NovelEnglishFaking it with Damian Black by Louise Jane
Faking it with Damian Black by Louise Jane Chapter 39
Chapter 39
-MILLIE-
I looked up from the magazine I’d been reading when the door opened. Like a
puppy waiting for its owner, I sat taller on the couch, shoulders slumping when
it wasn’t Damian standing at the entry.
Candice and Andrea stood by the doorway, their hands cram-full of groceries
and shopping bags. Our eyes met. I forced down the disappointment coasting
through my ch*st and put on a convincing huge grin… or so I thought.
“Gee… if I had known we weren’t welchere, we wouldn’t have gone through
the trouble of buying you Korean food and assembling the cavalry.” Candice
rolled her eyes and stepped aside, allowing the said cavalry to make their way
up the threshold.
Gianni Molina.
“Oh my Go d.” I gasped, hands coming up to my mouth at the stmist
clouded my sight. War mth inst antly swallowed my gloomy mood. Gian
barrelled through the house, envelopingin his warm embrace, and I c ould n
‘t h o ld . my so b s back.
Gian and I had been friends since college, and I hadn’t seen him in over a year.
“I hope those are happy tears, Amore,” he murmured against my hair. I nodded
and curled my arms around his waist, soaking his shirt with my tears.
Candice and Andrea joined our little group hug.
“I’m a little hurt that you didn’t cry when you saw us, but I also cried when I saw
Gian at the airport, so I forgive you.” Andrea mumbled. I chortle against my so
bs.
“I’m still mad that Gian would leave his little hut in Thailand for Millie and not
for my wedding, Candice butted in, making all of us laugh.
Gian went off the grid, only sending us emails and holiday greetings to let us
know he was still alive and well.
“Isn’t my gift enough to compensate for my absence?” Gian murmured in his
defense. He gifted Candice and Aaron an all- expenses-paid trip to Italy, which
she had yet to use.
“You can’t bribe me, Gianni Molina!” Candice giggled, wiggling out of our group
hug slapping Gian’s shoulder playfully.
-Mel
“Me! Me! You can bribe me,” Andrea squealed, hands raised. “I’d love to see
Italy.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“Did y
you get married?” A crease formed on Gian’s forehead as though he were
ruminating over his own question
Andrea frowned, l*ps pouting. “That’s not fair. I hate weddings!
“You’re a wedding planner!” I pointed out.
“That’s why I hate weddings!” she countered, crossing her arms and stomping
her feet like a petulant child.
All Gian could do was shake his head and draw the three of us into a giant bear
hug again. “I can’t say I miss the tantrums and draina.“
And we fall into a fit of laughter.
“Damian called you?” I asked Candice, laying the takeouts on the island one by
one. They brought ingredients for samgyupsal along with japchae, rabokki,
kimchi, bulgogi, tteokbokki, and soju.
09:27 Sat, Feb 10
Chapter 39
Damian fiew to California yesterday afternoon for business. To say I hadn’t
gotten a wink of sleep last night would be the understatement of the year. To
Damian’s credit, he calledas soon as the plane landed in California, asking
A week has gone by, and I’m already attached to Damian and this house like a
love-sick puppy.
“Yeah.” Eyes narrowed to slits, Candice tallied all the ingredients like she was at
a budget meeting.
“We forgot the portable burner, Andrea sighed, frowning.
“Damian has a camping cook set somewhere here,” I said, sliding from my seat
and searching the shelves for the camping
stove.
2-On her
“Yeah?” Andrea questioned, amusement dancing in her eyes. “You’re really
playing house well with Damian, huh?” tippy toes, she helpedsearch the top
cabfor the cook set
Sitting silently on the other side of the island, Gian asked. “When did this even
happen? You and Damian?”
Apart from being Candice’s stepbrother, he doesn’t know Damian on a personal
level. Gian and I met in college, he instantly becthe girl’s version of Candice
in my life. I’m sure he doesn’t know about my childhood crush on Damian, but
why does it sound as if he does?
This isn’t part of my plans. If Candice hadn’t bought my lie about Damian, I had
no doubt Gian would also see through my lie. Gian’s assertiveness was on a
different level
Shoulders stiff, I tried my luck and grabbed the camping stove from the top
shelf, set it on the island, plastering a toothpaste-worthy commercial smile.
