Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
B ianca
I’m so freaking bored. This morning started early with Gaetano feeding me yummy breakfast burritos filled with eggs, bacon, potatoes, and cheese. If nothing else, Gaetano is an awesome cook. The tortillas being homemade turned it up a notch.
For lunch yesterday, he made pulled pork sandwiches, and lunch today he made chicken satay on skewers with the fluffiest jasmine rice with a side of cucumbers, carrots, and radish in a perfect vinegar concoction. How did he know it was my favorite dish, with pulled pork sandwiches my second favorite? I’ve had it about a million times, it’s never been better than Gaetano’s.
Catching myself scratching my neck, I wonder if it’s happening already. If I need to go up another gummy, even though that’s crazy. I’m good, I tell myself as I take another, even though it’s been less than three hours since my last one. I check the clock to find out what time the gummy kicks in versus the time I took it. Damn, Gaetano wasn’t joking. Everything has sped up since the first time I took it.
Yesterday, when we came home from the shopping trip, I was all good for a few hours. I laughed long and hard as Gaetano, and I tried to figure out how the washing machine worked. Gaetano glowered at the machines as if he had never seen them before when I asked for his help. Because he hadn’t. His housekeeper bought and used them as needed, and the rest of his clothes went to a dry cleaner.
Since I needed to clean the stuff I bought before wearing it—it was a rule long drilled into me by Marissa. I couldn’t wait until his housekeeper came. In the end, I did a search for a video on it and followed the directions from it. Gaetano was annoyed with himself for not knowing the answer.
We had dinner delivered, like we did last night, from an app that has everything from local restaurants to popular fast food places. He apologized and said he rarely made dinner since he was sick of cooking by the end of the day. I assured him that I was more than content to order in. Since I did it often while living on campus.
This isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I can’t stop staring at Gaetano. He’s been way nicer than I thought he would be. It was actually kind of fun shopping with him yesterday.
The only real negative was he blew up my secret dream of him leaving the Outfit for me. Like, maybe he wasn’t happy, and he wanted to do something else—be something else. If he left the Outfit, we could be together.
Okay, I couldn’t see Gaetano as, like, a real estate agent or in another sales field. He definitely couldn’t have a boss who kept asking him when something was going to be done.
One thing I do know is he gets left alone by Luca because he’s so good at what he does. I’ve heard Sandro and Luca talking about Gaetano before and how amazed they were by what he did. Luca has called Sandro asking what Luca could give Gaetano as a bonus for good work several times since I was a kid—it’s not like he’s newly become important to the Outfit or good at what he's doing.
Right, stop thinking of him like that. Gaetano isn’t the asshole I thought he was. At the same time, the only reason I’m here is to protect Sandro from the pain of me being a complete idiot. While Gaetano isn’t an asshole, and he cares. The problem is the only things he cares about are Sandro and the Outfit.
Sighing, I look to Gaetano to find his eyes on me. The feel of his eyes on me reminds me, and the words are out before I can stop them. “Did you watch me?”
An eyebrow goes up. “What are you talking about?”
“After I moved on campus. Did you watch me?” I told myself to drop it and leave it alone. Except I have to know.
Those black eyes are flat, without any hint of emotion. “Sandro cares about you. I had some free time.”
“Oh…” God, I’m such a baby.
“Hey, it’s big brother stuff.”
I’m mad at him and Sandro. “Let’s go.” I push up from the recliner.
“Where am I going? You have to tell me. I’m the one driving.” He reminds me drily.
“Back to the place we went yesterday. It’s perfect for all kinds of things. We need comfy, cozy throw blankets, a coffee table, and an area rug. Then, I’m thinking you definitely need something on the wall.” I’m in his car, and we’re zooming across the streets of Las Vegas to my favorite playlist.
I kind of can’t believe he’s letting me pick the music. And he was totally right that I never would have touched it if the gummy hadn’t kicked in due to how seriously he takes anyone touching his stereo. I remember Sandro laughing about how Luca didn’t know about Gaetano and his stereo, and he tried turning it down. Gaetano warned him that the last person who touched his stereo currently walks with a limp. Sandro couldn’t believe Gaetano said it to Luca, but Luca wasn’t bothered and said he understood. Now, could he please turn the shit down?
