Chapter 20 #3
Sleeping in makeup always makes me feel disgusting the next day. Feeling crusty is never worth being lazy the night before.
“I’ll give you something to sleep in.”
I know when to pick my battles. He’s in a foul mood, and I don’t want to poke the bear over something as small as this. One thing that surprises me, though, is how soon we reached Gio’s house. It’s in the same neighborhood as his mom’s.
“I didn’t realize you lived so close to your mom,” I say, trying to change the subject as he pulls up to a house that rivals Camilla’s.
Does the entire family live in a mansion? Because this is insane.
“We all live in the same neighborhood.”
“That’s nice that you’re all close to each other.”
Gio grunts, obviously not feeling the same right now as he cuts the engine in his garage. I silently follow behind him as he unlocks the side door to his house. He drops his keys in the bowl and shrugs off his jacket, laying it on the island in the kitchen as I follow him through the house.
“Are you okay?” I finally muster up the courage to ask.
“I should be asking you that.” The pop from the whiskey cork echoes through the house as he pours himself a few fingers worth and takes a swig.
I move to stand next to him. “What? No umbrella? That’s a crime in Gio’s world.”
“He shouldn’t have been such an asshole to you.”
Okay, so we’re not in the mood for jokes. Got it.
“I think an umbrella would make you feel better,” I say softly in an attempt to get my Gio back.
Gio’s eyes slide to mine, something working behind them. “I know what would make me feel better.”
“What?”
“Come on.” Gio pushes off the counter, leading me further into the house.
Automatic lights dimly light the room enough for me to see that it’s a family room with a massive TV on the wall. A sectional equally large that looks like a cloud surrounds it.
Gio slumps into the corner seat at the same time he grabs a controller and remote off the coffee table. He pats the cushion next to him. “Sit.”
The TV screen illuminates the room as I sit down next to him. I hear the familiar beep of the gaming console coming to life.
Gio games?
Tension is radiating from his body as he hands me the controller. “Sign in.”
I stare at it. There’s a reason he wants me to take it. I’m just not sure what that reason is. “I’m fine with watching you play,” I say, still not reaching for it.
“Take the controller, Bronwyn.”
Something in his tone tells me to obey. I slowly take it from him and sign in. It takes a minute for everything to load. “Are you sure this will make you feel better?” I ask because it seems like it’s having the opposite effect.
“Sure,” is his reply as he takes a drink.
Okay, then.
“Play the game you were playing the other night.”
I study him out of the corner of my eye. I feel like I’m missing something, but I’m not sure what. “Alright.”
As I’m waiting for the game to load, a notification pops up in the upper right-hand corner of the screen, letting me know Wiz is online.
I tense, hoping Gio doesn’t see it. Ever so slowly, I drag my thumb over to press the button to mute the mic on the controller.
I don’t want a repeat of last time because I have no way home if he kicks me out.
Once my game is loaded on the screen, Gio reaches over and unmutes the mic on the controller.
Shit.
My chest tightens with the anxiety that’s quickly flooding my system.
“Hey, are you up to play or are you just roaming around?” Wiz’s voice sounds through the controller, making me jump.
Gio leans over, his warm breath brushing against my skin.
He smells of bourbon. “Tell him you’re up to play,” he rumbles in my ear, low enough where it won’t be picked up by the mic.
“I want him to hear what’s about to happen next.
” He bites down on my earlobe, dragging it between his teeth, making me hiss.
My heart is pounding. The anticipation is going to make me throw up.
I swallow. “Yeah, I’m up to play. Pick the quest.”
Gio’s arm snakes behind me as he relaxes back as if he’s settling in for the long haul.
“Any preference?” Wiz asks.
“Um, no,” I get out. “You pick.”
I internally flinch as Gio’s hand flexes on my shoulder. He’s still wound tight, but is trying to play it off like everything is fine. And that’s freaking me out because everything is far from fine.
I lean into Gio and whisper, “What does Wiz need to listen to?”
I hold my breath as I wait for his response.
“Don’t worry about it.”
Don’t worry about it?
Is he fucking crazy?
I swallow the lump in my throat and focus my attention on the screen. Nothing about this feels right. I have my character run after Wiz as I try to catch up.
“Everything okay? You sound off today. I haven’t really heard from you since the other day,” Wiz asks.
Gio’s fingers dig into my arm. “Everything is good.” I clear my throat. “I haven’t heard from you since the other day either. You’re not mad at me, are you?”
Gio’s fingers are pressing down to the bone, making me wince. He leans over to whisper in my ear, sending a chill down my spine, “Showtime.”