Toxic Bad Boy Part 11

"I didn't say that. I just thought with her dancing and them being seventeen, she might be inclined in that direction."

"Well, obviously the academy is out."

d.a.m.n, Dante was going to be a dad. What a nightmare. Then again, if I could knock up Gianna maybe I'd get forever. "What would you have done?"

She avoided my eyes, her cheeks turning the prettiest shade of pink. "If I got pregnant?"

"With my baby," I clarified.

She waited so long, I didn't think she'd answer. Finally, she said softly, "I would have kept it."

If that didn't give a guy hope....

"Are you f.u.c.king Gage?" I blurted, needing to know but at the same time dreading confirmation.

"Jeez, Caleb! None of your business! I don't ask about who you're s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g." She got back into her Jeep, locking the doors before I could do follow.

She didn't unlock them until Cece returned from her talk with Dante. They were all lovey dovey with smiles, but I saw the strain in my friend's eyes as he kissed her goodbye.

On our way to eat lunch as his house, he let me know how he really felt. "I almost wish she'd broken up with me instead."

"And I wish I'd knocked up Gianna instead," I replied, reminding him that I still had it worse.

"My parents are going to kill me," he groaned.

Yes, his mom would be especially worked up over the prospect of becoming a grandparent so early. "They may smack you around, but they'll love your baby."

"I gotta get a job." He sat up straighter, his dark eyes wild. "And buy a ring."

"First you have to ask her dad permission," I joked, amused by his panic.

His head snapped in my direction. "Her dad is going to kick my a.s.s. I knocked up his baby girl and ended her dancing career before it even started."

"Jared will probably hold you down for him."

"I'm a dead man," he whispered, making me laugh.

"You could always ask for a job at their restaurant," I suggested.

"I like Mexican food," he mumbled.

"Obviously," I drawled, earning a punch in the arm.

To take his mind off dawning parenthood, I changed the subject. "I need you to find out something for me...."

My dad inserted a key, turning the doork.n.o.b to let us into the house. "It's small, but bigger than the condo."

I trailed him inside, taking a look around his new home. He'd sold the condo in Northglenn and closed on a three bedroom house in Englewood, near the high school I'd be attending in August. It'd be nice not to have to make the drive from my mom's apartment.

Everything was outdated inside, from the carpet to the kitchen. "It'll do," I told him, not caring that we'd be living in the '70s. "Can I have the master bedroom?"

"No," he answered, his mouth pulling up at one corner.

"I had to try." Taking the stairs two at a time, I found my room upstairs. It faced the street and was surprisingly s.p.a.cious. I'd still get my own bathroom, but it'd be down the hall. My dad informed me the third bedroom would be his office, but I could do whatever I wanted to the finished bas.e.m.e.nt.

I ventured down there next, deciding in my head where the television and couch would go. I'd find a couple armchairs and maybe a pool table off Craigslist. The couch would have to be new since I planned on having Gianna on it. In the far corner I'd set up an easel and shelving. The drive to paint wasn't only about an outlet anymore. I needed the money to provide for Gianna in the future and I wanted to give my girl the world.

Just had to get rid of Gage first.

Remembering my task, I pulled out my phone to shoot Hailey a text. I know where Gage will be tomorrow night.

This doesn't make me a s.l.u.t, right? Just a good friend.

It totally made her a s.l.u.t. Of course not. You're an awesome friend.

An awesome friend would do it for free. But then I'd be a s.h.i.+tty friend for asking in the first place. It was a good thing Hailey and I weren't friends anymore.

Feeling a little bit evil for my scheming, I put my phone away and met my dad in the kitchen upstairs. "So, are we moving stuff in tomorrow?"

My dad slapped me on the back. "Tonight!"

Great, manual labor on a Sat.u.r.day night.

His phone rang and he fumbled in his rush to answer it. "h.e.l.lo?"

My eyes narrowed on his back as he walked out the back door for privacy. Did my dad have a new woman? If that were the case I'd be d.a.m.n happy. He came back inside a few minutes later with his face glowing.

"Got a girlfriend?" I asked casually, hiding my amus.e.m.e.nt.

"What? No!" He reached into his pocket and handed me a key. "That was just Julie. She asked me to pick up the balloons for Chance's birthday party tomorrow."

"Don't tell me you're dipping in that again," I told him, shuddering at the picture that came to mind.

"Caleb, watch your mouth. I won't allow you to be speak crudely about your stepmother!"

"Stepmother?" I choked out. "Are you forgetting the divorce?"

He appeared embarra.s.sed. "Former stepmother."

That sounded a h.e.l.l of a lot better. "So," I drawled, "Chance's birthday party is tomorrow? Am I invited?"

