Her Best Friend's Brother(45)

This was a pretty big surprise. Libby hadn’t seen Tony since Wednesday when they went out for ice cream.

That was when Libby told him that Gio was coming into town, and Tony had been acting sorta weird ever since.

She’d gone back and forth between hoping it was jealousy, and being irritated since he had long ago forfeited his right to be jealous. Tony had made it very clear what type of relationship he would be interested in—and Libby wasn’t interested.

“Good. That’s good he can meet Gio.”

Back at the table John was fervently trying to convince Gio of basebal’s superiority over al other sports.

Libby recognized the quirk of a smile on Gio’s face, and Libby recognized the quirk of a smile on Gio’s face, and knew he was more amused than anything else by John.

Maybe, she thought, Americans were funnier than she had realized.

When Tony walked through the door Mel waved widely over her head to get his attention. “Gee, I’m so glad a found you, sis, in this sea of people” Tony teased as he surveyed the half empty room.

“Ha-ha very funny.” She swatted him, and puled out a chair next to her for him to sit down. Tony ignored her and puled out the chair on the other side of Libby.

For some reason this introduction was more awkward. Actualy Libby knew the reason, but she pushed it aside and tried to act normal. The funny thing about acting normal is that you have to be a realy good actor.

“The chef.” Tony acknowledged as he nodded deeply.

“The writer.” Gio’s voice was gruff.

“That’s right. My third novel just made the best seler list.” Tony was clearly going for a practiced, bored tone of voice, but his excitement won out.

The table erupted in conversation. Mel and Libby threw their arms around Tony in a three person hug, and John hooted his congratulations. Grinning and laughing, Tony was saying how he had known it was a possibility, but he’d just gotten the cal from his agent that morning and it was low on the list, but on the list was al that mattered.

With a flick of his hand to the waitress Gio ordered another round of celebratory champagne. Later John would end up drinking Tony’s untouched glass.

“Mia Betta. You have very talented friends.”

“I do indeed.” Libby was too ful of pride for Tony to take notice of Gio’s change in demeanor.

“What did you cal her?” Mel gushed from her end of the table.

“It’s my name in Italian.” Libby shrugged blushing.

“Gio says everything sounds nicer in Italian.”

“It isn’t only her name.” Tony muttered so low that Libby was able to pretend she hadn’t heard him.

The moment was quickly swept away as Mel demanded an impromptu Italian lesson. Gio politely supplied her with translations of any and al phrases she could think of. “He’s right! Everything does sound nicer!” Her eyes suddenly got wider. “John! Let’s do our vows in Italian! It would be so romantic.”

“Anything you say babe, but it might be nice if our families were able to understand what we’re saying. Hel—

I’d kind of like to understand it myself. Plus I already learned the English ones.” Mel’s face fel a little.

“I’m sure your ceremony wil be lovely just as you have planned.” Gio said somewhat absently.

“You’re right of course.” Mel cheered up “Isn’t this just like old times, Libby? Us hanging out on a Friday night? I feel like we ought to be singing Under the Sea. ”

“Let’s not, and say we didn’t, hmm?” Libby glanced around the bar and wondering how much her friend had had to drink.

“Of course not, sily. It is too bad though that my parents don’t have a guest room anymore. We could have parents don’t have a guest room anymore. We could have had a sleep over, and you wouldn’t have to go to Stuart’s alone.” Mel pointed her eyes in Gio’s direction in a not so discreet fashion.

Libby thought she preferred sleeping alone in Stuart’s house to being a part of a sleep over that included John. “I’l be alright.”

“I have a suite at the hotel.” Gio murmured in a low voice. “With a lovely pulout couch in the sitting room.” He added when he saw what must have been sheer panic on her face.

“I have a guest room.” Tony al but shouted. He calmed down a little. “You could stay in my guest room Libby.”

“Don’t be ridiculous big brother.” Mel said icily

“You don’t even have furniture.” This brought a raised eye brown from Gio.

“I have furniture.” Tony defended himself. “I just haven’t picked anything out for the living room yet.” He turned to Libby. “My guest room is your guest room, Lib.