Page 79 of One Sweet Day is Never Enough

“What?” Gia’s brow tightened and she sat up. “Warn me? About what?”

Tom took a deep breath and let it out. “Stacey rented an apartment at my complex today. She took the key this afternoon. Apparently, she signed the lease a few days ago, and I saw it, but I didn’t put two and two together and realize who she was—until she showed up today.”

Gia sat up and stared at him. “She rented an apartment here?”

Tom nodded.

She considered it for a few seconds, her thoughts racing. “That’s unbelievable. But, how did you know who she was? Was she walking around telling perfect strangers about her and Seth or something?”

Tom cast his gaze across the room and then looked back at her. He shook his head. “No. But I have a confession to make.”

Gia’s face fell. She lowered her voice. “What are you talking about?”

Tom looked her in the eye. “Okay. Seth came and looked at the apartment for her a few weeks ago, like, well over a week before the bonfire. I showed him the unit. He told me his name, and you had just told us about him at the diner that week, so it clicked for me who he was. And when I asked, he said the place wasn’t for him—it was for his girlfriend…” Tom looked at the floor. “From California.”

Gia’s eyes went wide. She shook her head emphatically. “That can’t be right.” She crossed her arms. “He said he wanted to leave her for weeks before he met me. Why wouldn’t he tell me this?”

“Gia, apparently she told our receptionist that she had a job lined up already, too—at the Pederson Winery.”

Gia sat back. “A job? Oh, my gosh.”

She stood up and started pacing in front of the coffee table, distraught. “But how—why...? And how could he check out an apartment for her and never even tell me she’d been planning to move here?” This was much more serious than he’d let on. “He was going to give her a job, really?”

“And apparently, she still thinks he is.” Tom sighed.

“Well, maybe not after tonight.” Gia cocked a brow.

Did she?

There’s no way.

But still.

How could he have left out such important details about Stacey? Things between them had obviously been much more serious than he’d even let on.

Gia’s stomach started to turn again.

She leaned forward on the couch and ran her hands through her hair. Then again, he’d explainedsomeof this. He had told Gia it had been serious. Maybe Seth had figured she’d realize the apartment and the job were no longer happening when they broke up and never thought Stacey would think otherwise? Maybe he thought it was water under the bridge. Thathadto be it.

Still, why hadn’t he told Gia about all this? She’d asked him specifically to be up front with her. He’d said he would.

Gia’s cheeks felt warm. She stared at Tom. “But wait, Tom—you knew about this and you didn’t tell me, either.” She raised her voice a notch. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Tom scratched his head. “I know. And I’m sorry. But honestly, I was trying to protect you.” He turned up his mouth on one side. “There was no certainty in it at that point—she hadn’t actually rented the place yet—and then you told me a few weeks later that Seth broke up with her, so I figured it was over and done with.” He stopped to study Gia’s face. “But then, out of nowhere, she showed up today. Someone else in the office processed the paperwork for her this week. I only realized who she was when she walked into the office with a couple of suitcases to pick up her key, and she gave me her name. I asked her what had brought her to Heritage Bay and she told me. I called you as soon as she left.”

Gia cupped a hand across her mouth. She sat back down on the couch and pulled her feet underneath her legs. “I’m sorry I didn’t take your call.” She cast a shadowed look at Tom. “But I really wish you’d have told me before. Maybe some of this craziness would never have happened if I’d have known because I would’ve confronted Seth with it, way before any of this could happen.” Gia crossed her arms over her chest. “Or at least I’d have known what I was getting myself into.”

Tom blew out a breath. “I wish I had, too.”

Gia huffed. Now she was angry with both of the men in her life.

Tom sat forward on the couch. “Maybe I should go.”

“I think that would be best.” Her voice was still harsh. She stared at the carpet. “I need to be alone.” Her thoughts still churned, but she no longer wanted to talk.

Tom nodded, stood up, and went to grab his phone on the other end of the room. He pulled up the app and called a ride. “It says the guy’ll be here in five minutes. I’ll wait outside.” He opened the door to leave and looked back. “I’m sorry, Gia.”

This was not how she’d expected this night to go down—not at all. She looked up. “Wait.” She stood up and hurried over then hugged him. “I’m sorry, too. Thanks for looking out for me.”

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