Zane have also locked her in with quizzical stare when I catch on. The bottle service was a joke.
I run a hand up Gina’s cheek. “I won’t be a source of contention between the two of you, Bella. As long as she keeps my name out of her mouth, I’ll . . .”
“Oh, she will.” Gina glowers, her eyes transforming into tiny slits, deep in thought. “Seems Gabby wanted to show me the type of guy you were.”
“Which was very fucked up. You’ll volunteer as tribute. Someone has to be punished?”
Biting her lip, Gina says, “Damn, Dirty Santino, of course do me any way you like, baby. I haven’t been the greatest lover, you will have no complaints from me. However, it’s time for the Grinch to sow what she reaped. I’ll be the judge, jury, and executioner of that.”
60
Gina
The disgust surging through my veins dies at the sight of Steven escorting my sister into the establishment. With an upturned nose, she moseys over.
“When you said drinks with the guys,” she adopts a snooty tone, “I assumed you meant a classy establishment. Nevertheless, it’s been a long time since I’ve gone out for drinks with my husband.”
Maybe she doesn’t say my husband as if Steven is her precious. Maybe her tone doesn’t fluctuate at all but I smile. “Steven, you supported my relationship earlier. I appreciate that.”
“No problem,” he says.
“That’s my hubby, isn’t he the best?” Gabriella slinks over his arm.
“Your husband is the best,” I reply in a singsong tone. “It’s such a shame. I’ve envied you, Steven. How you handled the Matson case and still enjoyed the Fourth of July in Maui, was it?”
A flush of embarrassment whispers across Steven’s cheek. “I botched that one, Gina. You fixed it. But no, we missed the Fourth of July on my family’s island because I . . . ahem, was just handed that assignment.”
Just like at the dinner table on Thanksgiving, eyes are ping-ponging between the two of us. Geraldine licks her lips, waiting for the bomb to drop. Zane is ever knowing, and Santino doesn’t attempt to reprimand me. Although Gabriella runs a soft hand across her neck, a subtle implication of how I need to “help a sistah out.” Namely my own.
Insensible to Gabriella’s desire, I chew my lip. “Gabby, you’re holding out on me! How did you get the tropical island glow? Refresh my memory. You had it during the conversation where you insisted on helping me with a love connection. I just assumed that was residual happiness from your vacay?”
“Gabriella.” He turns to her. “When I’m in the city working with your family, you spend most of the time with your parents. That was a fake tan?”
Geraldine sniggers. “Black people paying for tans?”
While my oldest sister is piecing the puzzle together, I feign ignorance. “Oh, darn, Steven, you didn’t go on vacation? You usually return beet red. Gabby, where did you get that tan? Santino and I are going on vacation. I need a glow up like that, darling.”
“No!” Steven snarls. “We missed the vacation on the Fourth with my family! Gabby was home with your mom, Little Stevie, and little . . . Wait? Gabby, you said those people asked us to go on vacation with them right before the Fourth? You left my fucking kids with your mom!”
“No—I—”
“You came home on July 3rd! The same night I returned from the city,” his voice carries clear across the room.
I grab Santino’s hand and nudge my chin to the exit while eyeing Geraldine. Her lips purse when Zane encircles her waist and drags her away.
“I’m a smut columnist!” She retorts as the door to the bar closes, while the bar manager asks my sister and her husband to keep it down. “If Steven leaves her and takes those kids. . .! Woah, I will be in the States with a big ol’ bag of popcorn watching Gabriella move from her mansion of a home. Little Stevie, who is 103 . . . Shit, how old is he?”
“Probably 1031 days. Geraldine, I haven’t the slightest idea.” I chuckle.
“That little boy is her pride and joy. Baby girl? Not so much.” Geraldine stalls. “We should go back inside and watch.”
“Okay, Terry McMillan Junior,” I snort. “I have no idea if that will play out in your favor. But while you give us a long ride back to the city, I’m sure Santino and I can offer you a lil’ something for your fans.”
“Gina,” Santino growls.
I roll my eyes.