by Maggie Marr
“Not sure,” Gwen said, avoiding Aubrey’s gaze. “Something may have…he might not be able to come to dinner tomorrow.”
“Oh no.” Aubrey sipped her tea. “Is everything…is everything okay?”
“Just a hiccup, really. A bump. You know how new relationships are. We’ll see. You either work through those things or you don’t.”
“I do know.” Aubrey focused past Gwen, on the picture above the fireplace of her, Max, and Justin. “Well, if the hiccup works out, do bring him. I’m excited to meet him. Justin said that Leo’s bringing the woman he’s been dating. Can’t believe he’s actually bringing a woman to Sunday dinner. He must really care for her. So against type.” She rubbed her foot up and down her shin. “Next thing you know, he’ll be telling us he’s getting married and having kids.” Aubrey said the words as though that was nearly as far-fetched as the sun changing orbit and circling the moon. Gwen had to admit to herself that Aubrey had a point. Really, Leo wanting children, it would seem, would be just as impossible.
*
“You left early.” Gwen held her keys in her hand. She had arrived back at her walk-up apartment to find Leo standing outside the door, leaning against the wall, all male perfection and casual masculinity. She pasted a smile to her face. He could come and go as he wished. They weren’t tied at the hip; to be fair, no one even knew they were dating. A sliver of sadness sliced through her heart. No one might ever know, not after today, if Gwen was right about her guess as to what had made Leo flee Aubrey’s baby shower.
“I did. But I’ve arrived here bearing gifts.” From behind his back he flourished a bottle of Veuve Clicquot and a bag of Chinese takeout.
“What are we celebrating?” Gwen inserted the key into the lock and opened her front door. Leo followed her into the apartment.
“So many things.” He set the bag and bottle on the entryway table and removed Gwen’s coat. “First your success today. If all the oohs and aahs and all the estrogen oozing through the room were an indicator, the baby shower was a smashing success.”
“Aubrey was pleased.” Gwen hung her purse next to the door.
“Ah yes, well, as long as the mother-to-be was happy, then you did a good job.”
Yes, she’d done a good job, a better than good job. Melancholy drained the joy out of her triumph. “What else?”
“Looks like the numbers for the soft launch of the app are off the charts.”
“That is good news.” She’d had no doubt that Leo’s app would be a success. Anything he touched seemed to turn to gold.
“The best. I thought champagne, Chinese food, and a movie were in order.” He walked by her in the narrow hallway toward the kitchen, where he pulled down plates and took out silverware.
She wanted to be happy. She should be happy. The man she was falling for had been waiting at her front door with two things she loved. But heaviness still surrounded her heart. “Leo, I wanted to—”
He turned his head toward her and smiled. That smile, the devilish smile that carved dimples in his cheeks and put a flashing gleam in his eyes. His gaze focused on her with an intensity, a happiness, a…was that, maybe, a flicker of love? Her heart melted. Her resolve to have a real and honest conversation flitted away like a butterfly in a bright summer breeze. She couldn’t say the words, not now. All she wanted was to sit next to Leo, drink champagne, eat amazing food, and snuggle into his arms. He raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.
“Let’s eat before our dinner gets cold.”
Chapter 15
“Are you ready for this?” Leo wrapped his arm around Gwen’s waist and pulled her close. Anxiety raced through her body. No, she really wasn’t ready to go to the Travati family Sunday dinner as Leo’s date. She’d gone nearly every Sunday since Aubrey and Justin got married, and she’d embraced the atmosphere of support and love that flowed from the family each week. It was like swimming in a warm sea, a feeling so different from her childhood, but today felt different. Instead of enjoying the welcoming feeling of coming home to be embraced by people she loved, truthfully, she felt a bit sick.
“I think so.”
“You’ll do great. I’m pretty certain the family will love you,” Leo teased.
Yes, the Travati family did love her. She just hoped that her best friend didn’t hate her after her arrival today on Leo’s arm, for not telling her the truth.
The elevator doors slid open into Aubrey and Justin’s home. Max walked by, carrying a tray of crudités, on his way to the living room, where Anthony and Justin yelled at the TV screen. Gwen guessed basketball, since football season was over.
