For the Empire - Inganno

Chapter 23

Vince says he wants to go back to catch up on sleep as well. We barely made eye contact with each other, but I know I need to make time to talk to him.

"Okay, spill. You let it slip that you kissed JP when you thought he was the one you made out with last night." Annalisa crosses her arms, giving me a mischievous smile, bringing me out of my thoughts.

"Wait, what? When did this happen? How come I never know what's going on?" Elena frowns.

I look over and notice the men who are with us today keep their distance as we walk on the boardwalk, thankful they are not close enough to hear us.

I begin to tell them about JP getting drunk last week and how he kissed me, and I kissed him back.

They know I don't have much experience or any, really, with men or even kissing, and they ask me how I felt about it. I was honest and told them I liked it, but I was also confused because it was JP.

I tell them how it felt like he avoided me all week and what happened when I confronted him.

Annalisa, having known me the longest, knows we've been more like siblings. I know he doesn't feel anything more than brotherly love and his speech to me this morning confirms that.

"Wow, I mean, it is sort of romantic. Growing up together, falling in love...." Elena says with a dreamy look on her face.

"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa. Back the love train up! How are you even getting love out of this?" I exclaim.

Annalisa laughs but then adds her two cents. "I mean, it makes sense. You've known each other a long time. He knows the type of life your family is involved with and is okay with it because he's in it as well. So, yeah, it would work out in your favor if something changed between you guys..."

"Except you know I don't want to be a part of the life my Uncle leads. Also, nothing has changed; you both know I'm not his type. Case in point, our little encounter with one of his actual "types" yesterday." I use air quotes for effect.

"Or are you both so quick to forget that little bit of excitement?" I ask sarcastically.

Annalisa scoffs. "Of course not. How could we forget that fucking, walking train wreck? Although, and maybe you don't remember, JP didn't leave with them; he told Joey to get rid of them.

And while yes, girls do throw themselves at JP, he isn't a manwhore. That's Joey," Annalisa chuckles as her words remind me of what JP said about Victoria, and focus on his thoughts about the kiss, too.

"Well, I hate to burst your love bubbles, ladies, but he already talked to me about the kiss, and he was very clear that it didn't mean anything, so..."

Annalisa looks at me thoughtfully. "Did you want it to meant something to him?"

"No, of course not. It's just...I don't know—I don't know what I want. It was confusing to get all these feelings stirred up inside me from just one kiss, from him, of all people, and then to know it didn't mean anything to him.

It's like I was just any other girl, but then again, even if he did say it meant something, I don't know how I'd feel about that, either." I groan as I rub the side of my head, the headache from this morning still lingering.

"In the end, he's right, it didn't mean anything, and I'm glad our friendship isn't ruined because of it."

A nagging thought runs in the back of my mind, but I push it away.

After a couple of hours of sightseeing on the boardwalk, we head to the Tanger Outlets for shopping, which mainly consisted of Annalisa loading my arms full of clothes to try on or buy.