Chapter Fourteen
She shimmied into the white cotton dress, slipping its thin straps over her shoulders.
Flouncy, flared, and daringly short, she smoothed the hem down her thighs, checking out her reflection in the full-length mirror.
With an open back and a corset-like bodice that pushed up her breasts.
Normally, she’d throw on a T-shirt and a pair of jeans to go to a concert in Coventry Park, but tonight Gina wasn’t just going to see the show now, was she?
Fearing the humidity would melt any makeup off her face, even with setting spray, she kept it to a minimum, playing up her eyes.
With her hair curled into loose waves for the same reason, Gina tucked a clip into her Bumbag in case it turned into a frizzy, hot mess.
At least then, she’d be able to put it up.
With a cute pair of blush open-toed ankle boots, she took one last look in the mirror and made her way downstairs.
Freshly showered, Teo sat waiting for her in the kitchen, scrolling through his phone.
High cheekbones, a strong jawline, and hazel eyes like hers—he was so handsome.
Her brother had girls panting after him everywhere they went, not that he ever seemed to care.
His happiness was stolen from him, which saddened her, because he deserved it and had so much to offer.
“Where’s Kev and Luca?”
Glancing up at her from his phone, Teo shrugged. “In his room, I guess.”
“Doing what?”
“Do you really have to ask?” With a toss of his inky mane, he snickered, his gaze returning to the screen.
Did not need to know that.
“Jesus, Matteo.” Gina flicked him on the head. “You knew already, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, I’ve known for a while,” he said and went back to his scrolling.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Sorry, was I supposed to?” He cocked his head, hazel-green eyes locking on hers. “I would never betray our brother, not even to you. Luca loves you more than anyone, so give the kid a fucking break. He wanted to confide in you. I know he planned to. He was trying to figure out how, I guess.”
“But he didn’t have a problem telling you.”
It hurt to think he’d felt even a moment of angst, or shame, or fear over sharing his truth with her.
“He didn’t have much of a choice.” Her brother stood, forcing Gina to look up at him. “I found him downstairs with a dude when he was fifteen, and they weren’t just making out.”
“Oh, shit. What did you do?” She was almost afraid to hear the answer.
“They were so into it, I just turned around and left.” Pursing his lips to the side, Teo shrugged. “Didn’t want to embarrass him, you know?”
I know.
“I talked to him later that night, and he explained it to me the same way he did to you.” His arm came around her in a brotherly bear hug. “Luca’s not gay. He’s always known who he is.”
“I’d love him the same even if he were,” she said against his chest.
“I know.” And smoothing the hair down her back, he kissed her crown. “Don’t know how long this girl of theirs will stick around, but I’m glad he and Kev got each other.”
“Are they serious?” They were too young to be, right?
With a parting pat on her head, Teo exhaled and took a step back. “Looks that way. They wanna get a place together, but neither of ’em can afford it yet.”
“Yeah, working after school at Beanie’s and delivering pizzas wouldn’t cut it, I suppose.”
“Nope. I told Luca they can hang out downstairs when I’m not at home,” he said, sliding his phone into the back pocket of his jeans. “I remember what it’s like to want to be with someone so fucking bad and having nowhere you can go.”
“And we love you for it, bro.” How long had Luca been listening from the hallway? He rushed in and hugged their brother from behind, smiling at her with his chin on Teo’s shoulder. “Damn, Gina, you look—”
“Hot as all get out. And gorgeous, too,” Kevin said, his blue-green gaze sweeping over her frame. “Hell, if you weren’t my boyfriend’s sister…”
“Well, she is, so don’t even think about it.” Taking her by the hand, Luca grabbed Kevin with the other. “Let’s go. Time to deliver Gina to the rock star, and then my mission will be complete.”
To avoid the throng on First Avenue, the four of them walked down Third most of the way. But even from two blocks over, the festival’s din reached Gina’s ears as if she were in the midst of it.
Was that the amplified rat-a-tat-tat of a snare drum in the distance? Check, one. Check, two. The aggressive reverb of Matt’s guitar?
Her stomach dropped.
“Fuck!” She glanced at the time on her phone. Ten after six. Damn you, Paulina. If not for her, she would’ve been there by now. “C’mon, we’ve got to hurry!”
“Don’t worry, Gina.” Luca pulled her back in step with him. “It’s just soundcheck.”
“But I don’t want to miss anything.”
He squeezed her hand and chuckled. “You won’t.”
“So, who’s this girl the two of you are, um… dating, anyway?” she asked to distract herself as they left Third Avenue at Ash Street. That, and Gina was genuinely curious.
Kevin smirked, a wicked glint entering his eyes. “It’s okay to say fucking. That’s what it is.”
