It made sense now. If his mom had told him she thought eight years was too much of an age difference, no wonder he was so damn adamant about it.

Roni and Noah spoke of their plans to turn one of the extra bedrooms in the house into a nursery as soon as they found out the gender of the baby.

Gio’s eyes locked with Bianca’s a few times as the dinner went on. At first, he thought he’d imagined it. Maybe she’d just looked his way and their eyes had just so happened to stop at the same time. But it happened several times after that. As nervous as it made him that someone might notice he could not bring himself to stop looking her way.

She may as well have been glowing because regardless of where his eyes focused in an effort to keep them off her she always stayed in his peripheral view. He was aware of her every movement. Anytime she lifted her glass, or wiped her mouth was reason enough to look her way. It came as a bit of a surprise, but it was almost annoying too that he had so little control over something so simple—staying focused on whoever was speaking. What surprised him most was how indiscreet she was. Thankfully Felix was too busy yapping and catching up with the guys to notice her wandering eyes.

“So, Abel I hear you’re finally getting rid of your truck?” Roni said as she stood lifting her plate from the table.

“Get rid of it? No way. Old Nellie still has a few years left in her. I’m passing her on to this guy if he ever stops getting in trouble.” He pointed to Hector not noticing the room suddenly felt like someone had pulled the plug on the cheery buzz that had filled the air just before his comment.

Finally, something drew Gio’s attention away from Bianca and he turned to Nellie who was now on her feet also lifting her plate, her lips pressed tightly together.

Gio caught the murderous glare Noah gave Abel.

“I… I didn’t mean it like that,” Abel stammered understanding now the error of his choice in words. “It’s a saying. You know, like old Bessie.”

Nellie nodded with a smirk but lifted a very telling eyebrow. “No worries. I have a few good years left in me, too.” She took her plate and glass and walked away to the kitchen. Jack, who sat next to Gio, shook his head chuckling as he dug into his slice of pie.

“What the f**k’s the matter with you?” Noah hissed at Abel under his breath.

“It’s okay,” Roni tried to assure them, continuing to gather more empty plates atop of hers. “I’m sure she knows you didn’t mean anything by it. And her middle name is Bessie by the way.” Abel’s jaw fell open and Roni giggled. “I’m kidding!”

Jack laughed even louder now.

“What’s the big deal?” Hector asked. “She ain’t old.”

“No, she’s not.” Roni agreed walking off to the kitchen.

Felix laughed a little and Bianca jabbed him with her elbow but he could tell she was having a hard time holding it in herself. As tempted as Gio was to say something, he kept his comments to himself. He could tell Abel was already feeling like a dumbass the way he glanced around as if he was trying to think of a way to bolt out of there. Served him right for what he’d said earlier.

Wisely, Abel didn’t make things worse by commenting further about “Old Nellie.” He cleared his throat and took a drink of his beer. Then he turned to Noah who was still glaring at him. “I, uh. I thought I’d stick with another truck but when I saw this car my uncle had told me about, I had to have it.”

“What kind of car is it?” Felix asked.

“Nineteen seventy-two Gran Torino.”

“What?” Noah laughed.

Abel smiled, obviously glad Noah was laughing now instead of glaring.

“Figures you’d get a muscle car.” Gio chuckled, still struggling from keeping his eyes roaming into dangerous territory especially since all eyes were on him for the moment.

Roni and Nellie strolled back into the room and sat down. Roni reached for a dessert plate while Nellie reached for her glass of wine and took a sip. Gio couldn’t help smirk at Abel’s noticeable discomfort.

“So when do you get it?” Noah asked.

“In uh… ,” Abel cleared his throat again.

Gio’s eyes were on Bianca again as she tried to hide her smile under her napkin. Apparently she was having as much fun with Abel’s discomfort as Gio was. He smiled at her then turned quickly away his eyes now stopping on Roni who’d caught the exchange. She smiled and turned back to her dessert.

“... a few days.”

Unlike Gio, who couldn’t go more than a few minutes without looking in Bianca’s direction, Abel did an excellent job of looking everywhere but in Nellie’s.

After grilling Abel for a few more minutes on the specs of the car Bianca wiped her napkin over her evil little grin and addressed Nellie. “You said you just bought a new car too, right? What kind did you get?”

Gio laughed inwardly. Way to have fun by pointing out that these two had something in common albeit it was minimal. And doingit in front of everyone, especially given the fact that Abel was already uncomfortable was genius.

Nellie seemed surprised. Bianca hadn’t said much up until now and to speak up suddenly and address the other person who’d hardly said anything clearly threw her. Everyone’s attention was on Nellie now. Everyone that is except Abel who had a sudden interest in reading his beer label. Gio almost threw his balled up napkin at him so Abel could see that Gio knew what he was doing. He wasn’t fooling anyone. But he had to remind himself they were all adults now and refrained.