Undefeated

by C. D. Gill

  She winced. Six years as an adult of her own right and people still called her parents to grovel. “Yes, Daddy. I took Xander with me.”

  “I trust your judgment of who you associate with.” He paused, filling the silence with everything he wouldn’t say. “Xander must have some very special qualities if you, the head of a prestigious non-profit, are willing to take a felon to Denver’s social event of the year.”

  “He started out as a charity case but has become a friend. For the record, I believe he’s innocent. He’s gone through some really tough situations recently and I thought he’d enjoy the event more than Joey or Tommy.”

  “Tommy’s single again, you know.”

  Gia huffed. “I heard. Been there. Dated that. He cheated on me.”

  “He has been a major asset to your mother this past year and Joey’s seen nine straight quarters of a rise in margin. His architect firm is in high demand. They are very successful young men.”

  “Uncle Angelo would be proud.”

  “Both guys are sacrificing quite a bit to be there with you, but they care about you and want what’s best for you.”

  “And I have you to thank for sending them to my rescue.”

  “Our baby girl deserves to be safe and happy. Before I let you go, how’s your master suite coming along?”

  Gia sighed. She had so much to do today. “They’re coming today to finish the hardwood flooring in the bedroom and painting in the room and bathroom. My new furniture is supposed to be delivered today so I’ll be sleeping in there tonight if all goes as planned.”

  “Send pictures to Ma. You know she loves that kind of thing.”

  “I do know. I only wish she could’ve come help me pick it out.” It was all too last minute for Ma to drop everything to come to Gia’s aid.

  Daddy exhaled. “We’d love to see you for the holidays this year. Nana’s been asking about you.”

  “Once I make it through this mess, we can make plans.”

  Daddy hung up with a promise to call back with whatever information surfaced. Her suspicions said he had an answer already, and Gia would put stacks of money any day on him uncovering the culprit before the detective. Nothing against the detective and his skills, but having connections around the country, even internationally, made it easier to find the truth than in the realms where the police dwelt.

  Her nerves buzzed in an unusually reckless fashion. The morning after a great date didn’t have to be awkward, right? Going out with a man who lived above her garage was a first for her. Gia’s heart sank as it dawned on her that she’d asked him out first. Did guys care about that anymore? Granted Lucy called her old-fashioned so maybe Xander liked it. Regardless, there would be no calling last night a date in front Xander. Any self-respecting man would want to be the first to ask a girl out, right? His presence was merely an appeasement to her invitation. That’s all.

  She dressed for the day and made a big breakfast for the guys. Thank God Tommy and Joey were around to diffuse any awkwardness. One by one they stumbled into the kitchen with Xander strolling in last, showered and ready for work despite it being the weekend. Gia met his eye. They traded large smiles as he filled his plate and murmured his thanks.

  The kitchen was too quiet. “Detective called this morning.” All three guys’ heads popped up at the same time as they waited for her to continue. “His lead involves racism.” Gia shook her head. “It could be, I suppose, but what if there’s something else we’re missing here? I called Daddy to see if he could find anything out.”

  “It could be repayment for getting the contract with the senator,” Tommy said.

  Joey lifted an eyebrow. “That was nice of you to call your dad. He’ll get to the bottom of this for you.”

  “We had a nice chat. He bragged about you two and how successful you are. Thanks for sacrificing the time to be here with me.”

  “Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” Tommy took a dramatic bow over his plate.

  “Happy to do it.” Joey grinned. “So how was the ball last night? Did it fulfill your secret Cinderella fantasy?”

  Gia and Xander exchanged a glance and laughed out loud. “It was fun. Daddy said he’d already heard from Senator Johnson this morning about me being there.”

  Xander tilted his head. “Was our golf cart race exposed?”

  “Thankfully not, but your presence was mentioned.”

  A nod of understanding followed by a scrunching of his features. “My identity exposed, no doubt. That’s not really how I’d planned to be introduced to your parents, but I suppose I can’t stop them from hearing what other people say or think of me.”