“Hey, Uncle Leo. Going public, huh?” A smile crossed Max’s face. “I thought I saw a little something going on at New Year’s.”
Aubrey’s face flamed, and she pulled her coat tighter around her body.
“Funny, Max.” Leo punched him in the shoulder. “Where’s your mom?”
“She’s in the kitchen. The doctor said last week he’ll probably take her off bed rest when she goes in on Monday, so some sitting up now probably won’t hurt her. Said if she went into labor now, no worries.” Max leaned toward them and lowered his voice. “Gotta say, it’s pretty awesome. Except for yesterday with the party, she’s been really cranky. I’d love to lay around all day, but it seems to make Mom crazy.”
“Where’s the food?” Anthony bellowed from the living room.
“Coming,” Max yelled and rolled his eyes. “See you guys in a bit. Good luck.” Max vanished into the living room.
“That kid’s too smart for sixteen.” Leo took Gwen’s coat and put both his and hers in the closet. He threaded his fingers through Gwen’s, squeezed, smiled, and they walked hand in hand through the dining room and toward the kitchen. “Figured we should get this over with quickly.”
Gwen wished he’d chosen different words. Over with quickly. Jeez, she felt like she was marching to the guillotine, and all they were doing was telling her closest friend and Leo’s family that they were dating. She turned the corner into the kitchen. Aubrey sat on a stool at the stove, her back to them, and Nina chopped peppers at the counter. Shelly carried a cup of coffee and a plate of cookies to the kitchen table where her grandmother sat.
“Hey,” Nina said, her eyes lighting up. “Leo, so where’s the lucky lady? We’ve been taking bets on—” Her words halted as she saw Leo and Gwen’s clasped hands. To Nina’s credit, her smile froze onto her face, instead of twisting into a frown.
“Yes, where is she?” Aubrey turned on perch, her belly so very huge. She swept a loose curl from her forehead. She glanced from Leo to Gwen. “You didn’t bring her? Did you bump into Gwen in the elevator?”
“Ahhmm.” Nina cleared her throat and sidled over to Aubrey, dropping her gaze again pointedly to Gwen and Leo’s clasped hands.
“Ha, very funny,” Aubrey said, smiling. “What? The woman you’ve been dating bailed, so you made Gwen pretend?” Aubrey caught Gwen’s eyes and laughed. “What’d he offer you? Reduced rent on office space?”
Gwen couldn’t swallow. She couldn’t speak. Her heart hammered an erratic beat against her ribs. Oh no. This was going to be bad. Very bad.
“We’re not pretending.” Leo wrapped both arms around Gwen so she stood in front of him facing Aubrey and Nina. “Gwen is the woman I’ve been seeing.”
The smile slid from Aubrey’s face like melted ice cream dripping down a cone. She stared at Leo’s arms, holding Gwen close. Her expression glazed over, as though she couldn’t quite process what she saw or what she’d just heard.
“Hey Aubs, you got any more of that spinach artichoke dip?” Justin rounded the corner and pulled up short. “Hey Leo, did you bring the girl?”
“I did.” Leo turned, moving Gwen with him. Justin’s head jerked back and tilted to the side. “Uhhh…wow. Seriously?” His gaze flashed from Aubrey and back to Gwen.
Gwen fought the urge to cry. This wasn’t going as bad as she’d expected—oh no, this was worse, way wors
e. Nobody was even trying to hide their looks of utter shock. My goodness, how much did everyone not want her to date Leo?
“This is”—he walked toward Aubrey and put his arm around her—“this is a big surprise. Right?” He looked from Aubrey to Nina and over to Shelly. “I mean I’m not the only one who didn’t know, right? This is a surprise for everyone?”
“Not for me,” Mrs. Bello chimed in from the kitchen table. “I’ve suspected this for a while now. You people couldn’t see how these two have looked at each other for months now?”
“You’ve been dating Leo for months?” Aubrey put her hand to her chest.