A determined look came over his face and he began typing something into his phone. I laughed, walking out to my car. If Julie was trying to weasel her way back into my dad's heart she'd be forced to play nice with his son.

Between her contrived hospitality tomorrow and Gianna's discomfort, the party could turn out to be fun.

I only hoped I'd be invited.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

"What love we've given, we'll have forever. What love we fail to give, will be lost for all eternity."

-Leo Buscaglia GIANNA.

Caleb was here.

And I was freaking out.

Helping with the party was a good excuse to ignore him, but wouldn't last forever. My dad gave me strange looks as I ran around keeping busy. After a half hour, he pulled me aside. "Why is Caleb glaring at Gage?"

"Because I broke up with him," I answered with fake nonchalance. I was totally freaking out.

His eyebrows shot up. "And he blames Gage?"

"Maybe," I prevaricated.

"Tell me," he commanded. Jeez, I liked having my dad around full-time, but he wanted to know everything.

I lowered my voice, not wanting anyone to overhear. "I kind of told him Gage and I were together now."

"Are you?"

"Together?" I asked, deciding how to answer. "Of course not, we're just friends."

"Why did you feel the need to lie, Gianna?"

As if I'd tell my dad the truth. Without getting too personal, I said, "I don't think I'm in a place to have a boyfriend right now."

His face softened in understanding and I had the urge to call my therapist to yell at her. She needed to quit blabbing to my dad about me. "Just tell him the truth, Gianna."

"I'll think about it," I snapped, turning my attention back to the superhero pinata I was stuffing candy inside.

"Dad!" Chance called from where he and his friends sat shoving pizza in their mouths. My dad's attention returned to the birthday boy as he moved to see what Chance wanted.

It was odd to have everyone here at my mom's house. And I didn't mean the Chance's friends. My mom, dad, Scott and Caleb were all here for the party. How my mom was okay with Caleb's presence I didn't know. I suspected the way she kept acting sweet to Scott might have something to do with it.

The backyard was decorated in an explosion of superheroes, with dozens of balloons tied to chairs. We'd set up games for the kids and my mom had made both a cake and cupcakes. Scott and my dad had met a few times, so they were cool with each other. My mom had thawed out in recent months toward my dad and they were finally on more amicable terms. Maybe after two failed marriages, she'd realized she might be doing something wrong.

If I weren't in the middle of it, I'd find it amusing that my mom was obviously making a play for her ex-husband. Scott, not my dad, thank G.o.d. If she'd tried the same thing with my dad, he'd run away back to Houston.

"Need help?" Gage asked after joining me by the tree.

"Sure," I said, handing him the rope to throw over a branch.

He tossed the end of the rope up, making it on the first try. "Do you think he'll try to kick my a.s.s again in front of all these kids?"

"No, and I'm still sorry about that." I glanced to where Caleb stood talking to my mom. My mom's smile was totally fake, but she was trying to impress Scott. When she put another piece of pizza on Caleb's plate I wasn't sure if I wanted to laugh or cry.

Now she makes the effort to get along with him.

Caleb was eating up more than the pizza, clearly amused at my mom's insincere friendliness.

"Don't worry about it," Gage a.s.sured me. "But there's something I should tell you."

"Yeah?"

"I'm surprised he hasn't yet, but I'm sure he's just waiting for the right moment to spring it on us."

"Then tell me," I urged.

Gage avoided my eyes. "He and Ian paid me to be your friend."

"What?" I shouted, bringing attention to us.

"It's not that big of a deal."

"You're not really my friend?" I asked, hurt and embarra.s.sed.

He grabbed my hand, squeezing. "Of course I'm your friend. I'd even do it for free."

"Ha ha," I said humorlessly. "So that explains you popping up out of nowhere."

"I care about you, Gianna. As a real friend. Say you forgive me?" His face looked both remorseful but hopeful. He'd proved over the months we'd hung out to be a true friend. At least it seemed that way.

"Okay," I agreed, pointing a finger at him. "But don't hang out with me unless you want to."

He grinned, returning to the carefree guy I knew. "Never have."

I chanced a look at Caleb. He looked ready to murder Gage, his eyes narrowed on my friend. But I was feeling just the opposite. I tried to keep the love out of my expression as I gazed at him. He'd been so worried about me while he was locked up that he'd paid someone to watch over me.

Sneaky boy.

My heart melted for the hundredth time since meeting Caleb.

CALEB.

Norah waited at the gallery so I could drop off a couple paintings. The gallery was closed on Sundays, but when I'd called Jim he'd set it up so Norah could meet me.