“Wait. You lost your V-card to Benjamin Groove, as intheBenjamin Groove?” Daisy asks.
“Who the fuck is Benjamin Groove?” Gabe grunts.
“Only the hottest rockstar Melbourne has ever produced,” Daisy tells him.
“About to be a dead rockstar,” Gabe grumbles under his breath.
“It was bad.” I shrug. “The whole rockstar thing? Yeah, don’t buy into it.”
“Damn. Looking at him, you’d think he’d know a thing or two.” Daisy sighs, and her husband growls in response.
“I’m right fucking here.”
“I know.” She smiles sweetly at Gabe.
I plop down on the sofa and grin at Drew. He actually got my mind off Santo for a whole two minutes. “Have youheard anything yet?” I ask Marcel, certain that he’s the one communicating with the guys.
“They’re fine,” he says.
“Just fine? How long do we have to stay in this room?” I direct this question to Gabe.
“You’re not confined to the room, Aria. I just thought you’d like to hang out with us. It’s rare that Santo’s not around to hog all of your attention. He’s selfish like that,” Gabe says.
“Um… okay. Should we play a game or something?” I ask him.
“Monopoly?” Zoe suggests.
Drew groans, and I smile. “Let’s do it, but be prepared for me to own that board,” I warn everyone.
“I’ll get the game.” Eloise walks out of the room.
“And I’ll get her,” Daisy says before doing the same.
“Is she okay?” I ask Cammi.
“She gets stressed over Gio. She’ll be fine as soon as they’re back,” Cammi says.
“I wish I could be calm like you,” I tell her.
“Want something to help? I can raid Vin’s stash for you,” she offers.
“Tempting, but no thank you.” My husband was not impressed the last time he found me smoking. Though I’d love something that would help take my mind off everything right now. I pull my phone out and check it for the millionth time. There still isn’t anything from Santo.
“You can text him, you know,” Cammi says.
“I don’t want to bother him,” I tell her.
“Trust me, he’ll be more bothered that you were sitting here worried about him and didn’t text him than he will be if you do,” she says. “I know he’s your husband, but he’s my brother. And don’t tell the others, but he’s my favourite. I know he’d want you to text him.”
“I heard that and I’m fucking heartbroken, Cammi.” Gabe holds a hand over his chest in feigned distress.
“I’ve survived two heart attacks, Gabe. I’m sure you can survive finding out you’re not all that,” Cammi sasses at him.
“Don’t you dare go for a third either,” Gabe tells her.
Tuning them all out, I take Cammi’s advice and message Santo.
Me: