Chapter 30: Chapter 30
Gio
Out of habit, Gio had clicked the TV on in his room as he walked in. Halfway through rushing to change into his swim trunks, the words of the reporter on the television hit him like a bolt, and he grabbed the remote, clicking record like he had back home anytime something about this aired.
“Felicita Morales, the widow of Trinidad Morales gave birth today to a baby girl, Trini Morales, named after the father she’ll never get to meet. Trinidad, who lost his life just over a month ago in the ring after a blow to the head during a fight that burst an aneurism in his brain, was only twenty-two when the tragedy occurred.”
Gio went numb. He stared at the screen as they went into detail retelling the story of the fight, Trinidad’s death, and the ongoing investigation of the physician who released him to fight. He picked up the remote, turning up the volume as the cameras zeroed in on Trinidad’s father, who was being interviewed at the hospital. He spoke solemnly about the birth of his granddaughter. “It’s a bittersweet day for our family,” the reporter translated from Spanish, “even though we are very happy that God blessed us today with a part of my son.” The man’s eyebrows pinched, and he brought his hand to his mouth unable to hold back the emotion.
Gio felt the anguish in his own heart as the man tried to continue speaking, and suddenly he felt himself struggling to hold back tears as well.
“My son was so happy when he found out he was going to be a father.” The man went on even as the tears ran down his face.
Gio immediately thought of Noah and how horrible it would be lose him. To leave Roni behind with a baby that would never know him would be even more devastating.
The reporter went on to say that mother and daughter were doing well and that they would most likely be released from the hospital tomorrow then moved on to the next story.
The knock at his open door came just as Gio rewound the story, and he gulped hard, not wanting Bianca to see the emotion he was feeling.
“Hey,” he said, unable to even look at her, so he hit play and watched the TV instead.
“You okay?” She stood next to him and watched silently as the entire story replayed. As soon as it was over, Gio rewound it again. Just like the other stories he watched over and over again back home, he thought maybe he’d grow immune to the fact that Trinidad’s entire family and now his fatherless daughter were still mourning the loss of the family member he had killed.
He hit play again as he stared at the screen, gulping hard because the emotion was not going away.
“Gio, stop.” Bianca’s voice was cautious. “Why are you gonna watch it again?”
“Can you give me a minute?” he asked, still staring at the screen.
“Remember what we talked about? It’s not your fault. It’s sad, but—”
“Bianca, please!” His words were louder than he’d intended, and he felt her flinch, so he finally turned to her, lowering his voice. “I just need a minute.”
She nodded and without another word walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Gio watched the whole thing a few more times then finally threw the remote on the bed. The temptation to turn the lights off, sit in a corner, and lock everyone out again, like he had just after this first happened was overwhelming.
The knocking on the door again made Gio frown. He didn’t want Bianca to see him like this. He could feel himself getting pulled back into that same darkness he’d been in for weeks after Trinidad’s death, and he didn’t want her to know how fucking weak he could be.
Instead of telling her to come on in, he walked to the door, ready to tell her he was calling it a night—say he wasn’t feeling well and he would just take a pill or something and go to bed. He opened the door, and Bianca stood there holding a tray. On the tray were two bowls of ice cream with all the trimmings.
“I thought you might be in the mood.” She gave him the most adorable hopeful look as she waited for his response.
Gio smiled, wishing now that she wasn’t holding a tray between them because he was overcome with an incredible urge to hug her—hold her like he had all day and never let her go. She was his magic pill: the one thing that brought light into his darkness. Because of her, he’d barely even thought of Trinidad the whole time he’d been here until tonight.
“Yeah, ice cream actually sounds perfect right now. Thank you.” He leaned in a little closer. That same familiar warmth he felt when he was around her was already pushing away what he’d been feeling just before he opened the door. “I’d kiss you if I could,” he whispered, and her eyes did that thing that drove him insane. “I swear to God, Bianca, if you lick your lips, I will kiss you. I don’t care where we are.”
She giggled. “Don’t tempt me.” Gio dropped his head back with a groan and she laughed. “You wanna eat it here or in the kitchen?”
Having Bianca in his bedroom all to himself was way too dangerous. Reminding himself that he’d already come to the conclusion that he’d be willing to risk it all for her, he decided he didn’t trust himself. “I think the kitchen would be safer.”