  Tommy leaned back in his chair. “How exactly did you imagine that meeting going?”

  “Leave him alone, Tommy. Everyone deserves a chance to be liked based on their own merit.” Gia hoisted her chin in the air. Again, Joey watched, taking it all in and noticing more than he should. Who was she kidding if she thought she could keep a secret from him?

  “Gia, after lunch, let’s go to the country club. You can show me what you worked on with Abbott,” Joey said.

  She loved him for changing the subject but cringed at his blatant request that they talk alone. The doorbell rang, saving her from continuing the conversation. The workers filed in with their equipment and trudged to her room without any direction. By the time she returned to the kitchen, the food was gone and the dishes were done.

  After having everyone here, living alone had lost its appeal. Seclusion was good and necessary for a short time, but being so far away from her family and friends wore on her. New Orleans wasn’t her scene anymore, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t visit more often. Daddy was right. It was time for her to go back for the holidays again.

  Once the guys left for the office, she threw dinner into the slow cooker and hid in her home office, away from the talking and laughing of the work crew in her bedroom. In four hours, they were done. When she gave her approval they took off, leaving her in peace. Her latest design was for a new soup kitchen for Denver’s underfed population, big enough to seat fifteen hundred at a time. When it wasn’t acting as a soup kitchen, the nonprofit requested that it be a desirable event space for special occasions. It was a strange request, but it wasn’t hers to argue their plan but to deliver them the best space they could afford.

  The guys arrived in the middle of the delivery of her bedroom furniture and mattress. They offered their approval of the colors and quality of the furniture. Joey and Tommy left the room to bring in her clothes as Xander grabbed the other side of her sheets to help her make her bed.

  “The senator called your dad about last night to—”

  “Apologize. That’s all. He apologized to Daddy that such a scene happened at his event.”

  Xander nodded. “Did your dad scold you for being seen with someone like me in public?”

  The sides of Gia’s lips quirked up. “He trusts my judgment.”

  “I’m not saying he doesn’t, but I must have gotten the okay from Joey or Tommy or else I think, regardless of his trust, he’d be up here himself taking matters into his own hands.” Xander shrugged. “That’s how parents work.”

  “Is that how your parents are with your sisters?”

  “Yes, and so was the dad of the girl I was going to marry before I was arrested.”

  Gia froze. “She left you because of your arrest?”

  “That was a long time ago. She’s married and expecting so I think she found her happily ever after.”

  Joey and Tommy barged in with their hands full of Gia’s clothes and shoes.

  “Gia, look. I think these heels fit me.” Gia turned around as Tommy shoved his socked foot into a strappy sandal that ended under the arch of his foot.

  “Get your nasty feet out of my shoes.” She crossed the room and shoved him off balance. He fell over in a fit of laughter. “In case you didn’t notice, wicked stepsister, your clown feet are too big for my delicate shoes. Let’s do this after dinner. Joey, me
et me outside in ten minutes.”

  Tommy and Joey left the room laughing. Xander stopped at the doorway. “Thanks for letting me go with you last night. I’d like to go on a date with you Thursday, me and you, if you’re up for that.”

  Gia inhaled to suppress the giant smile creeping over her face. “I’d love that.”

  Joey and Gia listened to music on the way to the country club. They unloaded the golf clubs and headed for hole one.

  “What’d you work on with Abbott?” Joey asked as he took a warm-up swing.

  Gia pulled out her driver and did the same. “Cardio. I arrived for the two days of straight exercise.”

  His drive sent the ball mere yards from the flag. “No way. That’s serious bad luck.”

  “Tell me about it.” She felt the moment her muscles relaxed and loosened. Then she hit a solid drive to the other side of the flag. “What’d you want to talk to me about?”

  Joey didn’t look at all shocked. “Who says I wanted to talk?”

  “You did. Otherwise, Tommy would be in line offering to beat your tail in golf.”

