Read Online Bellissimo Fortuna (Beautiful Fortune) by Leigh Ann Lunsford - Free Book Online Page B

love him, but I am okay with that. “Fuck, Callie. You trying to kill me?” I hear Bianca’s gasp behind me, and she zeroes in on Dakota. And his black eye.
    I don’t get a chance to respond before Bianca begins spouting off in Italian . . . they still speak it fluently in their house, but half the time I’m clueless when she goes off on a tangent. Bronson is arguing back with her, and I catch Dakota’s eye and he is just as lost as I am. I make my way over to him, “Best just to let it play out.”
    “What’s he saying to her?”
    “Not a clue, but you should be more worried about what she is saying to him. Or threatening to do to him.”
    “They do this a lot?”
    “Eh, at least once a week, sometimes more. Give it five minutes. Quick to catch fire, and it burns out rather easily. Italian blood.”
    “Damn.” He whispered, staring at Bianca.
    “Don’t hurt her.”
    He didn’t meet my stare. “It isn’t like that with us.”
    “Sure. If it were, my warning to you would be not to worry about your friend over there if you hurt her. I can hurt you far worse and in more creative ways than he ever could.”
    Nothing else was said, and we continued to watch Abbot and Costello over there go at it. Just as predicted, with one last scathing glance at Bronson, Bianca walked away and joined us. Bronson followed and took my hand and led me away from them. “You look amazing, baby. Happy Birthday.”
    I stood on my tiptoes and could only reach his chin, so I dropped a quick peck, “Thank you. You feel better?” I ask, nodding my head towards the denial duo. Neither one of them can admit what is starting between them; I just hope they don’t screw it up before it started.
    “No. She’s really pissed at me.” I start laughing. “I guess I deserve it, huh?”
    “You can answer that better than anyone. Did it make you feel better?”
    “No. I wasn’t mad at him for being interested in her. He’s a good guy. He pissed me off when he tried to downplay it. I don’t want him hurting her.”
    “You needed to talk to her first. She’s in the same state of denial that he is. They both keep telling each other it isn’t what it actually is, so let them figure it out.”
    “Yeah.”
    “Let’s go. I’m ready for some fun on the water.” The day passes swiftly. Bianca is freaking out, swearing Jaws is in the lake, when it was seaweed on her foot. The sun kissing our skin, my day couldn’t have been more perfect.
    Putting the finishing touches on my make-up, I hurry downstairs to meet Bronson. It’s a bit odd dating when I practically live in his sister’s bedroom, but we make it work. Instead of coming to the door to get me, he meets me at the door. He always opens doors for me, kisses me goodnight. He is very astute about making sure I don’t miss out on the full experience.
    I stop short when I see him. In gray dress pants, a light blue shirt, and his hair gelled to perfection; he is picturesque. Strong, stable, modest, humble . . . and mine. He never lets me forget it. “Hey, handsome. Looking for someone?”
    “Nah, I found the perfect girl when I was eight. I’ve been waiting on her to notice me.”
    “She must need glasses. If the spot becomes available, holla.”
    “Callie, you can’t pull that shit off.” We both start laughing. I can’t speak slang no matter how hard I try. He pulls me to him and inhales as he rests his chin on the top of my head. These are the moments I crave, the ones I never get enough of. Just us, together as one, and it makes me feel like no one can penetrate this bubble we’re creating.
    “I missed this.” We haven’t had as much downtime as I want lately. It seems we’re always around others, on the go, he’s at the gym, or studying. Dual enrollment has been tough on him, but he’ll graduate high school with his Associate’s Degree. I know part of him did it so that any time away at college would be minimal, and he wouldn’t be away the full four years for his