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I wanted to stick out my chest with pride at that last part. “I don’t eat garbage, just to clarify.”
“I beg to differ,” Carmen said.
“What qualifies as garbage?” Vanessa asked, amused by the conversation.
“Let me put it this way,” Carmen said. “He never eats carbs.”
Vanessa looked disturbed, like that was the worst news she could have ever received. “Ugh, I’m so sorry, Carmen.”
“I know,” she said with a sigh.
“Griffin is like that too,” Vanessa said. “I’ll eat a bowl of cereal or mac and cheese that comes in a box just so I’ll survive.”
Carmen shook her head. “So shitty.”
My hand moved to the center of her back, touching her lightly. The ends of her strands wrapped around my fingers, and I gently played with them.
“So, how’s the baby?” Carmen asked. “Anything new?”
“Well…” Vanessa rubbed her stomach. “I picked out a name and asked Griffin if it was okay…and he said yes.”
“Ooh…what is it?” Carmen asked.
She took a deep breath before she said the name out loud. “Crow.”
“Aww.” Carmen covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes immediately watering. “That is so sweet. He’s gonna love that. You’re gonna make that stern and hard man succumb to tears.”
“I know,” Vanessa said. “He named me after his sister…and I wanted to name my son after someone great. The name came to me a long time ago. I wasn’t sure if Griffin would approve, but he did right away.”
“Because that man loves you.”
I’d only met Crow once, and he was so quiet and inherently hostile it was hard to imagine him being tender and sweet like his daughter. But he was probably like Cane, only showing affection when there was no one else around. Now I understand just how close Carmen was to her family.
And how steep my odds were.
“I know he does,” Vanessa said. “But I think he likes the name too, honestly. He’s become so close to my father working with him every day. They have their own relationship now that has nothing to do with me.”
“They’ve come a long way,” Carmen said. “I remember when my father punched him…and Griffin just took it.”
“Yeah, he had to deal with a lot,” Vanessa said in agreement, her eyes drifting to mine. “So…I feel like I know everything about you. It’s honestly all Carmen and I ever talk about.”
“I hope some good things are said…once in a while.” I was sure Vanessa had been whispering in Carmen’s ear to leave me. Maybe getting to know me would change her mind.
“Yes,” Carmen said. “Not a lot. But sometimes.”
I loved her playfulness, so I moved my hand to the back of her neck and gently rubbed it, forgetting about Vanessa for a second and just focusing on Carmen. She brought a light to my life I hadn’t realized I needed until now. I’d been living in eternal darkness for so long that I just got used to it. But now that I’d seen the light, I never wanted to go back again.
Vanessa watched us together. “You treating my girl right?”
“Yes. Always.” I turned my gaze back to her. “This woman has a lot of power over me. I’m only admitting it because she’s figured it out by now. I wasn’t the kind of man I should have been in the beginning, but sometimes a man needs to meet the right woman to figure out who he wants to be. And I also think good guys are overrated. Barsetti women aren’t looking for an average man with an average life. They’re looking for rough and hard men like their fathers and brothers.” I shrugged. “It doesn’t surprise me.”
Carmen and Vanessa looked at each other, like they’d never noticed the trend before.
Now that I’d met Crow and Cane in person, it was obvious to me right away. These women were strong and fearless because of their fathers, so they wanted men who were just as brave, powerful, and courageous. They wouldn’t find that in an average man. Not possible.
“So do you have any hobbies?” Vanessa asked, trying to ask me something unrelated to my profession and her obvious disapproval of my past behavior.
“Carmen,” I said honestly. “She’s all I really think about. I have one younger brother whom I’m close to. We run the casino together. My mother passed away from cancer five years ago, so he’s the only family I have left. The rest of my life revolves around work, maintaining membership dues, and keeping the peace within the casino. I’ve been managing it for ten years now with rare hiccups.”
“I’m sorry about your mom,” Vanessa said. “I’m grateful I haven’t lost a parent yet. I’ll never be the same once that day comes and goes.”
“Me neither.” Carmen placed her hand on mine under the table.
Her affection was nice.
Vanessa looked past us, and her eyes widened in horror. “Griffin.”