  “Unlikely.” He shook his head. “Mama isn’t doing well with her fibromyalgia and lymphoma. Her health has gone from bad to worst in the past year and a half. Her depression over Dad being gone isn’t helping.”

  “Joey, I’m so sorry.”

  Joey putted and sunk it into the hole like it was second nature. “I know you still blame yourself for Dad’s death. If Mama dies, you’ll feel guilty about her death, too, because you like to carry that weight. Promise me you won’t blame yourself. It’s not your fault. Any of it. You didn’t pull that trigger. You didn’t give Mama her disease. She knows her time is coming and she’s known that for five years. She’s in so much pain and her will to live is slipping away.”

  Tears blurred Joey into a watery shape. They streamed down her cheek like traitors. She hated herself for her past actions every day. Now Mama Ferra was dying? That would destroy Joey to bury his mom.

  Gia swiped at the pools in her eyes, willing them away. But her energy had drained from her muscles.

  “You’re here, Joey. You’re here instead of at home with her. Why? You didn’t have to do that.”

  Joey pulled her into a hug. “I did. Mama would have killed me if she knew I missed helping you because of her. I’ve checked in every day and she’s still stable. After those last couple of interviews I scheduled for Xander, I’m going to head home.”

  Gia dropped into the cart, gasping for breath. “Joey, please don’t miss this time with her. Not because of me. I am so selfish. Joe, I am so, so sorry.”

  “No more of that. I’m here until Sunday and then I fly home. Tommy’s going to stay here until the person who torched your room is found. Then he’ll head home, too. We came because that’s what family does, not because anyone forced us to, okay?”

  Gia nodded. She was the worst human being on this planet. There was no end to her selfishness. Her best friend’s mama was dying and she’d seen only her problems. He yanked her to her feet and they putted half-heartedly for five more minutes. Joey said nothing as she drove their cart back to the car. She needed to be home where she could cry in peace.

  Alone.

  When would this misery end?

  Chapter 23

  Joey and Tommy had six interviews with the soccer staff scheduled today with everyone from the doctors to the field preparation crew. He paced Gia’s office, waiting for something helpful to appear. The first interview had nothing new to say about the steroid scandal. He was simply a cog in the great churning wheel.

  In the second interview, the guy said he’d seen Xander working late. He’d seen him carrying envelopes that looked like the ones they’d found the drugs in. The guy in the third interview said he’d heard Xander joke about the guys having a secret weapon which helped them win the games. Xander growled. He meant their goalkeeper, not steroids.

  With every interview, Xander grew more frustrated. His answers would never come.

  To occupy his time, he’d tried sending a note to Linc’s old email account, signed onto social media to reopen his accounts to see what his sisters were doing, and sent them messages asking for their phone numbers so they could catch up.

  None of his requests had been answered yet.

  Finally, lunch time arrived. During the lunch break, Xander grabbed Gia’s hand and pulled her to him. “Mind if I steal you early today to get a head start on our date?”

  Gia’s eyes sparked to life. “Sounds like the perfect afternoon.” They locked up the office and got into the car. Gia tapped the steering wheel. “Where to?”

  “First we go home and change into athletic wear. Then we’ll head to our destination.”

  All the way to the house, Gia carried on a conversation with the occasional “So where are we going?” slipped into the dialogue at opportune moments, as if Xander would forget it was a surprise and tell her. He’d been nervous that Gia wouldn’t like what he had planned, but as soon as they were alone together his doubts dissipated. If she felt like he did, they could watch paint dry and still have a great time. They changed in record time, reconvening at the car. Even in athletic wear, Gia made gorgeous appear effortless.

  This time, Xander drove. That didn’t stop Gia from pestering him about their destination. He parked at North Table Mountain Park and walked Gia over to a trailer that sat on the other side of the lot.

  “Dirt bikes?” Her squeal and grin were the closest he’d seen her freaking out in a good way.

  Xander caught her before the hug she gave him bowled them both over. “Surprise.”

