Chapter Thirteen

~ Gianni ~

I grimaced as I stared down at the cotton ball taped to my arm with a thin piece of white medical tape. It hadn't really hurt when the technician drew my blood, but the thought of it was making me a little woozy.

Apparently, I didn't do blood while pregnant.

"You doing okay?" Janos asked.

I nodded even though I really wasn't. I felt as if I was just moments from spewing. "I just need some fresh air."

"Then let's go." Janos grabbed me by the elbow and started steering me toward the front door. "The lab should have our results back in a few days. There's nothing we can do about them now and worrying isn't going to help. Let's go have some fun."

I wasn't sure what Janos's idea of fun was, but I was more than willing to get out of the penthouse. "Don't forget that I need to stop by my apartment."

Janos gave a quick nod. "We can go there first."

I didn't mind wearing Janos's clothes. They almost fit me, but he was about four inches taller than me so the pants were dragging on the ground just a bit. If we were going to be out and about all day long, I wanted my own pants.

I might keep the shirt.

"So, what are we going to do today?" I asked as we went down in the elevator.

Janos held his finger to his lips. "Sshhh. Secret."

Seriously?

When I raised an eyebrow, Janos just chuckled mysteriously at me. I wanted to argue with him for his high-handed ways, but it was also kind of exciting being taken out for a day without me having to plan anything.

I was basically just along for the ride.

Time seemed to fly by after we reached the car and got on the road. It wasn't long before we were pulling up in front of my apartment building.

Before getting out I turned to Janos and asked, "Do you want to stay in the car while I run up or—"

"If you don't mind, I'd like to go up with you."

I smiled to reassure Janos that I didn't have a problem with him coming up with me. "I don't mind."

Neither Tony nor I were slobs. We tended to keep our apartment pretty tidy so I knew I wouldn't be embarrassed if Janos saw the place. Granted, it looked nothing like his penthouse, but it was still a nice place.

Once the driver opened the door, I slid out. I turned, expecting Janos to climb out the other side of the vehicle, but he just slid across the seat and got out on my side.

He took my hand as soon as he stood up. "Ready?"

I nodded and started leading him toward the building. "We won't be here long. I just need to change my clothes and grab a couple of things."

"Take whatever time you need, Gianni. I'm in no hurry."

He might not be, but I was. I wanted to see what he had planned for us. I tugged him into the building and directly over to the elevator to take us upstairs. The ride up to my apartment was silent and quick.

I couldn't keep the smile off my face when Janos refused to let go of my hand. "Are you like this all the time?"

"Like what?" he asked.

I held up our clasped hands. "Are you like this all the time?" I repeated. "Or are you just trying to impress me?"

Janos squinted for a moment as if thinking about it before saying, "Both."

I chuckled lightly. "It's working."

He was still holding my hand when we reached my apartment. I cocked an eyebrow and glanced at our clasped hands. "I'm going to need that back so I can unlock the door."

Janos sighed dramatically as he released his grip on my hand. "If you must."

I felt cold as soon as he let me go.

I shook the feeling off, dug my key out, and unlocked the door. I pushed it open and gestured for Janos to follow me. "This is home."

For now, at least. I still needed to break the news to Tony that I was moving out.

"It's nice," Janos stated as he looked around.

"If you want to wait here, I'm going to go change real quick. I'll only be a few minutes. There's coffee and water in the kitchen if you're thirsty." I had no idea what else might be in the fridge.

Janos slid his hands into his pockets and smiled at me. "I'm good."

I almost asked him if he wanted to go with me, but I figured it would be quicker if I went by myself. Despite what had happened the night before, I wasn't ready to invite Janos into my bedroom.

I wouldn't mind visiting his bedroom again, though.

I made quick work of finding something casual to wear for the day after reaching my bedroom. A pair of faded denim jeans, a tan leather belt, and my white deck shoes.

I did keep Janos's shirt though.

I decided to pack a change of clothes in my backpack along with the current medical texts I was reading just in case I stayed the night with Janos again. I wanted to be prepared for every possibility.

I heard voices as soon as I opened my bedroom door. They weren't loud, but they sounded kind of dark and aggressive. I hurried down the hallway to the living room.

Janos was still standing there with his hands in his slacks, but he was standing nose to nose with Tony.

"Hey, Tony."

Tony's head snapped in my direction. "Gianni?"

"I see you've met my—" My eyes darted to Janos. I had no idea how to introduce him. What was he comfortable with?

