On The Ropes (Tapped Out 3)

“So what about you? You’ve been spending a lot of time with Jenna lately.” She cocked her head, peering at me closely enough that I knew she was checking out every tell. “You guys are pretty close now, huh?”

“Yep. Close as two bugs in a rug.” I was regressing to preschool now.

“That’s good. I’m glad she isn’t letting the Slater situation influence her friendship with you.”

“Why would she? They’re separate people. Just because you think something doesn’t dictate how I feel.”

“No, I know that. I’m just saying, sometimes it gets sticky, you know?”

“Nope, no sticky here.”

“Good.” She pursed her lips. “And how’s…what’s his name? The nice boy from the Salad Hut.”

Barely, I resisted rolling my eyes. Kirk wasn’t that nice, but he’d become the poster child for safe sexual conquests in my sister’s mind. “He’s fine.”

I tried not to let my annoyance show on my face. She just wanted what was best for me, and Gio wasn’t exactly what she’d consider a decent dating candidate for her baby sister. I got that intellectually, and loved her for worrying about me.

But in my heart, I resented her for making me have to hide. And it wasn’t just her. The whole goddamn world was making it that way. He could hold my hand at the club, but only in the hopes of making the bastards he hung out with keep their distance from me. No one actually thought we were a real couple. Because we weren’t.

Maybe Slater and I had more in common than I’d originally thought.

“You’re being safe.” She toyed with the edge of the sheet.

It took me a second to get her meaning. “Duh, of course.” This time, I did roll my eyes. She knew I’d been on the Pill forever, and I always used a condom too. Except that one night.

“Just checking.”

“I’m good. Everything’s good. Why don’t you go watch your studly boyfriend kick some ass if you have some time to kill?” I gave her a light shove. “Just don’t analyze his technique.”

“Yeah, yeah, I guess you’re right.” She gave me a sheepish smile and rose. “I wanted to make sure you were home safe. You know, old habits die hard.”

Just like that, my irritation drained away. I might not always like her tactics, but my sister was always in my corner. She was the one person whose loyalty I never had to doubt.

“I know.” Surprising us both, I leaned up and wrapped my arm around her knees and buried my face in her side. For just a second, I needed someone to hold onto. “I love you too.”

“What’s all this?” She rubbed my head. “Hey, kiddo, you okay?”

Her patient, kind tone was too much. If she’d gotten suspicious or thrown any snark at me, my natural defensiveness when it came to anything Gio-related would’ve saved the day. I didn’t have a strategy to fend off genuine concern.

“I’m just feeling a little overwhelmed,” I whispered over the lump in my throat that seemed to get bigger with each passing hour.

How many things could I overlook when it came to Gio? First, the company he kept, then the back room situation we’d been forced into—and yet he still hadn’t turned his back on those men once we’d made it out the other side. Then the attempted murder charge, and his claim he’d been guilty. A cocky claim, no less, as if he was proud. The secrecy, and the guns.

The negative things were stacking up faster than the positive ones could compete.

But God, the positive were so amazing. I’d never felt like this before. Not even in the same ballpark. Being with him made me lighter, freer. With him, I wasn’t a little girl trying on an adult’s clothes. I was a woman. A happy one.

At least when I wasn’t scared out of my mind he was going to end up hurt—or worse.

“It’s a lot,” Mia soothed, stroking my hair. “Work, and school, and now thinking about starting your own business. If they take my new offer. I didn’t come up a lot. The property needs a lot of work, comparatively speaking, and the area’s rebuilding.”

“But you really want it.”

“I really want it. For me, and us, and everyone we could help. And everyone who would love your yummy cooking, who doesn’t have to worry about making weight.” She made a face and pinched a nonexistent roll on her waist.

I had to laugh. My sister was the fittest person I knew, other than Fox and Gio. The three of them were sweat monkeys in the extreme.

I hadn’t worked out in a while. I didn’t have time right now, and hell, Gio seemed to like my curves, so why bother?