Sheesh.
I needed to get my mind out of the gutter.And quick.
“I think I know something that might help you with Giselle.”
Carlo gave me a surprised look.He tilted his head.“What do you suggest?”
I sat back and took another sip of Carlo's wine from my glass.“I think you need to marry her.”
Carlo popped a grape into his mouth and smiled.“Already asked her to marry me, Francesca,” he said with a small laugh.From his expression, he seemed to be happy with that decision.Which confused me even more about why he was fucking his best friend's wife.
“No, I mean now.Like—” I leaned over for emphasis, “now.”
He sighed and picked up his glass.“She doesn't want to get married right now.She wants to wait until she can fit into her dress.”
I nodded.“Yeah, I know that.And you can do that, too.But you can also marry her now, before the baby's born.Prove your intentions.And then have the big wedding she wants later on.”
I suggested this for two reasons.For one—part of me wanted to see if Carlo was actually serious about marrying Giselle.Especially since he was spending a lot of his time inside her best friend.
And I also suggested a quick marriage because I really liked Giselle.And I was sure she'd kick this man to the curb one day.And if I played a small part in it by guaranteeing she and her kids had a great life—with a ton of money to fund that great life—then so be it.
“And what if I plan all of this—” he poured more whiskey into his glass, “and she gets mad at me?”
I couldn't help the laughter that escaped.It bubbled up and out before I could stop it.“Um, it seems like she's pretty much pissed off at you twenty-four-seven as it is.What difference would it make?”
He looked off into the night and sighed.“It wasn't always like this, Francesca.Giselle and I—” his words got caught in his throat for a second or two.“Giselle and I have been to hell and back.I'm sure she'll tell you about it sometime.I know I sure as fuck won't.No way I'm ever going back there again.”
He looked back at me.“But we found each other.Even after all the shit we went through.She's my world, Francesca.She's my everything.”
Wow.
This guy should absolutely win the award for best actor.Unless he really did love Giselle this much, but somehow thought it was okay to fuck her best friend on the side, too.
Honestly, it didn't matter to me how he justified it.
Just as long as Giselle got what she needed in the end.“I'll help you plan it.We can do it as soon as possible.Do you have a prenup ready to go?”I asked, once again testing him—seeing what kind of man he really was.
I didn't have to wait long.
Carlo laughed his head right off.
And for a long time.
That man laughed until tears rolled down his cheeks, and he could hardly breathe.
“Prenup?”He stared at me and shook his head.“There's no fucking prenup, Francesca.Giselle is my entire world.If she leaves, my world leaves, too.Do you not understand that?I don't give one fuck about the money.She can have all of it.All I fucking want is her.”
Well, the man sounded convincing.And he definitely looked the part of a man in love.But I'd also seen him inside of Eve enough to know he wasn't all that genuine.
So, since I was all about helping a girl out—I said, “Then you marry her tomorrow.I'll help you plan it.”After that, I said something that was sure to push him over the edge.“And as a bonus, she'll never be able to call you her baby daddy again.”
The look of aggravation in his eyes was palpable.
Carlo took a long, long swallow of his whiskey and set the glass down on the table.“Good.”He peered at me and nodded.“Let's do it.”
7
Francesca
