Page 15 of Beautiful Life
“I guess.” I put our lunches in front of two barstools. She wanders over to me and we sit down to eat.
She picks up her fork and pushes her salad around. “What’s up with you and Tony?”
I become completely immobile with a bite of sandwich in my mouth. Frowning at her, I talk with my mouth full. “What do you mean?”
She gives me her knowing look like I know what she means, which I do. I turn away from her, chew my bite, and swallow. “Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
Looking back at her, I repeat, “Nothing.”
“It doesn’t seem like nothing. Even Jude is picking up on it. And,” she pauses, which makes me look back and her eyebrows are raised. “Paige called me.”
I blow out a breath because that can’t be good. Paige has been here for our Sex-in-the-City-Athons every night. And every night Tony is here, torturing me only the way Tony can, all for Paige to see and apparently blab to my BFF.
“First off, I’m pissed you all started Sex in the City without me, but I’ll just have to jump in and deal with it. And second, Paige also reports something is going on with you and Tony. I want to know. What’s going on?”
“Nothing is going on. Tony’s being sweet just like the rest of your family. I don’t really know how to take it. You Carpinos are so nice it’s overwhelming,” I say sarcastically.
“Yeah, that’s our way,” she returns, equally as sarcastic. “But from what I hear, Tony is being really nice.”
Tony left my bed early this morning to go to work. I haven’t let myself think about how nice it was sleeping up against him for those few short hours. But when he kissed me goodbye on the head, I rolled over to look up at him and tried to do the smart thing for a change. “Tony, you have to stop this.”
He grinned. “Stop what?”
“You know what I’m talking about. You have to stop whatever this is.”
What he did not do is agree to stop. What he did do was blow my mind when he leaned down and kissed me on the lips, so softly, it was but a breath and, unlike every other caress he’d given me, I didn’t just feel that one down to my bones, but my soul and everywhere else throughout my body, giving me tingles. How can a breath of a kiss be so perfect?
He moves back slightly where I only see his almost black eyes. “Get used to it. I’ll see you later, have a good day.”
I look over at Gabby and give in. “I don’t know, Gab. I told him to stop. I need him to stop.”
“Stop what?”
I turn to look at her and widen my eyes. I see her narrow hers and her jaw goes hard. I turn back to my sandwich and Gabby doesn’t say another word about Tony. She finishes her salad, changes her clothes, and says she’s off to the store for more Christmas lights. Where she’s going to find a place to put more Christmas lights, I have no idea.
*****
Tony
I hear her before I see her. I look up from the documents on my desk that are confounding me. This acquisition should be open and shut, but something’s amiss with the company being purchased. It should be more profitable than the books are showing. I don’t have time for her, but I am surprised it’s taken this long for it to happen. I lean back in my chair and wait.
“You know why I’m here, Paige!” Gabby’s voice yells, getting louder and closer by the second before I see her standing in the doorway to my office.
“You.” She points at me as she comes in and slams my door. “I have a bone to pick with you!”
“Must be a big bone, you couldn’t do it over the phone.”
“Don’t be your cool as a cucumber self, Tony. I’m not a client. You know why I’m here.” Gabby’s standing in front of my desk with her hands on her hips, wearing designer jeans, a fancy-ass sweater, and I can tell she’s in heels because she’s taller than normal.
“I’m busy Gabba, cut to the chase.”
On a huff, she starts. “Leigh. I don’t know what you’re doing, but you had better stop. She is not some bimbo for you to conquer. Nor does she have the energy to put you off. She’s in a delicate place right now. I cannot believe with what she means to me, what she meant to my parents, not to mention what she’s been through you would go there with her. Now, I love you, Tony. You know I do. But there are times I have to love you despite how you choose to live your life with … with … women. And you know what I mean. Leave. Her. Alone.”
I pull in a calming breath. I can’t say I don’t deserve that. I probably do. Now I have to rein it in and explain what Leigh means to me.
“Are you through?” I ask.