The hell?
“Don’t look at us like that.” Luca nudged her with his shoulder, trading a glance with his boyfriend. “It’s not how you’re thinking.”
Sure, it’s not.
“Lexi’s a senior on the cheer squad,” Kevin said as if that should explain everything.
It didn’t.
“We have a good time together, but she’s going back to Ohio after grad next year, and that’ll be the end of it.” His shrug half-hearted, Luca sighed. “It’s cool, though. We all knew it couldn’t be a forever thing going in.”
And he was okay with that? Luca wasn’t a player. Sweet and sensitive, Gina couldn’t bear the thought of another brother’s tender heart breaking.
“How long have you all been together?”
“I met her a month or so after I got with Kev.” Luca’s lips quirked up as he dipped his chin, ebony hair falling into his eyes.
“The football team threw this sick Halloween party.” With his head bobbing, Kevin dug his teeth into his lip and grinned. “Lexi was there, and we—”
“Yeah, okay, I get it.”
She didn’t need the graphic details, but with the seed planted in her head, Gina tried to picture what it might look like.
Kevin poked her side and winked. “It’s been us and her ever since.”
“Good luck finding another girl that can put up with the two of you,” Teo murmured with a soft snort.
“I know, bro. I miss her already.” His shoulders slumped, Luca glanced her way. “Lexi went home to visit her folks for a few weeks.”
“She’s coming back right after the Fourth,” Kev said, slinging his arm around her brother.
“Sounds like she’s missing you, too.” Gina figured the girl didn’t have to return until classes resumed in August. That had to mean something, right? “Maybe Lexi will change her mind and stay in Chicago.”
“Maybe.” But Luca didn’t sound convinced.
“Not getting my hopes up and neither should you,” Kevin said as they walked past the red double doors at the corner of First and Ash.
The smell of funnel cakes, popcorn, and saltwater taffy greeted her nostrils.
High in a hazy western sky, the sweltering sun beat down on the pavement.
And smashed between her brothers and Kevin, their clammy bodies cramped together like sardines in a tin, they got caught up in the horde, inching their way toward the midway and Coventry Park.
“Don’t look now, Gi.” Teo clutched her hand tightly, leading her through the never-ending sea of people. “Just keep going straight ahead.”
“Look at what?” She wrinkled her nose. The guy in front of her reeked of body odor and cheap cologne, cumin radiating from his pores. “God, I can hardly breathe.”
“Asshole over on the left,” Luca said, tipping his head in that very direction.
She looked. Vinny pushed a girl off his arm and, breaking away from his group of friends, came toward her.
Dammit.
“Gina.” He was the last person on Earth she wanted to see.
With her hand encased in Teo’s firm grasp and Luca’s arm around her shoulders, she quickened her pace.
“Gina, hold up.” Vinny sprinted out in front of her. “Where you going in such a hurry?”
She skirted around him without bothering to answer.
They kept on walking.
And swallowed up by the crowd, he just stood there.
Kevin looked back over his shoulder. “Who was that guy?”
“Morto di figa.” Teo held his middle finger high above his head.
Accurate.
“It means manhoe, more or less,” Luca explained. “Vinny Passarelli, Gina’s ex-boyfriend.”
“Gotcha.” Kevin nodded, leaning forward to look at her. “He cheat on you?”
“Don’t know. Don’t care.” There are worse things, but she wouldn’t be surprised to find out that he had. “What happened between us was ages ago.”
“You think he wants to get back with you?”
It’s what her mother wanted. Hell, his mom probably did, too. But not Gina. She’d rather join a convent than be with that man ever again.
“He’s wasting his time if he does.” She lifted her chin with a smirk. “See, Vinny had his shot, but disrespect me once, and I’m done. I don’t do second chances.”
“Fucker doesn’t deserve one,” Teo agreed. “Besides, it never works out like you think it will.”
She saw him before he saw her. A beer in his hand, Matt stood in a huddle with the band, and suddenly, her mouth went dry. Nerves rioting in her heart, the saliva caught in her throat. Gina took a deep cleansing breath, her pulse skyrocketing, to calm the whirlwind in her tummy.
There’s no reason to be so nervous.
But this was tantamount to meeting Matt’s family, because good God, that’s what these people were to him. The guys likely thought of her as just Tony’s brat of a little sister, but that wasn’t who she was anymore.
Stop. Everything’s gonna be okay.
And it was.
He glanced up, and the most dazzling smile Gina had ever seen spread across his face. Matt didn’t wait for her to get to him. He sprinted from the tent and scooped her up, wrapping her legs around him.
His forehead dropped to hers. “Give me that mouth.”