“No, no, no, no. This is very new…I mean kind of new. We kissed on New Year’s—”
“Oh my God. Max told me he saw you kiss, but I didn’t believe him. I mean, you didn’t say anything about it, either of you. So Max was right?”
Gwen took a deep breath. “He was right that he saw us kiss, yes. But nothing started until—” She glanced at Leo.
“Middle of January,” Leo answered.
“Not very long,” Gwen offered. My God, she felt terrible, as though by hiding this relationship she’d broken her best friend’s heart.
“You lied since January?” Aubrey exclaimed.
“Kept a secret,” Gwen offered up. “There’s a difference, right?”
Aubrey’s face clouded and she pressed her hand to her stomach. “I think…” Aubrey slowly stood and headed across the kitchen. “I think I need to lay down for a minute.” Justin reached out to her but she waved him away.
“Look,” Nina began once Aubrey had exited. “She’s an emotional wreck. This reaction has more to do with being eight months pregnant and on bed rest for the last two months than you two.” Nina turned to the counter and started chopping peppers again. “I mean, I think it’s great.” Her gaze lifted and she looked at Leo. “As long as you don’t fuck it up and break her heart.”
Leo expelled air and pulled Gwen in tighter. “Tough crowd.” He pressed his lips to her hair. “You okay?” he whispered.
Gwen nodded, but she wasn’t okay, not really. Her best friend, the woman who had supported her and believed in her and helped Gwen build her business, was upset and alone, and all because Gwen was dating Aubrey’s brother-in-law. Gwen knew deep down that Aubrey was only worried Leo would break her heart, but still, she’d hoped Aubrey might be happy when she saw the two of them together.
“I’m going to check on her.” Gwen slid from Leo’s arms. Justin gave her a solemn look as she passed him, but he didn’t try to stop her.
She walked toward the bedroom. “Aubrey?” Gwen pushed open the door. Aubrey sat on the bed, wiping her eyes with a tissue. “Aubrey, I’m sorry—”
“You don’t have to be sorry.” Gwen sat on the bed beside her. “I mean…you’re a grown woman and I…” The waterworks started again. “I’m sorry I’m crying like this. It has to be the hormones, because a part of me is so so so happy about this and excited because there’s no other woman I’d want as a sister.”
Gwen hesitated, and then asked. “And the other part?”
Aubrey took a deep breath. “And the other part is terrified and yes, a little bit angry. I mean Leo? Leo Travati? We all know what he’s like with women. Granted, there’s no other woman on the planet like you, Gwen. Okay? None. You’re without a doubt the most amazing woman I know—”
“Hey!” Nina stood in the open doorway, a smile on her face and her arms crossed over her chest.
Aubrey arched her brow. “Don’t interrupt, please. I was about to say, aside from my very nosy sister, you are the most amazing woman I know. But this is Leo. And I…” Tears filled Aubrey’s eyes. “And I don’t want you to get hurt.” Aubrey licked her lips. “I want you to have all the things I know that you want. A family and children and a man who loves that life too and I just…” She dabbed at her eyes. “I just don’t see that happening with Leo. It’s not you, it’s simply who Leo is. He doesn’t want those things. He doesn’t want marriage and children and a permanent relationship. Unless”—Aubrey’s eyes widened with hope—“unless you know something I don’t know?”
Gwen swallowed. No. No she didn’t know anything different than the facts about Leo as Aubrey had recited them. Gwen did want all those things: children, a husband, a home, a family filled with love and laughter, and a lifetime of fond memories. She couldn’t give up that life’s dream for any man, not even Leo Travati.
“I…” Gwen started to speak. She couldn’t look at Aubrey’s teary eyes. “I don’t know—”
“Is the pity party over yet?” Leo joined Nina at the doorway to Aubrey’s room. “I know it’s a shock and all, Aubs, but I’m your brother-in-law, for goodness’ sake. Think you’d be on my side for this one.”
Aubrey sniffled into the tissue. She looked back and forth from Leo to Gwen, then reached out and squeezed Gwen’s hand. “She’s my best friend, and I want for her all the things she wants for herself.” Aubrey’s eyes narrowed. “I also want the man who dates her to be worthy of her.”
