Page 86 of The Wrong Move

Her eyes pop, and she stares at Charlotte. “For real?”

“Not to me.” Brandon tickles her lips with the pacifier.

I am baffled why Charlotte doesn’t push Brandon away. She is hardcore about doing everything right. Knowing Penny andFranklin will be infuriated, her allowing him to give Summer something surprises me. Wondering what has changed for her, I’m stuck in the moment and haven’t noticed the silence.

“Bloody hell, mate, it worked,” Charlotte says, ribbing Brandon’s accent.

“Told ya.” He leans a hand on her shoulder as he stares down at Summer, who is sucking away and falling back to sleep.

“You two should go,” Charlotte whispers. “Frank and Penny will be home soon.”

Giana looks at me with beckoning eyes. I know that look and would rather be alone with her than here when Franklin gets home, and Brandon tells him he gave his kid freaking Vegemite.

“Do you need a ride?” I ask Brandon.

He looks at Charlotte, then back at me. “I’ll stay with Lottie. If Summer wakes again, I’d best tell Franklin what I did.”

“Risking your life, man.” I tap his shoulder and take Giana’s hand as we head down the stairs.

“So… kids,” she murmurs before we reach the door. “Do you want them?”

21

GIANA

One week later…

“Can we please order another bottle,”Paige asks the server in her politest posh voice to disguise the number of drinks she has already consumed. Paige tidies her hair when he leaves, then looks around the table. “One more bottle.”

“We’ve had three already,” I add.

“I like this side of you,” Jessica says. It’s been years since I hung out with Jessica, and tonight, she is fun. Not as amusing as Paige. “But girl, I am not holding no puke bag on the ride home.”

I giggle. “If it comes to that, I’ll be your wing girl.”

“Wing girl?” Jessica says with round eyes, her long fake lashes touching her brow. “Too late if she’s already crashed and burned.” We laugh together.

Tonight has been fun and exactly what I needed. With Byron in Abu Dhabi for preseason games, I have spent most days athome, painting and spending valuable time with my parents. This is the second time Paige and I have caught up this week, and when she suggested a girls’ night out, I screamed with excitement.

“So, how is life with a famous NBA player?” Jessica asks.

“It’s fun with Byron. He’s different. As for the fame part, we don’t go out much, so I don’t really see the fans.”

“I heard he’s boring now because he is so focused on the game.”

“Who told you that?” Paige pipes up.

“He’s not boring at all.” I wink before turning to Jessica. “He has always been focused on basketball, even at school, so I guess he hasn’t changed in that regard. He’s… calmer. He trusts his intuition and doesn’t care what other people do or think. He has his routine, and I’ve never met a more disciplined person. I am not that person…” I admit, smiling at her, “… but life is good with Byron.”

Paige stares goggle-eyed at me. “You’re a cute couple.”

The waiter tops up our flutes, the liquid bubbles making us giggly. “I never expected to settle into life with Byron as easily as I have after coming home. When I first came back, I made a list of rules and decided to avoid him because I had sworn off his type for life. But he was persistent and… sweet.”

Jessica smiles at me. “I’m really happy for you.” She turns to Paige, who is already downing her drink. “I like that you all get to hang out together and do couple dates. I want that too. Anyone would think I was doing a dick detox.”

Paige and I giggle. “Byron doesn’t get to do much socializing, and now the season has started, I expect to see even less of him. Not a bad thing, as I have paintings to finish.”

“So you’re staying?” Jessica asks. “You’re not returning to Italy?”

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