Page 76 of This Thing of Ours

“Food’s ready!” Gabby heard Olivia yell from somewhere over by the barbecue.

“Oh, good. I’m starving,” Gabby said, setting her bottle down on the closest table so she would have both hands free for food.

“We just ate breakfast a few hours ago. You sure you’re not eating for two?”

That wasn’t the first time he’d made a pregnancy joke or hinted to the fact he wouldn’t mind if she got pregnant even though she’d assured him, on more than one occasion, she was on the pill and had been for years.

She ignored his remark instead stating, “Fruit and toast don’t have staying power. Besides, having to smell cooking meat for the past hour has been slowly driving me insane.”

Marco captured her hand. “Well then, I’d better feed you before I need to commit you.”

They made their way to Nico, and Gabby’s mouth started to water as she watched him carving a large roast.

Nico glanced over at them and smiled. “First in line, I see.”

Marco nodded. “She said the smell was slowly driving her insane.”

Nico chuckled. “Yeah, Gabby always did lose her cool around a big slab of beef.”

Gabby heard Marco choke on a laugh and felt her cheeks catch fire. “You did not just say that, Nicoló Conti.”

Nico’s brow furrowed. “What?” Then his own cheeks heated. “You know I didn’t mean it like that.”

Marco finally lost it, tipping his head back, laughing.

“Fuck you, Bianchi.” Nico pointed the knife he was holding at him.

But that just made Marco laugh harder.

Olivia appeared. “Boys, stop bickering. Nico, put down the knife.” She held out a plate and unaware of the previous conversation, unwisely said, “Be sure to give Gabby a piece from the center. You know she likes her meat tender.”

Both Marco and Nico lost it that time.

Olivia looked confused. “What’s so funny?”

Gabby felt two strong arms encircle her and she looked up at Marco’s mirth-filled expression before looking back at Olivia. Then said the only thing she could possibly say at that point. “I think I’ll just have the salad.”

“Do you mindhanding me a Corona?”

Bent over, digging through the cooler, looking for another wild cherry wine cooler, Gabby heard the unmistakable voice of Chrissy or was it Christy—shit, she’d forgotten again. She looked over her shoulder. “Sure.”

“Thanks, hon.”

Gabby gritted her teeth. She hated being called hon. Giving up on finding the flavor she was looking for, she just grabbed the beer, plastering a smile on her face before standing back up. “Here you go.”

Awkward silence commenced. Then Christy/Chrissy said, “Ricky talks about you so much, I feel like I know you.”

Surprised, Gabby said, “He does?”

Christy/Chrissy laughed and waved a dismissive hand. “I guess it’s really not that unusual seeing as he’s your bodyguard and all.”

While that had been true in the past, it hadn’t been lately. At least not since Marco had taken over. Not liking the fact she’d been talked about behind her back especially to a total stranger, she asked, “What, um… What does he say?”

“Oh, just what you guys do, where you go eat. You know, stuff like that. You go out for Thai a lot. Must be your favorite, huh?”

At that, things clicked. Ricky was using Gabby as a cover story when he didn’t want to see Christy/Chrissy. She couldn’t say what Ricky was doing in the time he said he was guarding her, but whatever it was, it probably wasn’t good. At least not for Christy/Chrissy.

Not knowing what to say, Gabby settled on, “I do like Thai—”

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