“Thanks, Camille.” I smiled a little. “I don’t think she’ll be back, though.”
Again, Gio took over.
“Until the doctor clears Carly to return to work, my sister, Rosalia, will be helping Camille with the manager responsibilities. It’ll be at least a few weeks before she’ll be able to come back.”
“Carly, girl, you just worry about healing. We’ve got this. I’ve already introduced myself to everyone.”
I hadn’t realized Rosa was already there until she stepped forward. “Hey, Rosa. Are you sure? These ladies can be a handful. Especially Camille.”
“Bite me, bitch.”
“Bare it.”
Camille and I both laughed and it helped release some of the tension in the room.
“I think I can handle it. Youhavemet my brothers, right? If I can handle them, this is a piece of cake.”
“Watch it,mia sorella.”
I laughed again at the way Rosalia stuck her tongue out at Gio. “Once I’m feeling a little better, I’ll try to come in, just to see everyone.”
“You better.”
When Camille hugged me it made me tear up.
“I need to get Carly home so she can rest.”
I said my goodbyes to everyone. Back in the car, I settled next to Gio and rested my head on his shoulder.
“Perhaps we should go to your apartment another time.”
“No. I need to go today. Please.”
“Such a stubborn woman. All right,Tesoro.”
Thankfully, the drive to the apartment wasn’t very long. Again, Gio carried me. When we reached my apartment, I called Risa so she could come see me, and then went into my bedroom to grab a few more things. I also got some more of Eli’s clothes for him.
“Carly? Oh, shit. I know you said you were in an accident, but...I had no idea it was this bad.”
“Hey, Risa. Yeah. At least I’m alive, right? I have a favor to ask you. Would you be willing to come stay at Gio’s with Eli and I, to help me with Eli until I’m healed?”
I watched Risa’s face. I’d previously described Gio’s home for her. She knew it was huge. And beautiful.
“Um. Wow. As long as Gio’s okay with it, sure. I miss the squirt.”
I looked at Gio and arched a brow. “Well?”
“You are always welcome in my home. I know you are like family to Carly and Eli and that makes youfamiglia.”
Thank you, I mouthed at Gio. I hadn’t asked him about it and I felt kind of bad springing the idea on him. In all honesty, I hadn’t planned to ask her to come stay. I didn’t get the idea to do so until I saw her.
“Let me go pack a bag, then. Give me fifteen minutes and I’ll be ready to go.”
I watched Risa leave. “Thank you for letting her come with us.”
“I can deny you nothing,Amore. I would have liked to have been warned you were going to make the offer.”
“It was kind of spur of the moment. I realized it wasn’t fair to expect your mother to take Eli all the time. This way, she won’t have to.”
