Page 119 of Unraveled

Gian refused to let Constantino push on that nerve. “Maybe she does.”

“You know she does.”

“Hungry?”

“I could eat,” Constantino said.

Gian prepped two plates of food, keeping an eye on the other man at the same time. Constantino seemed entirely unbothered and calm, sitting there, as though he didn’t have a thing to worry about.

“I suppose you don’t, huh?” Gian asked as he delivered the plate of food.

Gian then took a seat directly across from his old friend.

“Don’t what, man?”

“Worry,” Gian clarified.

Constantino shrugged, shoving a bite of food into his mouth. “It’s a waste of time to worry.”

“That, or you feel … privileged. Safe in your spot because of me.”

Constantino’s brow furrowed. “Is something wrong?”

Gian shook his head. “Should there be?”

“Not that I know of.”

“Then, no.”

“All right.” Constantino went back to his food as though nothing was wrong. Just as Gian expected he would.

“Have you ever heard of blind affection?”

“When a person lets their personal feelings get in the way of what should be obvious?” Constantino asked.

“Exactly that.”

“I could see why some people might struggle with it.”

“Me, too,” Gian agreed.

“So, you said when you called that you’re finally ready to finish this out with the boss, then?”

“And more.” Gian smirked. “Never call Edmond the boss in my presence again.”

Constantino offered an apologetic smile. “My bad.”

The man didn’t seem to notice that Gian had yet to touch his own plate of food.

“But, that was what you said,” Constantino pressed.

“And more,” Gian echoed. “Do you want a beer?”

“Sure.”

Gian left the table, and grabbed two beers from the fridge. He sat one down at his spot before moving around the table to hand Constantino’s bottle over, but he didn’t move to return to his seat again.

“I’m not the only one between us that suffers from blind affection,” Gian said quietly. “Because if you didn’t suffer from it, too, you would have known better than to ever trust me after you betrayed me. All lies come out eventually.”