I grabbed one and started eating it.“Mm,” I said, nodding in agreement.The creamy chocolate made my mouth water.
Giselle finished hers and looked longingly at the box.
I grinned and opened it back up.“Go ahead.There's no smoothie drink.Besides, it'll take her an hour to walk there and back.This place is so huge.”
That made Giselle laugh.
And laugh.
And laugh.
And I joined in.
Tears flowed down her face—but they were tears of laughter.Not sadness.
After we finished eating our sweet treats, I picked up the almost empty box and slid off the bed.I crouched in front of her bedside table and stuffed the box into the empty bottom drawer.“Just in case you need a midnight snack.”I smiled up at her and shut the drawer.I stood and gave her one more hug.
“Thank you, Francesca.Thank you so much.”She squeezed me tighter.“I'm so glad you're going to be my sister-in-law.As soon as I have this baby and can fit into my dress again.”She held me even tighter.“If Carlo will still have me, that is.”
Oh, man.
Poor Giselle.
Poor, poor, poor Giselle.
She had no idea what her intended was doing behind her back.With her best friend.
She really didn't.
“That man loves you,” I said, even though I severely doubted how much he really did love her.Especially if he could sleep with his best friend's wife.
I left her to rest and walked out.
In the middle of the hallway, I met Eve at the top of the stairs.She held up a large bottle of water.“We couldn't find the smoothie.”She laughed and gave me a quick hug.“Thank you for taking care of my friend,” she whispered.When she let me go, her eyes dropped to my mouth.“You have a bit of cannoli on your lips.”Then she laughed softly and headed down the hallway.
Whoops.
I licked the leftover cream from my lip while I walked down the stairs.I wasn't sure where Stefan was, but I was pretty certain he would still be with Dani.I wondered if she was still playing with her bunny and its new accessories.
She was so grateful for what I'd picked up for her.It was cute.
When I walked into the kitchen, I heard voices.Stefan and Carlo were out on the patio drinking.Dani was flouncing around with her bunny, playing some kind of imaginary game.
Stefan spotted me, and a wide grin crossed his face.He waved me over.Carlo turned his head and kept his eyes on me the entire time I walked up to them.It was a little unnerving to tell you the truth.
“My beautiful sister-in-law.”Carlo stood and pulled me into his big chest.“I'm sorry for offending you.Giselle was right.I should've kept my mouth shut.”He pulled away just enough to look down at me and say, “You women are slow to learn how things work, though.And it can be really fuckin' frustrating.”
His apology seemed genuine.As genuine as something could be from a cheater.
“I wasn't offended, Carlo.And you're right, that stuff is all between me,” I looked over at Stefan, he took a sip from his glass, his eyes stuck on me, “and my husband.”
Carlo chuckled and then surprised me.He cupped my face with his huge hands and leaned down.“You're fucking perfect for my brother.I couldn't be more pleased.”Then he kissed my forehead.
Having Carlo's warm body next to mine—and then having his lips on me—holy cow.
I mean, yes, it was just a chaste kiss.
But it still did very, very, very real things to my body.My nipples beaded up instantly.