"I'm Janos." He smiled as he held his hand out to Tony. "I'm Gianni's boyfriend."

Tony's jaw dropped as he glanced back at Janos. "Boyfriend?" His gaze snapped back to me just as fast. "Since when?"

"Officially last night, but we've been seeing each other for a little while now." I knew that was pretty evasive, but I didn't want to have to tell Tony everything that was going on in my life right now. At least not until those test results were back.

"And you didn't tell me?"

I frowned at Tony. "You didn't tell me about your boyfriend either."

Tony's eyes rolled dramatically. "Ex-boyfriend."

I blinked at that sudden news. "Ex-boyfriend?"

"I caught that asshole sniffing in your underwear drawer two days ago. I kicked him out and told him if he ever tried to come around again, I'd call the police."

"He was in my underwear drawer?"

Gross.

"Don't worry," Tony said. "I tossed everything in the wash right after I kicked him out."

Still gross.

I needed new underwear.

"Who is this man?" Janos growled.

"Who cares?" Tony retorted harshly. "He's gone now and he damn well better never come back."

What a freaking headache.

Maybe I needed a lock on my bedroom door?

Oh wait, I wasn't staying here. It didn't matter if I had a lock on the door or not. Once I moved out, it wouldn't be my problem.

I wasn't ready to mention that to Tony just yet.

"Janos and I are going to head out," I stated. "If that asshole comes back, call me or call the police."

Tony nodded.

"You got my new number, right?"

I hated having to get a new number along with my new cell phone, but it was for the best. If someone had stolen it, they might be trying to use it. I didn't want the old number associated with my account.

"Yeah."

Janos walked over to stand by the door.

I stopped next to Tony and gripped his shoulder. "I'm sorry, man. Men can be real dicks."

"He seemed so nice, you know?" Tony mused as he plopped down on the couch and reached for the remote. "He had a good job. He dressed nice. He took me to some nice places. I really thought he was one of the good guys."

"You'll find someone, Tony," I replied, "and when you do it won't matter how he dresses or where he takes you. It'll be more important just to spend time together."

As I said these words, I glanced over to Janos. Maybe that was why he was taking the day off from work and taking me out? Just so we could spend time together.

Wouldn't that be cool?

I grabbed Janos's hand as I opened the door. I glanced back over my shoulder to Tony. "I may or may not be back tonight. I'll call to let you know so you don't worry."

Tony waved a dismissive hand at me, but he was already becoming engrossed in whatever he was watching on the television. I doubted he had heard a word I'd said.

It didn't really matter if I called or not. I could even text him if I needed to. We were roommates. We didn't live in each other's pockets. I was just trying to be polite by informing him of where I'd be.

When Janos and I got downstairs to the car, I handed my backpack to the driver. "Can you put this in the trunk?"

"Of course, sir," the man replied and then did exactly that.

I waited for Janos to get into the car before climbing in beside him and shutting the door. I turned to him with a smile. "Where to next?"

Janos wagged his eyebrows at me as the car took off, merging with traffic. "Secret."

I rolled my eyes.

"When do I get let in on this little secret of yours?"

"When we get there."

That was not helpful.

We'd been on the road for awhile when I saw a road sign. I gasped and turned to look at Janos. "We're going to Coney Island?"

"Surprise!"

I'd only been to Coney Island once before in my life. My parents had taken us three brothers there one day during the summer I turned ten years old. At the time, it had been the most exciting thing I'd ever experienced.

Sadly, due to my father's work schedule we hadn't been back. Over time, mine and my brothers' work schedules had added to the reasons we didn't go back.

"Thank you!" Before I could think about it, I leaned over and planted a kiss on Janos's cheek. As soon as I settled back in my seat, my eyes rounded.

Why had I done that?

I quickly turned to watch out the window, praying Janos couldn't see my flushed cheeks. I really hadn't meant to do that.

Silence hung in the air between me and Janos like a pendulum blade—heavy, sharp, and deadly. I wasn't sure why he wasn't talking, but I knew why I wasn't.

Even if I had packed a change of clothes in my backpack, I didn't want to put voice to my desire to spend another night in Janos's bed. I wasn't ready to acknowledge my desire for the handsome man and I was terrified he'd make me.

This thing between us—whatever it was—was happening way too fast for me. My experience with relationships could be counted on one hand with a couple of fingers left over.

I was in way over my head.