We’re back at the store. I wait impatiently for him to open the door for me. He opens the door. Taking his hand, I’m a little in awe of how large his hand is, yet how gentle he is with me. Only for his hand to open once I’m up and standing on my own.
Embarrassed, I follow him into the store. “Okay, so your place is a barren wasteland of space, and we need to fix that.”
“ Barren wasteland? What’s the big deal? I now have the other recliner in there, and I’ll leave it. It will make Dario happy. I think that’s all?—”
I stopped listening when he thought leaving the other recliner was a win. Silly man. I’m remembering Megan’s mom saying that sometimes men didn’t know what they wanted until a woman gave it to them. There isn’t as much selection as what we would find in a bigger store. Except I’m also not trying to get caught.
While I love everything shiny, I don’t even consider it. Gaetano would hate it. Even though I have the odd feeling he would accept whatever I pick, I don’t want him to hate his space. I want him to like it and enjoy being in it.
“Why are you looking at a television console when my television is on the wall?” Comes from behind me.
“Because we need more furniture to fill the space, so it doesn’t feel so barren,” I explain as I find the perfect one that looks like driftwood. “And what if you do need something to put a gaming console on to play when your brother comes over?”
“That would never happen because I’m an adult who doesn’t play games on a console or not. Dario is also an adult and would be insulted as I am at the idea of wasting time on gaming.”
Rolling my eyes. “Okay, fine, it’s to fill up the space.”
I’m studying the offering. Gaetano is definitely like driftwood, raw and overlooked until someone saw it for the treasure it was.
“Okay, this one.” I move to pick it up, only for a heavy sigh to come from above me and a gentle nudge from his hip as he scoots me out of the way so he can pick it up and put it in the cart.
“It’s going to take forever to put it together,” he mutters.
“I think it will be fun. I’m a good helper, Sandro says it often.” I assure him as I turn to look for a coffee table. I’ve seen it in Kitty and Megan’s house. They used an ottoman in place of a coffee table and then bought trays for things they worried would tip over if placed on the ottoman. It’s a better way of softening the hard lines of the room.
There are a few ottomans. I don’t think they’ll work with his two recliners, though. I’m pouting and about to give up when Gaetano finds it. “This one isn’t so bad.”
I turn and find him two aisles over. He glares at a guy who appears interested in the box he has his hand on. I understand why I didn’t see it. It’s the only one, and it’s not on display since it’s on sale for half its normal price. Seeing the picture on the box, he’s right—it fits his place perfectly.
“It’s perfect! I love it.” I’m excited as I try to pick it up.
“You know you are not allowed to pick up anything. Move, princess.” He orders gruffly.
Rolling my eyes at him, I’m focused on the side tables that are tall for right beside his recliner. He has one now, but it’s ugly in a total ’80s vibe. This one is black metal and has a round top with a teardrop bottom.
“I love this one. What do you think is one enough, or should we get two for, you know, symmetry?”
“Do I look like someone who cares about symmetry?” Is muttered as he hefts the table into the cart. “Are we done yet? If not, we need a new cart.”
“I’ll go get a new cart?—”
“Hi, do you need this?” An employee in a red shirt offers a flat dolly to Gaetano.
Gaetano nods. “Thanks.”
The guy helps Gaetano load the large boxes onto the dolly while I decide one black metal table is enough and focus on picking out trays to go on top of the ottoman. Ooh, these trays have black metal holding the gray, washed wood pieces together—perfect.
I’m getting frustrated with every passing minute.
“What’s the matter, princess?” Gaetano is at my back as I survey the rugs.
“They don’t have a rug that fits your space.”
“The one on the end isn’t bad.”
I glare at him. “It isn’t about what you can put up with. It needs to be what adds to your space.” I sigh as I realize how long we’ve spent in here. Time really does disappear in this place. “The best place to go is closing in half an hour. We’ll never make it.”
“Where is this place?” He’s wary, and I remember it’s not only me who can’t get caught. It’s us together.
“Okay, yes, I was thinking of the place near me. However, they are everywhere.” I do a search on my phone for the closest one and show him the results. There’s one only ten minutes from here. “What do you think? I think it’s great. This way, we can also get you the window coverings you need too.”
