I look at the missed call and voicemail alert on my phone with my dad's name.

"Is everything okay?" JP asks me.

I look back at JP. "I missed a call from my Pop."

His eyebrows creased. "When did he call you?"

I shrug in response. "Probably this morning, to wish me a Happy Birthday. I can't wrap my head around the fact that he kept something like that from me all these years. Uncle Timo knew as well. They both told me it was to protect me. Pop said the attack, and I guess the threats Timo is getting are tied to my real mom, Isabella Cardinale.

But they both lied to me for years and expected me to be okay with it. I have a mom out there somewhere, I think. I don't even know if she's alive, JP. My dad was upset after he told me, but I couldn't pretend everything was fine, you know? It feels like my life is this big lie, and this entire time, I've going along, freaking clueless." I sniffle as I finish rambling.

JP pushes back a loose strand of my hair and tucks it behind my ear. "Charmaine, you know they both love you and wouldn't do something to hurt you intentionally. They would die to protect you, without question. It isn't fair, but if they say it was to protect you, maybe give your dad a chance to explain it better. Did...Dom leave you a message? Maybe you should listen to it."

I pull away and stand up, feeling myself getting angry. "How can you defend what they did? They looked me in the eyes every day and lied to me, JP. The funny thing is my dad isn't able to give me any other type of explanation because he said Uncle Timo would tell me everything when the "time is right".

But that's just it. Uncle Timo never tells me anything. I don't think you would be as understanding if it were you who found out you were lied to your whole life by the people you trusted and loved the most."

JP stands to walk over to me with an irritated look on his face. "Char, they have done nothing but love you and looked out for you every day. Maybe they could have done it differently or said something sooner, but maybe they couldn't for a reason."

I shake my head and fold my arms, looking at him. "No, JP. There were plenty of times they could have told me the truth, or at least tried, but they didn't. Instead, they chose to lie to me and to keep the truth from me. I don't think I could ever do that to someone I love."

His eyes flash with emotion for a moment before he looks out into the ocean skyline. "I'm sorry you are hurt, Charmaine, but Timo will make time to talk to you. And you're dad...I know you, and you can't shut him out. You need him."

I sigh and look down at the ground. "I know, but I'm not ready to talk to Pop yet."

I feel his fingers lift my chin to look at him as he stares at me thoughtfully. "The fact is, you love your dad and Timo. So it's not worth holding on to anger."

His hand moves from under my chin and cups my face. As he keeps his gaze on me, I start to feel a fluttering in my stomach as his rich dark brown eyes look deeply into mine and once again my eyes find his inviting lips.

There's that invisible pull I feel towards him again and feel myself leaning up into him when someone yells out. "Hey!"

Joey is standing at the doorway of the terrace. "If you two are done eye-fucking each other, we're heading out to breakfast." He smirks at us.

I peek up at JP, who's glaring at Joey, and I turn back to Joey and tell him we're coming.

<><><><>

After breakfast, Annalisa informs Tobias of our plans to go to the boardwalk, then shop at the Tanger Outlets and hit the spa before dinner. He sends most of the guys back to the penthouse and keeps three of the men that stayed home last night with us.

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.

I notice Elena is less talkative than usual and constantly checking or texting on her phone.

"Is everything okay?" I ask her. Elena looks up from her phone and smiles.

"Oh yeah, just family drama." She rolls her eyes.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I ask, rubbing her arm.

Elena smiles, shaking her head. "No, I'm not going to dampen the day with my family shit." 

"You won't dampen the day; we all have family drama that comes up. If you want to talk, I'm here." I assure her.

She gives me a tight hug, "Thanks, girl. But I promise everything is fine." 

Not wanting to seem nosey, I don't push her anymore.

We finally make it to the salon, and I cannot wait to relax and be pampered, especially since I'm still feeling the effects of last night.

The lady at the front desk of the spa welcomes us when we walk in. "What are we doing today, ladies?"

