Wild and Wicked (Italian Stallions #4)(4)
Author: Mari Carr
Gianna hadn’t really considered spending it with her friends, though she wasn’t sure why not. She had the greatest friends on earth, and they never failed to include her.
“You’re spending Christmas Eve with the Morettis,” Liza said, as if it had all been prearranged for months. “Ordinarily, I wouldn’t throw someone into a Moretti Christmas Eve unprepared, but you’ve been to more than enough of our parties over the years to know exactly what you’re getting yourself into. Just understand that we only give it about fifty percent of effort during those other celebrations. We really turn it up at Christmas.”
Gianna just barely managed to hide her horror. She’d grown up an only child in a house that contained her and her grandma. She remembered being shell-shocked the first time she’d attended a Moretti family summer picnic, stunned by the sheer number of people and the volume, everyone seemingly talking at once. There was no way that was only fifty percent.
It belatedly occurred to Gianna that it was no wonder Gio’s hearing was crappy. It had probably been impaired by a lifetime of Moretti parties.
Penny shuddered at Liza’s warning, while Keeley grinned. “Kayden and I have been spending Christmas Eve with the Morettis since our parents died. It’s a great time, but yeah…it’s a lot.”
Keeley had been raised by her older brother, Kayden, after their parents died in a plane crash. It made sense that she and Kayden would be included in the holidays, given Kayden and Liza’s brother, Aldo, had been best friends since birth. And even more so now, considering Keeley was dating Gio, Liza’s cousin.
“Are you going?” Gianna asked Penny, who quickly shook her head.
“Dear God, no. I’m spending Christmas morning with my very quiet, non-Italian family, and Christmas Eve at some bougie restaurant with Gage and his brothers.”
“It doesn’t matter if Penny is there or not,” Liza said assuredly. “You will be. I have spoken, thus it is so.”
And that was when Gianna realized arguing would be futile.
That was also when it occurred to her…she didn’t want to argue.
“Thank you,” Gianna said, truly grateful not to have to spend Christmas alone.
“Alright. Let’s get this party started. Our girl Gianna needs wine, and lots of it,” Keeley said, leading them into the living room. “It’s in the kitchen.”
Penny glanced across the room. “Damn. Gage did exactly what he said he’d do.” They all looked and saw Penny’s two IT workmates, Toby and Rich, bouncing quarters off the coffee table with several Moretti men. “I’m going over there. Don’t want to miss it if Toby does try the ass-bounce.”
Keeley laughed, until she spotted a nearly empty platter. “Better top up the plates before Joey starts a mutiny. I swear to God that guy’s stomach is a bottomless pit.” She started to grab the platter, but she was intercepted by Gio, who’d pulled her into a circle of people who were dancing their asses off.
Gianna looked at Liza. “I’m going to pour myself a glass. You want one?”
Liza nodded. “Yeah. In a minute. I want to finish our conversation.”
Gianna didn’t realize they hadn’t finished. “What’s left to say?”
“I’m worried about you.”
Gianna was touched by Liza’s concern. “I appreciate that. I really do. I just…I know it’s been three months, but after tonight, after hearing that Sam…” She couldn’t make herself say the words.
“Cheated on you.” Liza, meanwhile, had no problem speaking the truth.
“It’s going to take me some time to wrap my head around that.”
“Maybe so, but in the end, what would wrapping your head around it change?”
“Not one damn thing. God, Liza, I’ve been with one guy my whole life and that relationship started when I was fifteen years old. I might be the most clueless woman on the planet when it comes to the dating scene.”
Liza gave her a sympathetic grin. “So let’s take the first baby step tonight.”
“How?”
Liza gestured around the room. “You are surrounded by at least a dozen hot, single guys. Tonight, you practice flirting in a secure environment.”
Gianna laughed. “You call the Morettis secure?”
Liza didn’t share her humor. “Actually, yeah. They’ll flirt back without letting it go too far, and they’ll keep an eye on their buddies at the same time.” Her friend looked around the room, her gaze landing on Joey and a man Gianna didn’t know. “Joey’s home, and the guy with him is his cohost from ManPower, Miles. I went out to dinner with them last night and had a blast. Miles is funny, nice, and really hot.”
Gianna agreed. “He is super-hot. Maybe too hot for me to start with?”
Liza dismissed that argument with an irritated sniff. “Girlfriend, I’m going to let you get away with that this one time because you took it on the chin tonight, thanks to that dick of an ex. But you’re going to have to accept that you are gorgeous. Period. End of discussion. So go flirt with Miles. Then…” Liza spun around, exploring the rest of the available men. “Flirt with Toby and Rich, Penny’s IT buddies. Give the nerd circle a thrill. And finally, I think you should wrap up the practice session with a couple of the guys Luca brought from the construction team. Check out the guy in the blue flannel shirt.” Then, after a pause, “You know what, leave him for me. I wouldn’t mind running my hands over those muscles.”
“Jesus,” Gianna muttered. “You seriously expect me to spend my night flirting with all these guys?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not asking for much, are you?” Gianna said sarcastically.
“Just do it. And then, right after Christmas, we’ll go out and—”
Gianna cut Liza off before she got too carried away. “I took the week after Christmas off from work. I had so much unused vacation time, my boss pointed it out. I was thinking I might go somewhere. The walls of my apartment are starting to close in on me.”
“Hey, that’s a great idea. If I didn’t have two can’t-miss meetings at work, I’d go with you.”
Gianna gave Liza a sad smile. “I’d be shitty company.”
“You’re never shitty company. Where are you thinking of going?”