Carlo's eyes scanned my face for a quick moment.And then he burst into laughter.
Okay.
So—he wasn't mad.
He didn't just laugh—he laughed his ass off.Which was a relief, to tell you the truth.
Stefan didn't say anything, though.
Giselle was staring at me—mouth open.Speechless.
Nick sat in his chair.A large smirk on his face.
“If I were you—” I stabbed a strawberry onto my fork, “I'd be mad.”I stated the truth.Maybe he hadn't thought the whole thing through.I kind of doubted that.Carlo seemed like a smart guy.It didn't make sense to me why he thought any of this was funny.
He shook his head and settled down.“No, you're a good friend, Francesca.Smart and loyal to a fault.I'm glad my wife will always have you on her side.My brother chose wisely.”
Okay.
That shocked the heck out of me.I had not expected Carlo to say that.Not at all.
“If I could get up out of this chair,” Giselle already had tears falling down her cheeks, “I'd give you the biggest freaking hug.Ever.”Carlo slipped his arm around her and pulled her into him.He kissed her and whispered something to Giselle, too low for any of us to hear.
Eve smiled at me and said, “We girls have to stick together.Thanks for looking after my friend.That was a great thing to do.”
Crap.
Now I felt horrible.
“I thought bad things about you, Eve.Really bad things.”I leveled with her.
She let out a laugh and nodded.“Of course you did.You thought I was cheating with my pregnant friend's husband.I would have felt the same way.I don't think I would have been smart enough to try to set Giselle up for life, though.That was good thinking.”
Nick nodded.“I agree.Very cunning.But also wise to wait because of Giselle's current state.Well done, Francesca.”He smirked at me.“Extremely well done.”
I took a deep breath and raised my eyebrows.“Well, this was not how I saw all of this go down.”I turned to my husband and met his gaze.“Are you mad at me?I wouldn't blame you,” I told him the truth.Because I'd essentially lied to him—by not telling him what I'd found out.
Stefan shook his head and kissed my lips.“Not mad.Maybe a little disappointed that you didn't come to me with this.I could have cleared everything up for you instantly.Instead of you carrying it for so long yourself.”His fingers brushed the hair over my shoulder.
I pursed my lips together for a brief moment before saying, “I thought our little family was going to implode any second.If I caught Eve and Carlo that many times—” I shrugged and went on, “then you or Nick could, too.”
Stefan shook his head.“No, Chesca.That's not how this works.We all knew what Eve and Carlo were up to.And when.You just didn't catch on because you didn't know.But there were subtle hints.Trust me.No one was sneaking around.”
I took his word for it.It wasn't like I'd ever been involved in anything like this before.I suppose you'd have to figure out a set of rules or something.
“I'm just sorry you found out that way.”He looked lovingly at me and stroked the side of my face with his fingertips.“I wanted to present it to you in my own way.”
Nick cleared his throat and said, “It all turned out well in the end.I believe Francesca had fun last night.”He paused before saying, “And this morning.”
Stefan chuckled, not taking his eyes off me.“I know I did.”He raised his eyebrows.
I smiled at him and kissed his lips—relieved that this mess was officially over with.And Carlo and Giselle wouldn't be divorcing and blowing up the family.
4
Francesca
“Nick,” I moaned as his fingers dragged up my leg.I was already dripping wet for him.And he was about to find that out.
