Chapter Twenty Nine
Carly
As afternoon turned to evening, and the party continued, I watched Gio with his family. They were very close. A part of me envied the fact he had such a large, close-knit family.
I’ll admit I’d been a little surprised when we first arrived and I saw that both Tony and Frankie were there. I’d even questioned Gio about it while he was introducing me to everyone. They were cousins. I’d had no idea.
“So, Boss Lady, you tired of all the hugging and cheek kissing yet?”
I was sitting at one of the many tables scattered around the expansive back yard and looked up to see Tony standing next to me. “It’s not so bad. Then again, I didn’t grow up with it so maybe that’s why. I didn’t know that you, Frankie, and Gio were cousins.”
“We tend to keep familial ties out of business. He brought us in because of our skills, not because we’re related.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Relax, Carly. I’m just giving you a hard time.”
I watched him sit down across from me and arched a brow. “Looks like you’ve got something on our mind.”
“How do you feel about Gio? I mean, what are your feelings? Is this just something to pass the time? Before you get your feathers ruffled, I’m just trying to protect my cousin. I’ve never seen Gio take this much interest in a woman.”
“I’ve been told by both his mother and his sister that he doesn’t bring women to family gatherings.”
“No, he doesn’t. When he does date, it’s usually casual. When he looks at you, there’s nothing casual about it. Don’t break his heart, Carly.”
“Who says he won’t be the one doing the heartbreaking?”
“I know Gio. You’d have to do something really terrible for him to walk away. So, like I said. Don’t break his heart.”
There was a bit of threat in Tony’s voice. It should have bothered me. It should have raised red flags. It didn’t. All it did was make me glad Gio had family looking out for him.
“Mama? Can I stay for a sleepover? All the other kids are staying tonight and my new friend, Matteo, asked if I could stay, too. Can I, Mama? Please?”
I started to say no. I didn’t know these people. But then I saw the hopeful look on his face and just couldn’t do it. This was Gio’s family. Eli would be fine. “Of course.”
“Thank you, Mama!”
His squeal of happiness was all I needed to know I’d done the right thing. “There’s just one small problem. You don’t have anything to sleep in, or clean clothes for tomorrow.”
Gio’s mother must have overheard us because she approached just as Eli started to pout.
“I’m sure Matteo will have some extra pajamas, he usually does, and we can wash Eli’s clothes tonight so they’re clean in the morning.”
“Really?”
“Si, picollo, really.”
“Can I stay, Mama?”
“Of course you can. I already said so. You be a good boy.”
“I will, Mama! Promise!”
I watched him rush off to presumably tell his new friend the good news.
“He’ll be fine. You aren’t used to him sleeping elsewhere, are you?”
I blinked at Carmela. “Am I that obvious?”