“I think we’re really meant to be,” I said. Andrea and I settled back in our seats.
“You remember I had a huge crush on him in high school?”
“You did?” Andrea’s eyes were wide as dinner plates. “I didn’t know that!” The
accusation was crystal in her tone as she pulled up her long, red hair in a high
ponytail.
Guilt gripped my throat. I’ve forgotten that Andrea doesn’t know about my
agreement with Damian as well.
“I did,” I said, helping Candice place the meat on the grill pan, the
mouthwatering fiavors of meat permeating the air as it simmered in the pan.
“But it was a long tago. I mean, I was in high school, and I thought I hid it
well.” I nudged Candice’s shoulder.
My best friend rolled her eyes. “You have googly eyes every tDamian is in
the room, Millie.”
Andrea’s eyes sla nted. “I think there’s a backstory here, but go on. Tell us how it
happened,” she said, scooting closer to Gian as though she had found an ally
against Candice and me.
I kept a steady face, looking straight at Gian’s striking blue eyes, ignoring the
chills spiraling down my spine. Gian was the silent type of guy back in college,
and we only got together when we needed to do a project together. He might
have kept to himself, but because of his natural Italian streak, he attracted
attention from the opposite S** without even trying. He stood a towering six
foot three, with dark blue eyes, natural glowing olive skin, sharp jaws, and
messy dark hair. And he had that unapologetic gaze that tells you he’s assessing
you whether you like it or not. Right now, I am the subject of those dark eyes.
“Well, you already know how things ended between Hunter and me, right?” I
busied myself by turning over the sizzling meat on the pan.
Candice and Andrea hummed, but Gian’s jaw fiuttered. I forgot he was out of the
loop.
“I told you that stronzo is good for nothing,” Gian said through gritted teeth,
reaching for the bottle of soju. He ran his gaze down the label, frowning. “Where
is the f ucking wine, Bambina? He asked Candice..
Candice pouted. “Can’t you at least try something other than wine?”\/\
“Did
you
ask something. Bambina? Hm?” Gian stood. As if he’d been here before, he went
straight to the wine caband
09:27 Sat, Feb 10
Chapter 39
took out a bottle of CabeSauvignon. Taking a wine glass from the side of
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmthe island, he took a long sip. Each gulp and bob of his Adam’s apple felt like a
timer to my sentence.
In my tknowing Gian, I learned how overprotective he could be with the
people he cared about.
“Tellhow that stronzo hurt you, and I’ll decide what to do with him.”
“Gian-” I groaned. “It’s all in the past.”
+5]
“Past my as s.” Candice grabbed the soju Gian abandoned and filled two shot
glasses, handing one to Andrea. Since I was still on medication, it’s classic
orange juice for me. My mouth watered for a single taste of their alcohol.
Gian’s eyebrows knitted together, pinningwith a ‘dare to f ucking lie to my
face look.
I sighed and narrated how I found Hunter and Natalie in his apartment. When I
was done. he had almost finished the entire bottle of wine.
“What are you thinking?” I asked, stuffing a bacon strip into a lettuce leaf and
chewing it slowly.
“You don’t want to know,” he murmured, accepting Andrea’s stuffed lettuce
leaves.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I frowned. It’s not his statement that
bothered me; it’s the way he looked and how dark his eyes were. The urge to
physically hurt someone vibrates off of him. It’s both scary and surprising.
Tellabout Damian,” he pressed. “Is he treating you right?”
Oh, he’s treating her like a princess, Andrea answered for me. “Have you seen
those b*dyguards patrolling outside? He turned this place into a fortress in just
over a week.”
Apart from the b*dyguards, Damian had installed alarms and smart locks in the
house.
“And she deserved to be treated like a princess,” Gian murmured. “That goes for
you two as well. If Nick ever treats you like sh it, tell me, and I’ll put him in his
place. And I don’t care if you’re married to Aaron. If he f ucks up, he’s dead.”
Candice made a pff sound. “What the hell happened to you in Thailand? You
sound different.”
“Yeah. You almost sound like Nick and his crazy motorcycle gang members,
Andrea piped in..
SEND GIFT
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