His sigh is from the bottom of his lungs. “I have the blinds…” I’m guessing he can tell I’m not listening as I study the throw rugs. “Fine, I’m getting window coverings. Tomorrow, we’ll go.”
“Yay, okay. Wait, we should be looking for some bookshelves for you. How are you a reader and you don’t have shelves for books? How do you not have books?”
A wide shoulder lifts. “I have bookshelves and books. One of the empty bedrooms is a library.”
“You have a library and didn’t tell me?” I’m not sure why I’m hurt.
Both shoulders lift. “It wasn’t like I kept it from you. You didn’t ask if I had a library. If you want to go into it, you can. You just can’t go into my office.”
Rolling my eyes, “I think you’ve told me about a dozen times I’m not allowed in your office. I get it, Gaetano. I’m also not an idiot, I wasn’t and am still not allowed into Sandro’s office. Let’s go so we can start building everything. I’m so excited.”
Gaetano
The last few hours have been far more fun than I’ve had in years. Hell, I can’t remember the last time I had fun. I’m sure Dario thought that dragging me along on one of his ridiculous escapades was fun. They weren’t when you’re the designated driver who is supposed to be watching out to make sure we don’t wind up in jail.
A few times with Sandro, I had fun. And fucking hell, the reminder hits me like a sucker punch. I shouldn’t be having fun with my best friend’s little sister, who I want to fuck more desperately than I’ve ever wanted anything else in this world.
Except, damn it, I don’t regret a single minute. I was certain this was the equivalent of my penance for having her here. Especially when if I seriously wanted furniture I wouldn’t have bought it at a store like we bought it from. I would have spent five times this at a place where I wouldn’t be putting anything together.
Bianca is as good at helping as she said she was. She let me be in charge without questioning me or asking if I read the directions—which, of course, I hadn’t. And she didn’t say a word when I had it wrong. She simply handed me the right tool or screw each time without me asking for it. While I might have gotten something wrong, she never did.
Now that everything is in place, I hate to admit it, but it looks good. “I like it.”
Her head bobs to the sides like it does when she’s really happy. “Oh my god, he likes it. I wish I could record this moment.”
The brat is laughing like a maniac now. And for the life of me, I can’t stop laughing with her. Suddenly, she yawns, and I check my watch. “It’s past your bedtime.”
Sighing, she shakes her head. “You’re no fun, Gaetano. But ok, whatever, it’s my bedtime. Goodnight.”
The moment the door is closed behind her, I’m up and in the spare bedroom I’ve been sleeping in. In all of thirty seconds, I undress. Then I go into the attached bathroom and begin my late-night routine. I check the camera in my room. I’m aware I’m an asshole for putting it in. I don’t care.
Fuck she’s so beautiful. She’s still happy, her head bopping from side to side as she hums low to herself. Then her smile falls as she studies the pouch of gummies I gave her. I know she hates it. But since she didn’t take as many as she should have last night, she woke up in the middle of the night, and the sleep she got was restless. She sucks in air before slowly letting it out. I warned her that for sleep, she would need twice what she takes during the day to knock her out and give her good sleep.
Last night, I watched as she shook out what she should have taken before shaking her head and only taking one more than she was dosing herself with during the day. A dose, I’m almost positive she isn’t taking what she should.
Tonight, she counts out exactly what she needs and takes them with a grimace. I hate watching her go through this. Last night, I wanted to go into the room and force her to take more. I felt like I was coming out of my skin, watching her toss and turn and scratch unthinkingly.
I wish like fuck I had a silver bullet to take all of this pain and discomfort away. The closest I could get was knocking her out hard to sleep away as much of this as she was able. I’m not sure I blink as I watch her slowly slip into sleep.
Mere seconds after I’m sure she’s asleep, I take my own large dose to get more than five hours of sleep. Unlike her, it takes a little while longer to fall asleep, and I hate this time. This time allows me to think. To think of all the lies I’ve told today. To think of the way Bianca was so adamant that I needed to like my space, not simply put up with it. I would have endured her painting my place pink and not complained—whatever made her happy, I would do.
I was smiling at how angry she was when I told her that I would accept any old rug. And that’s how I fall asleep, smiling because of Bianca.