She smiled, turning around and he walked after her. The tray was set on the counter, and they each took a bowl and a spoon. Gio dug in immediately then watched and waited as she took her first spoonful, making that face she did whenever anything was delicious. “Why do you do that?” he asked, exasperated.
Instantly her eyes went into Bambi mode. “Do what?”
Gio laughed, shaking his head. “Never mind.”
“No, do what?” She insisted.
He leaned his hip against the counter, taking another spoonful of ice cream before responding in a hushed voice. “Make that expression whenever something feels or tastes really good.” He glanced around wondering just where the damn cameras were and placed the spoon strategically over his mouth on the off chance Felix could read lips. “Like you’re enjoying a hell of an orgasm.” He laughed at her shocked expression. “It’s scandalous.”
“I do not.”
“Oh, yes, you do. That expression of yours haunts my dreams.” He paused when that reminded him of something. “Speaking of.” He used the spoon to shield his lips again. “Now that we’re safely somewhere where I have no choice but to behave, you wanna tell me about those dreams you’ve been having?”
Gio decided earlier that maybe he did want to know exactly what she was dreaming of. It’s what he planned on asking tonight before the newscast of Trinidad’s baby interrupted his thoughts. He didn’t think he’d get any sleep from wondering if he didn’t ask.
Bianca blushed just slightly, and he wondered if that meant the dreams weren’t too explicit. But as usual, she surprised him yet again. “They’ve all been different, but you remember what Evelyn said she wanted you to do to her?” He nodded slowly, their eyes now locked like they’d been doing so much of lately. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and I finally dreamed you did that to me.”
Gio swallowed hard, turning his body to face the counter to hide the evidence of his rapidly growing affection for Bianca from any cameras. “And you woke up content?”
“Very.” The sexy siren was back, and he nearly gasped at the wicked smile. “I do every time.”
“I see.” He nodded, trying to appear as unfazed about this conversation as she was. How the hell did she do it? Sweet, innocent, little Bianca—but from what he was hearing and seeing and from what he’d witnessed all day, maybe she wasn’t as innocent as he made her out to be. Could this girl get any hotter? “What else have I done to you in your dreams?”
She licked her lips, causing Gio to straighten up with a jerk. “Don’t do that,” he blurted out.
“Oh.” She touched her lips with her fingers. “Right, I’m sorry.”
Bambi replaced the siren in an instant and Gio had to laugh. “It’s okay. Just don’t do it again. What else?”
“Are you sure you don’t wanna talk about,” she gestured toward his bedroom, “you know, what you were watching?”
Gio lifted his eyebrows, amazed that just being in the same room with her watching her so closely, listening to her talk about the fantasies about him could put him on such a cloud that even the reminder of Trinidad had no effect on it. “Seriously?” He took a few steps closer to her. “You’re asking me if I’d rather talk about Trinidad than hear about the wet dreams you’ve been having of me?”
They were locked in one of their moments again. The corners of her lips began to slowly curve upward. Sexy siren was back and nothing excited Gio more.
Music once again interrupted their moment. Only this time it didn’t come in the form of a mariachi band outside. It was coming from her robe pocket, reminding Gio she wore nothing but her bathing suit underneath. He could’ve been sitting in the hot tub with her right now having wine instead of standing in the kitchen eating ice cream like the wuss that he was.
Bianca pulled the phone out of her pocket, and now Gio could make out a song he’d heard somewhere before. She held up the phone, showing a picture of her grandmother on the screen as the lyrics to the song became clearer.
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean.
“That’s Nana’s song to me.” She smiled, then pouted. “I need to get this and I’ll probably be a while. I haven’t talked to her or my mom in over a day. That’s unheard of.” She opened her eyes wide playfully. “I’ll have to catch them up. Plus I still have that seminar I absolutely need to watch.”
“That’s okay,” he said, hiding the disappointment. “We have tomorrow.”
Bianca answered but asked her grandmother to give her a second then held the phone to her chest and whispered, “I already miss you.”
God, what he’d give to be able to kiss her that very moment. “I miss you too,” he whispered back, and those incredible eyes of her brightened. She waved her pretty fingers at him before walking away and mouthing the words, “Good night.”
Gio took a very big deep breath before setting his bowl of half-eaten ice cream in the sink. Tomorrow couldn’t come fast enough