Chapter 1: Practice Girl

Lucas Saville smirked, leaning back casually. "Well, if it isn’t Young Boss. So, how's my little sister taste?"

Ethan Luciano chuckled, his tone careless. "Looks all sweet and innocent, but in bed? She’s a total freak in the sheets."

Lucas’s eyes glinted. "So should I call her my little sister or my future sister-in-law?"

Ethan frowned, shaking his head. "Future sister-in-law? Nah. She’s just practice. I’m trying to hook up with the cheer captain, Sylvia Dawson, but I don’t want her thinking I’m clueless in bed. Cynthia Saville’s just a warm-up."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, freezing me in place. My heart twisted painfully.

Lucas was stunned for a second too, but then he burst out laughing. "Classic Ethan. Even your practice girl is someone else's dream girl. You've got serious pull, man."

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice to say, "Man, I bet Cynthia’s fanboys would lose their minds if they knew about this."

Ethan snorted. "Cynthia? Please. She’s all over me. I barely have to lift a finger to get her in my bed."

Lucas grinned, throwing his head back. "Well, at least she’s got a nice body. Though, between us, her chest doesn’t quite measure up to Sylvia’s."

Ethan shot him a sharp look. "What? You into Cynthia now? Or don’t tell me you’ve got a thing for Sylvia too?"

Lucas quickly threw up his hands, backing off. "Me? No way. Cynthia’s my sister in name, man. That’s a no-go. And Sylvia? I wouldn’t dare mess with your girl."

He snickered. "Still, who would've thought that Cynthia, the quiet one, would be the type to jump into bed without a second thought?"

Ethan just smirked. "She’s been chasing me for years. Figured I’d throw her a bone before I get serious with Sylvia. At least this way, she’s got something to remember me by."

My mind felt like it had been struck with a sledgehammer. I dropped my gaze, trying to hide the shock on my face.

They had no idea I’d secretly learned Italian, hoping to be the perfect partner for Ethan one day. I understood every cruel word.

Ethan wrapped an arm around me, his lips brushing against my cheek as if he actually cared. If I didn’t know better, I might have believed he really loved me.

Before my emotions completely shattered, I shot to my feet, mumbling something about the bathroom, and stumbled out of the room.

I locked myself in a stall, clapped a hand over my mouth, and let the sound of flushing water mask my sobs.

Ethan’s words replayed over and over in my mind. I could still feel the heat of his breath on my ear from the night before, whispering promises of a future together as he clung to me, refusing to let go.

My phone buzzed, yanking me back to the present. It was a message from Ethan.

"Where’d you run off to? I’ve got something important tonight, so I can’t be your prom date. These dances are lame anyway. Just chill at home. Oh, and don’t forget the morning-after pill. I got a bit carried away last night and forgot to use protection. Wouldn’t want you getting hurt. Take care."

My stomach twisted. I remembered him holding me afterwards, whispering how I finally belonged to him. I’d been so lost in the warmth of the moment that I didn’t even care about it.

However, now every word in that message felt like a slap to the face.

I wiped my tears, forced myself to stand up, and stumbled out to the nearest pharmacy. I swallowed the bitter pill, my heart turning to stone as I walked back to my empty room.

I lay down, staring at the ceiling, replaying the past ten years in my head.

Ethan and I had been neighbors since we were kids. His father was a powerful mafia Don, and most kids were too scared to even talk to him, but not me.

I was the one who stood by him, even when he pretended he didn’t need anyone. I knew better. I’d seen the flicker of happiness in his eyes, even when he tried to push me away.

I fell asleep to the weight of a decade’s worth of memories, only to be jolted awake by my best friend Ava Trevor’s video call.

"Cynthia! Why aren’t you at prom? This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing! Wait, oh my God, Ethan just walked in with Sylvia as his date! They’re kissing in front of everyone, and people are cheering them on! Do they not know Ethan’s supposed to be with you?"