“I doubt anyone is worthy of her,” Leo said softly, his gaze lingering on Gwen.
“Good answer,” Nina said and elbowed Leo. “Looks like you might survive family dinner.”
“Maybe. Tough crowd, though. Doesn’t seem anyone is worried about me dating Gwen, just her dating me,” Leo grumbled.
“Well, Gwen is quite lovely and—”
“And I’m not?” Leo teased.
“She’s lovely and you’re a lothario,” Nina said. “Now you understand our worries?”
Leo pressed his wicked and yet charming smile to his face. “It’s not me who wanted to keep our dating a secret.”
Aubrey tilted her head toward Gwen.
“I just…I wanted to be certain that there was something between us, something more than just a physical attraction.”
Again Aubrey squeezed her hand. “I’m happy there is.”
Gwen was too. Unfortunately, while she cared about Leo—really, she might as well admit to herself that she had fallen in love with him—and he cared about her, she was now nearly one hundred percent certain that their relationship wouldn’t work.
Yes, Leo’s family and her friends would grow to accept them as a couple and love having the two of them together. But the words Aubrey had spoken confirmed that Gwen couldn’t go on in this relationship with Leo. No matter how much Gwen cared for him, Gwen’s ideal future looked completely different from what Leo wanted. There had been no reason for this big reveal at a Travati family Sunday dinner, because soon, once again, each of them would be coming to the weekly dinner single and alone.
*
“You do realize the potential mess you’ve stepped into?” Justin asked. “If you play this right, and everything works out then we’re all good”—he waved his hand in a circle indicating himself, Anthony, and Devon—“but if you play this wrong and mess up?”
“Then every Travati woman and their sister—and please keep in mind, Leo, that there are more Travati women now than there have been in twenty years—all of them are going to come down on you harder than a shit-ton of bricks,” Anthony said and took a long drink of beer.
“And also us, because we’re related to you,” Justin added.
Some loyalty. He expected more than fear of the estrogen mafia from his brothers. He sipped his beer. A queasy feeling oozed through his stomach. He’d expected a bit of teasing from the family, but pressure? Nope, not this kind of “do right by Gwen or else” pressure. This was his family after all, but everyone, including Devon, the only other non-hooked-up Travati, eyed Leo like his neck was in the noose.
Sounded like he had two options, both bad: commit to wedded bliss with Gwen on the spot or end the whole damn deal right now.
“Is it hot in here?” Leo tugged the front of his sweater away from his chest.
“Maybe for you,” Anthony said.
“I’d get used to it, you’re under the microscope now.” Justin nodded toward Shelly
, Nina, and Aubrey, who huddled in the dining room whispering and gesticulating. Every so often one of them would let their gaze travel toward where the brothers stood in the living room, now only pretending to watch sports on the TV.
Devon leaned closer. “I’d make Max taste test your food tonight. Might be easier for all of them to just off you now.”
“Very funny. Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“Hey, we believe in you, man,” Justin said. “We just believe that you’re as confirmed-a-bachelor as anyone can get and well, that one”—Justin nodded toward Gwen, who sat talking to Mrs. Bello—“She’s not a convenient arrangement. Nope. That one is a lifetime investment.”
Leo’s stomach pitted. Gwen was a lifetime investment. Gwen wasn’t something for only now, she was a woman for forever. But he could do this. He pulled on his beer. He could do forever with Gwen.
“Right, a lifetime investment with dividends,” Anthony added.
“Dividends?”
“You know, kids. The one thing you said you don’t ever want to have, or has that changed?”
Leo took another long swallow of beer. No, his desire to maintain a child-free existence hadn’t changed, not even for someone as precious as Gwen. He and Gwen hadn’t discussed children. Hell, they hadn’t discussed any part of the future, but Gwen had to know that he didn’t want to be a parent. He’d made those feelings pretty obvious in all kinds of conversations before they’d become involved.
Did Gwen want children? He shook his head. That was a dumb question. Of course Gwen wanted kids. She’d swooned over a baby blanket in this very spot not twenty-four hours before.
The more important question was, did she think she could change him?