Only With Me (With Me #2)(53)

"He freaked too, Charity, but that doesn't mean he won't be there for you."

She sunk down onto the sofa. "I don't want him to think I want money."

"He won't."

With a halfhearted laugh, she looked at me. "Really? Because I'm pretty sure most men in this situation would think that."

"The only way you're going to find out is to talk to him."

Her arms wrapped around her waist. "I've never really told Gabi or anyone this, but I come from a pretty wealthy family. I'm not worried about money. Jesus, I'm not ready to be a mother. I'm too greedy. This is my time to have fun and do fun things, not sit home with a baby."

She gasped then dropped back and covered her face and moaned.

"What's wrong?"

Her hands fell to the sides of her onto the sofa. "The Knitters are Purls."

"Your knitting group?"

The only reason I knew about the group was because Gabi dragged me there last week to meet Lou, Beth, Karen, and Nancy. Charity bitched the entire drive there and back home.

She nodded.

"What about them?"

Sitting up, she shot me a look like I was a dumb ass. "They're going to start knitting me shit! Oh my God! Blankets and baby booties."

I laughed. "Well, it could be worse, they could be knitting you a sweater like they are me."

When her face cracked into a smile, I felt a little better. "That's true," she said.

"Want a drink?" She tilted her head and scrounged her nose. "Shit. Right. Want a water?"

Laughing, she nodded her head. "Please."

After pouring her a glass of water, I sat down across from her.

"Will you do me a favor?" she asked.

"Sure."

Charity chewed on her lip. "Don't tell Gabi. I broke down with you and let it slip, but I need to tell Cole and figure out where we go from here before anyone else knows."



       
         
       
        

I nodded. "I won't tell a soul."

She smiled.

I flashed her a grin, but then let it drop. My tone turned serious. "Will you do something for me now?"

Setting her water down, she looked me straight in the eye. "Please tell me you're not breaking up with her."

For a moment I was taken aback, but then I could see how she would think that. I was waiting in Gabi's apartment, and I had just gotten serious on her.

"No. But I need to know something."

"Sure, what is it?"

I hated doing this. It felt like a dick-move. In my heart, I knew she would never cheat, but then again, I didn't really know Gabi Mandola or really anything about her past.

"Is Gabi seeing another man besides me?"

Her face dropped. The shocked look on her face turned to anger. "How could you even think that! I haven't seen her date but one other guy in the four years I've known her. Besides, she would never cheat. That's not who she is."

I nodded.

She shook her head. "Nic, where is this coming from?"

I swallowed hard. Did I tell her? I had to. Maybe if I said the name, it would spark something. "I'm asking you to do the same thing you asked me. If I tell you, please don't say anything to her."

Wringing her hands together, she reached for her glass and took a drink.

"Okay, I promise I won't say a word to her."

"I overheard her talking on the phone about her trip to Italy. She told some guy by the name of Antonio she couldn't wait to see him and that she loved him."

Charity gasped and covered her mouth. Then she dropped her hand. "Wait. She has family over there, Nic. Don't you think she might have been talking to a cousin or something?"

"She said something else. That she told me and you she had extended family in Italy."

"Huh? So does she not have family over there or does she?"

I rubbed the back of my neck as I processed her conversation again.

"Yeah, I'm not sure. I get the feeling she does, but she made it seem like there was a different reason she was going over there. Maybe to see this Antonio guy."

She shook her head. "No. It has to be family. I cannot for one minute see Gabi cheating. She loves you, Nic."

Deep down I knew that was true, but she was still hiding something and I was no longer able to keep pushing it aside. I was determined to find out what she was hiding.

I smiled. "You're right. I'm over reacting."

"Yes. I think you are."

The door opened and Gabi walked in. The second she saw me, she smiled. 

Charity stood and shot me a quick look. I leaned over to her and said, "Forget we even had that conversation."

She nodded. "I will."