  “How did you know I could ride a dirt bike?”

  Xander grinned and said “Joey” at the same time Gia did.

  “Of course, he told you we’d spent hours buzzing around on our little bikes.” He hadn’t imagined it possible but Gia’s smile grew wider when he brought out purple boots and a helmet that were her size.

  The guy who loaned them the bikes was a friend of Andrea’s from high school who owned a rental business. They were taking the bikes and riding gear for the day for the price of fuel. Andrea had been more than happy that he was dating already. She’d asked a few questions, but agreed to make the connection for Xander so long as he met her for lunch a few times over the next few months to talk about what happened in prison. Apparently, the meetings were for her professional enrichment, an insight into how she might better serve the integration office. Xander also suspected she knew he could use an ally and a confidante.

  They jumped on the bikes. The engines roared to life with a kickstart. Xander flashed a grin in Gia’s direction and peeled out of the parking lot. Gia wouldn’t be far behind. When he glanced over his shoulder, she was gaining on him. No surprise there. They buzzed through the park for a little bit before riding to the top. He popped the bike into idle, clicking it off.

  Xander swung his leg over the bike. Gia followed his lead. After removing their helmets and jackets, they plopped onto a rock that overlooked the valley. In the distance, downtown Denver glinted in the afternoon sun. The warm air smelled of summer and bike exhaust with the hint of a breeze wicking away the sweat.

  “Best date ever.” Gia slipped her arm around his waist.

  Xander leaned into her grasp. “We’ve only just begun.”

  “Tell me, Karen Carpenter. What could beat this?”

  “I didn’t say it was going to be better. I said there’s more.”

  They mounted the bikes again and zipped along flower-lined dirt paths, cutting through grassy plains and bouncing over rocks. After a couple of hours of going up and down the mountain, Xander led Gia across the road to the Open Space where they had unrestricted access to all the fields and paths. Gia took the lead for a while. He certainly didn’t mind the view. None of his other dates had been this chill with getting dirty on a date, but Gia wasn’t overly concerned about her appearances. She embraced the sweat and dust like a second skin.

  Around dinner time, he si
gnaled for her to follow him as he maneuvered to the reservoir’s edge. He dismounted and shed his gear. She took off her jacket and helmet but left the rest on. Striding over to the water, Xander dipped his hands in and splashed his face.

  “We aren’t getting back on the bikes for another couple of hours so you can discard the rest of your gear.”

  “What?” Alarm skittered across her features. “What will we be doing?”

  Xander yanked a canoe from the brush and hauled it to the water. Inside, a tan picnic basket was wedged in between the seats. Lucy had packed them a dinner and promised an on-time delivery. Xander tried to pick out something to eat, but Lucy laughed him off and told him to leave it to her. The relief of not having to think about what foods would impress Gia took some of the stress off. After tucking her gear next to her bike, Gia joined him on the bank. Xander held the canoe in place as she climbed in and grinned when she squealed at the contents of the basket.

  He pushed off the bank and jumped in. The boat rocked dangerously. Gia froze with wide eyes as they swayed but they stayed upright. Oars in hand, Xander rowed them into the center of the water. “Ready to eat?”

  “I’m starving.”

  Xander dug through the basket and pulled out a sandwich. “You have a choice. After we eat, we can stay in the canoe until dark and do some stargazing from the boat or we can hang out here and then ride up to see the sunset from North Table Mountain, but the park closes at dark.”

  Gia quit digging through the basket long enough to give her choices a thought. “Let’s watch the sunset. It’s beautiful from up there.”

  Utensils, drinks, salads, sandwiches, fruit, and dessert. Lucy came through for him on the preparations. Nothing was missing. As a bonus, she’d included a blanket to spread on the bottom of the canoe so they could lay back and float wherever the water took them. Gia tucked herself against his shoulder.

  “What are your long-term goals for GC Designs? Do you plan to take on projects on a national level?” Xander soaked the golden sky in its burst of colors. He’d never take this sight for granted.