surgery. It’s called self-care.” Stepping closer to them, I question, “What have they said about me?”

“To sum it up, ice princess was the nicest term used,” Selene offers.

“How much did you get for your Hermes?” Stasia asks curiously to change the topic.

“25,000,” I quickly spit out in a low voice.

“I know Hermes is an investment, but I know for a fact that the gown Thea is wearing is up that alley,” Selene crosses her arms at her chest. “She selling bags too?”

“Yeah right,” I reply. “I sold my bag and gave Mom the money.”

“You what?!” Stasia steps forward. “Once you give her money, Lil, she’ll keep asking for you to give her more. Don’t fall into her schemes. She will bleed you dry.”

“You hate her so much.” I’m getting choked up, unsure if it’s because I know it is true or because of the hate that spews out of their mouths when talking about the woman who birthed us. “Just hearing how disgusted you both are when talking about our mom makes me want to hate you both in retaliation.”

“Lily—” Selene reaches out her hand, but I step away.

“I’m going to get some air.”

As I move through the crowd, my heart sinks further. I catch snippets of conversations. “Did you hear about the new yacht?” and “The latest couture from Paris is just divine!” While I invest money well, I’m not close enough at the moment to keep my life as it was before everything went to shit. The ache for a wealthy husband is becoming suffocating with each step I take.

I step away from the crowd to catch my breath in the far-off garden, a sanctuary of moonlight and shadows. I inhale deeply, the sweet scent of roses mingling with the bittersweet ache in my heart. I stand at the edge of a manicured hedge, my designer heels sinking slightly into the soft earth.

Was I that difficult to love? Looking up at the moon amongst the stars, memories of my dad flood my mind. I recall coming home from school in tears when I was a little girl. He had embraced me and asked what was wrong. When I told him that the girls at school made fun of me for being a tomboy, he took me to the window to look up at the sky.

“Sweetheart, you know how the stars shine in the night sky? Each one is unique and special in its own way, just like you. Some stars are bright and bold, while others twinkle softly. Either way, they all contribute to the beauty of the universe, and just like those stars, you bring your own light into this world. My beautiful little girls shouldn’t shed tears over those little witches. You’re an Andretti, and we don’t cry over spilled milk.” He kissed my forehead. “I’ll have your mother take you shopping, and you get whatever you want.”

“Hey, you okay?” A familiar voice interrupts my thoughts.

I wipe away tears before I turn to find Alessio Costello. He stands tall, his presence commanding even in the relaxed atmosphere of the garden. His dark hair, now longer than usual, is swept back, accentuating the sharp angles of his jawline.

“Alessio,” I force a smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes. “Enjoying the festivities?”

“Not as much as I could be,” he said, his gaze piercing through the haze of my forced cheer. “I’m surprised you’ve managed to escape the festivities, though. I thought you’d be in there, charming everyone as usual.”

I shrug, trying to dismiss the tension that is building inside me. “I needed a breath of fresh air. It can get a bit overwhelming.”

He steps closer, the distance between us shrinking. I can smell the faint scent of his cologne, one that I had bought him and he has worn ever since. “You look beautiful, as always,” his voice dropping to a low pitch.

“Thank you,” I reply, but the compliment feels hollow in my throat. My eyes dart away, focusing on a cluster of blooming roses nearby. “Can’t believe you’re going to be a dad.”

With a laugh, he says, “That makes two of us.” He steps beside me. “I miss the days when we’d race to see who would be the fastest on the monkey bars.”

This memory makes me laugh. “I did enjoy watching you get upset that I beat you every time.”

“Every time until you stopped liking getting dirty and got all girly.” He nudges his elbow into my arm. “You let me win the last time we raced.”

“Well, I didn’t want to kill your ego at such a young age.” I nudge him back. “You’ve always been nice to me, Alessio. You’ve got a good heart. Clarissa is lucky to have you.”

We both turn toward each other.