To Gio’s surprise he didn’t get the sly smirk he was expecting. Felix actually looked troubled by this. “You saw that?”

“It’s a syndicated show, dude. Anyone in the nation who tuned in last night saw it. Does Bianca know about it?”

“No way.” Felix shook his head then lowered his voice. “She doesn’t follow the gossip shows. Not since last year and that mocked up photo all over the tabloids. She gets that most of the stories on those shows are for ratings and mostly all are a distant version of the truth.” He frowned pulling himself away from the dresser. “But I will have to talk to her about this one.”

Gio was just pulling his legs on the bed and leaning against the headboard when Felix’s last comment made him stop and stare at him waiting for more. In Felix’s case, he was photographed walking into his hotel with another girl. What could the distant version of truth be there?

There was a soft knock on the door followed by Bianca’s voice. “Felix? You still in there?”

Felix looked at Gio stretching his lips. He was no doubt having the same thoughts Gio was—had she heard anything? “Yeah, come in, babe.”

The door opened and fresh faced Bianca smiled. “Morning Gio.” Then her eyes went all sympathetic. “Are you in a lot of pain?”

Unwilling to admit just how much pain he was really in, Gio bobbled his head just slightly. It was as much as he could move without creating anymore pain for himself. “A little.” He frowned as Felix chuckled.

“You should sit in the tub again. It’ll feel even better than last night. I promise.” Gio smiled. There she went promising things again. She then turned to Felix. “I just wanted to let you know I’m leaving now.”

“I’m leaving too. We can go together.” Bringing his attention back to Gio he smiled. “I’m not kidding, dude. Get your ass out of bed and in that tub because you’re going tonight. No excuses. There’s nothing a little tequila and some nice company won’t fix.” He winked at Gio as he walked toward the doorway.

“Feel better, Gio.” Bianca did a little wave and Gio thought for a moment maybe she was feeling guilty that she hadn’t warned him earlier yesterday about how sore he’d be today because there was something off about her usually bright smile.

“Thanks. I’ll be fine.”

They closed the door behind them and Gio leaned back letting his muscles relax and closed his eyes. He thought of what Felix had said. Would he be telling Bianca about the girl at the hotel with him? Gio didn’t even like the thought of Bianca being sad. Not after knowing what a cheery person she was by nature.

His eyes flew open at the knock at the door. “Yeah?”

“Ms. Bianca asked me to bring you something, sir,” Ampara explained from the other side of the door.

“C’mon in.” Gio sat up a little straighter wondering what it could be.

Ampara opened the door with one hand and held a tray in the other. Breakfast with all the trimmings. There were even slices of banana on the side for his waffles and a couple of aspirins next to his juice. Gio smiled as Ampara placed the tray across his lap. “Oh, wow. This looks real good. Thank you, Amparo.”

Amparo smiled. “Is there anything else you’d like?”

He was still taking in everything on the tray when he spotted a folded piece of writing paper with his name on it tucked under his juice glass. Turning to Amparo suddenly anxious for her to leave, he smiled. “No, I’ve got everything I need. Thanks.”

As soon as she closed the door he reached for the note, his heart doing that same weird thing it kept doing off and on all day yesterday. He unfolded the paper and read:

I figured you wouldn’t be up to even walking to the kitchen so I had Amparo fix this to your liking. I hope I got it right. I left instructions for your lunch and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you’re feeling better by tonight. I hate these sorts of things but don’t tell Felix I said that! See you tonight hopefully. XO B.

Gio reread it two more times, each time fixating on the ‘keeping her fingers crossed” and the ‘don’t tell Felix’ parts. She wanted him there tonight. He felt oddly excited about that; which made no sense because Felix would be there, too. Still she was keeping her fingers crossed?

Did she not want him to mention the note to Felix either? For too long his eyes were glued to the XO. He knew it meant nothing but like one of those ridiculous teenage fans reading a response letter from their idol, he touched the X and the O with his fingers. Then feeling like a dumb ass he chuckled before sticking the note in his shirt pocket and dug in.

CHAPTER 10

All morning as Bianca had worked her shift at the shop and answered all her mother’s and grandmother’s questions, shoving any thoughts of her dream aside. It was just a dream. She’d spent the entire day with Gio. Of course, it would make sense that he’d be around even in her subconscious thoughts. But it was what he was doing in there and the disappointment she’d felt when she woke and realized that it wasn’t Gio that gnawed at her more than anything.

Why in the world would she be disappointed? She was so excited that Felix was finally here with her. Sure, Gio was gorgeous and sweet but she loved Felix.

She was certain that the hour of online college coursework she’d put in that morning was wasted because the whole time her mind had wandered off to the dream. Bianca shook her head as she turned off her car. It was just a dream. She’d had plenty of bizarre and unexplained dreams before. Stop overthinking this!