Page 23 of His Playground (Owning Vegas #2)
Chapter Twenty-Two
C arlo’s comment about me changing my major to literally anything else has had me thinking a lot. What would I want to do if I weren’t studying business law?
There was a time when I was interested in chemistry.
That feels like a lifetime ago now. Everything has changed so much.
Never in a million years did I think I’d be giving Carlo a second chance to destroy my heart.
But here I am, fully in this marriage, hoping against hope that he’s just as committed as I am.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Luna sits down opposite me.
I look up, surprised. I didn’t hear anyone approach. I’ve been sitting in the back corner of the little coffee shop on campus for over an hour. Debating my future. Carlo’s armed beefcakes are two tables down from me, pretending they belong here when it’s completely obvious they don’t.
Holding out a palm, I smile at my friend, welcoming the interruption. “Pay up first, and then I might be obliged to tell you my thoughts.”
Luna pulls a penny from her bag and plops it onto my palm. “This better be worth my money.”
“I was thinking that I have the best friends in the universe.” I smile at her.
“Liar!” she gasps. “You took my penny and lied.”
“You don’t know that I’m lying. There is literally no way for you to tell what I was thinking.” I laugh, dropping the penny onto the table.
“So, I’m guessing whatever happened the other day is over with, being that you’re out in the open and all.” Luna waves an arm around the café.
I don’t know the details, and I didn’t ask.
It’s not my place to ask, just to trust the men in my life.
My stomach turns at the thought. I’m being complacent without even realizing I’m doing it.
When Carlo told me the issue was dealt with and that I could return to school this morning, I didn’t even question him.
That needs to change. I can ask him what happened. He might not tell me. That doesn’t mean I can’t ask, though.
I lift a shoulder. “I have no idea what happened.” It’s not the first time I’ve had to be evasive with my friends. It’s better for them if they don’t know too much about that side of my life.
“Right, got it. How are you settling into being a stepmother?” she asks.
“Jazzy is the sweetest. She makes it easy.” That’s the truth.
She really is a sweet little girl with a heart of gold.
I hope she never loses that. The world she’s entered has a way of hardening people, making them jaded.
Jazzy still looks for the good in people, even the people she should be running from.
“That’s good. You do seem happy—other than whatever you were thinking about when I came up on you,” Luna says.
“Carlo told me to decide what I wanted to study. And do it,” I explain.
“That’s amazing. What are you going to do?”
“That’s the thing… I have no idea what I would do if I wasn’t studying business law. I’m decent at it. Maybe I should just stick it out.” Picking up my now-cold coffee, I drink the last dregs from the bottom of the cup.
“You don’t have to decide today. You’re finally getting the freedom you always wanted. Your father would never let you choose your degree. Your husband seems more… within the twenty-first century.”
If only she knew how very traditional Carlo was about certain things… Like when I asked him for a separate apartment. He would rather live under the same roof in separate rooms if needed, then let me live alone. Not that I want to do that now.
“Yeah, I guess. I have to go. I have a class in five.” I stand and sling my bag onto my shoulder.
“I’ll talk to you later,” Luna says with a wave.
Beefcake one and two follow me out of the coffee shop. I only make it three steps before I slam into a brick wall. The brick wall that is my husband.
“Carlo? What are you doing here? Did something happen? Where’s Jazzy?” I ask while looking around frantically.
“Nothing happened. Jazzy is fine. She’s with Charlotte. I’m here to pick up my wife. I want to show you something.” He takes hold of my hand.
“I have a class.”
“Can you skip it?” He eyes me pleadingly.
“I’ve missed a lot of classes lately.” My teeth sink into my bottom lip. I want to just say to hell with it and go with him. But I also don’t want to miss any more school.
“Okay, let’s go to your class first. Then I’ll show you what I want to show you.” He holds out an arm, gesturing for me to walk ahead of him. “Lead the way.”
“You can’t seriously be coming to class with me, Carlo,” I hiss as I walk past him.
He doesn’t let go of my hand. Instead, he matches my steps. “Why not?”
“Because you’re not even a student here.” I sigh. “It’s not allowed.”
“I dare someone to try to tell me I can’t escort my wife to class,” he grunts.
I roll my eyes. Of course no one in their right mind is going to tell Carlo Bianchi what he can and cannot do. “Fine, but you have to be quiet.”
“You won’t hear a word out of me,” he says, zipping his lips with his fingers.
Ten minutes into the lecture, which the TA has started because the professor hasn’t turned up yet, Carlo leans over. His arm wraps around the back of my chair. “Is this actually interesting to you?” he whispers.
“It’s not bad,” I whisper back. “And you’re not supposed to be talking.”
“Right, sorry. Carry on.” Carlo points to the front of the room.
Not long after that, the professor walks in and apologizes for being late.
Carlo straightens in his chair. “That’s your professor?” he asks. “Is he even old enough to be teaching you?”
“Yes, and yes,” I reply.
“I just uploaded the grades for your last paper. Good work. Most of you. As you are all aware, there’s a position open for a spot on a trial with me for one of Nevada’s biggest cases.
The person I’m giving that spot to is Miss Marciano.
Please come and see me after class.” Professor George looks right at me.
“It’s Mrs. Bianchi,” Carlo growls out loud enough for the entire room to hear.
“I’m sorry? Who are you? You’re not one of my students,” Professor George says to Carlo, who pushes up to his full height. I tug on the arm of his suit jacket, trying to get him to sit back down.
“Carlo Bianchi, her husband,” he says, gesturing to me. “And I’d appreciate you using my wife’s actual name when addressing her.”
“Carlo, sit down,” I hiss under my breath. I can feel the heat on my face. I bet it’s red.
“Right, my apologies, Mr. Bianchi. I didn’t realize. The change hasn’t been submitted to the college,” Professor George says.
Carlo finally sits down. He looks at me. “You haven’t changed your name?”
“I’ve hardly been here,” I remind him. “It’s not a big deal. It’s just a name.”
“It’s a big deal to me.”
“Let’s go.” I pack my books into my bag and storm out of the class. I don’t know if I can ever return after today. Or if I can actually take that spot on the legal team with Professor George.
I don’t wait for Carlo to follow me. I know he will. I stomp out of the building. Carlo catches up without saying a word. He takes hold of my hand and leads me over to the parking lot, where I silently climb into his car when he opens the passenger door for me, all while fuming on the inside.
How dare he come and embarrass me like that!
Doesn’t he realize I have to face those people every day?
Doesn’t he care that my professor probably thinks so much less of me now?
I just let my husband speak for me in front of the entire class.
What kind of lawyer will I be if I can’t even speak up in front of my husband?