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“It’s on a need-to-know basis, and you’re friends with the enemy,” Gia said cheekily.
“You really want to know?” I asked him.
“Not unless you have late-night sleepovers and throw pillows at each other.” Then his eyes widened, and he sucked in a breath. “No, wait. This is my sister we’re talking about.”
I wondered if he’d been thinking aboutme. It was that inner girl buried deep inside me who wouldn’t let go of the idea of him.
Gia narrowed her eyes at him. “Is that what you think we do?”
“You drink champagne to celebrate a job well done, don’t you?” Leo asked.
“Yes,” Gia said tersely.
“Isn’t that how the rules were created?” I asked, feeling a little light-headed from drinking my glass of champagne so quickly. I wasn’t present when they were created, but they’d been mentioned many times since.
Gia played with the tablecloth, a rare sign of unease from her.
Leo shifted in his chair to face her. “What are these rules?”
Gia waved a hand as if it was no big deal. “No sleeping with coworkers. That kind of thing.”
“Is that all?” Leo turned to ask me.
I grinned, feeling lighter than I had in a long time. I tapped my chin. “Oh, there’s more. Let’s see if I can remember correctly… There’s no sleeping with coworkers or members of the wedding party—oh, and Gia’s brothers.”
Leo leaned forward. “Wait. What?”
Shit. Had I said that out loud? That second glass of champagne must have gone directly to my head.
“Did you say there’s an office rule about not sleeping with Gia’s brothers?” Leo asked, his voice dangerously low.
“Yeees,” I said, drawing out the word. “Everyone knows you’re off-limits.”
“I didn’t realize we were ever an option,” Leo said, his tone more amused than irritated.
Gia rolled her eyes. “You know all my friends liked you, even in high school. I just like to keep things clear.”
Leo sobered, his gaze swinging to meet mine. “Is that true, Harper? Did you like me in high school?”
Gia shook her head. “Not Harper. She’d never betray me that way.”
I was grateful Gia had instantly denied it. I knew she hated it when her friends asked about her brothers. She wanted trustworthy friends, not girls hanging around, hoping her brothers would notice them. Angela had been one of our best friends in high school, but when Gia caught her making out with her brother, Matteo, that was the end of that. She’d felt hurt and betrayed.
The guilt settled in deep because I’d crushed on Leo. I didn’t hang around just for her brothers. I genuinely liked Gia and her family. It was why I’d never acted on my feelings or told anyone about them. It was my secret crush, one I’d never tell anyone or admit out loud.
But Leo’s gaze hadn’t left mine, like he was waiting for me to answer. Had he sensed something when we were dancing? Had I moved too close? Been too obvious about my feelings?
“Oh, look, it’s time to cut the cake,” Gia said. In her mind, she’d answered Leo’s question.
I didn’t have a crush. End of story. The truth was far messier.
“Let’s get a closer look, shall we?” I stood and moved toward the table where the crowd gathered around the bride and groom and the four-tier white cake with cascading flowers.
I needed to get away from Leo before he saw through my façade. That was the closest he’d ever been to learning the truth. Between that conversation, the champagne, and our dance, I was off-balance.
As we stood with the rest of the guests, watching the bride and groom hold the knife and carefully slice through the bottom layer, I asked Gia, “Did you learn anything useful?”
Gia rolled her eyes. “Just that Silas runs a tight ship.”