"The works!" Annalisa says excitedly, clapping her hands. "Oh, and we will be utilizing your salon services as well." She informs the receptionist.

"Salon? Why? I thought we were going to get massages and facials?" I ask.

"We are, yes, but it's your birthday. So let's do a makeover!" Annalisa tells me grinning, enthusiastically.

I panic for a moment remembering why I had to cut my hair and keep it this length and maintain the lightened hair color in the first place.

"I don't know, and I'm sure it's something I'd have to clear with Pops or Uncle Timo..."

"What are you talking about, Charmaine? You're a freaking adult!" Elena laughs at me. My face burns with embarrassment, realizing my argument doesn't make sense.

Annalisa walks up to me and wraps her arm around my shoulder. "Well, lucky for you, I made sure to run it by your Uncle and Pops first, and they were both okay with it, so no excuses, this is happening!"

"What did you have in mind?"

"You'll see." Annalisa jokingly laughs maniacally and rubs her hands together. At least, I hope she's joking.

A few hours later, we are all relaxed, waxed, and pampered.

Until today, I've never had my eyebrows threaded before. I can't say I prefer it over tweezing, pain-wise, but it was something I was willing to try, at least once.

Trinity, the makeup artist, is finishing up my makeup, and Paul Antonio, the hairstylist, is also finishing styling my hair. Annalisa instructed them not to let me look into a mirror until they are finished.

The shocked look on both their faces tells me I'm in for a surprise. "You look, hot girl!" Annalisa says as she walks up to me with a big smile. Elena nods her head in agreement next to her.

"Are you ready to see yourself?" Annalisa asks, grinning widely.

I turn to look, and I don't recognize the person staring back at me. My face radiates in the light of the mirrors, and while the makeup's not heavy, the eye shadow color enhances my hazel brown-green eye color.

My eyebrows are trimmed and sculpted. The lip color, a pink rose color, is slightly darker than what I would use but looks great.

But the most significant difference is my hair; it is sleek and glossy, and the color surprises me the most. No longer a light brown caramel color, it is now back to my original hair color, black, but brown undertones were added not to have it be so stark black.

"Well, do you like it?"

I nod my head and smile into the mirror. "Yes, I love it! Thank you so much!"

"Okay, don't go crying on us and ruin all the work they just did," Annalisa says, laughing as she watches my eyes tear up.

She hugs me tightly then tells me we have to go. "Alright, we got to head back and get ready for dinner. Joey texted me and is already being a bitch about us taking too long since he's apparently starving."

We thank the staff and walk to where the men are waiting in the parking lot. They do a double-take as they see me walking up, surprised by my new look. I'm nervous about the change I just made, but at the same time, I'm very excited.

This new look feels like it's the first step for my new adventure coming up, with graduation around the corner and my Paris trip this summer.

We walk into the penthouse, laughing at Annalisa for nearly walking through the glass doors downstairs in the lobby.

She wasn't paying attention because her focus was on a guy that had just said hello as he walked by us; she was practically drooling as she watched him.

And then, when she collided with the glass door, she scowled and flipped us off as Elena and I laughed uncontrollably.

"Whoa, Charmaine?"

I look over to see Vince standing in the kitchen with a drink in his hand, his mouth slightly open.

I move my gaze over at the couch and see both Joey and JP staring at me. JPs eyes darken while he continues to stare at me.

"Well? Is anyone going to say how incredible she looks? Or are you all going to sit there, catching flies in your mouths?" Annalisa asks the guys, who are all still staring at me.

I look over at her, annoyed that she wants them to say something about how I look and shift uncomfortably under their stares.

"You look amazing, Charmaine. The change in your hair color makes your eyes stand out."

I turn towards a smiling Vince. "Thank you, Vince." The heat is rising in my face as his eyes roam over my face.

Annalisa smiles, winking at me, as she walks to her room. I quickly follow behind her, not wanting to stand there any longer, while everyone continues to stare at me.

~~~~~~~