Heartsville 02 - Unscripted (Nico Jaye) by Heartsville Read Free Book Online Page B

gently tilting Teddy’s chin upward. Teddy’s breath caught in his throat as his eyelids fluttered shut.
    “Ahem.”
    Teddy sprang away from Carter and shot a look toward the doorway, where Gia stood in her box office uniform. She grinned before sweeping into the room.
    “Hey, big bro. Hard at work?”
    Teddy felt his cheeks burn. “Um….” Teddy couldn’t stop himself from looking at Carter, who raised a brow at him.
    Meanwhile, Gia crossed the room and stood in front of Carter.
    “Hi, I’m Gia, Teddy’s sister.” She extended her hand and looked at him expectantly.
    His lips twitching on a smile, Carter glanced at Teddy before reaching for Gia’s outstretched palm and shaking it. “Carter Monroe, Gia-Teddy’s-sister.”
    “So, you and Teddy…?” Gia’s speculative look had Teddy springing into action.
    “Gia,” Teddy said quickly, finally finding his voice. “Carter’s my new partner. In business,” Teddy hastily added. “He’s my new business partner. For the Oasis.”
    Teddy briefly wondered if he was going to speak in staccatos for the rest of his life.
    “Ooooh, okay,” Gia said. “So, you guys…?”
    “No!” Teddy nearly shouted. “Um, I mean, we’re just partners and—”
    “We’re working things out,” Carter offered.
    Teddy shot Carter a look because what the fuck did that mean?
    “Okaaay,” Gia said slowly with a curious look of her own. Moving into the room, she eyed a stack of storage totes before pulling the lid off the top one labeled “Accessories.” Gia dug her hands into the contents and started lifting things out. “Anyway, I was ending my shift when one of the Vizion guys asked if we had any extra eyeglass frames. Someone apparently stepped on Viola-slash-Cesario’s glasses. And the backup pair too,” she said, her dark wavy hair covering her face as she bent over the box to rifle through it.
    Teddy caught Carter’s inquiring gaze. “Gia works here part-time in the box office,” he explained.
    “Just until I can convince that Clique guy he needs an intern,” Gia called over her shoulder. “A paid one!”
    Teddy stood there, close enough to smell Carter, yet not touching. He had such an awareness of Carter’s presence, his skin felt prickly.
    “Ah! Here it is. Actually, we have three, yay,” Gia said, straightening with a smile. She set all three glasses cases aside, then repacked the tote before securing the lid again.
    Gia grabbed the cases and turned to Teddy. “Hey, so I’ll see you Sunday?”
    “Sunday?” Carter asked, looking between them with his brows raised.
    Gia turned to face him, a sly look inching across her face. “Sunday dinner, Carter-who’s-Teddy’s-partner- business -partner,” she said, her eyes glittering with mischief. “You know, you should come. I’ll bet Mama and Pops would love to meet you, and they always cook up a feast anyway.”
    Teddy had already guessed Gia’s train of thought and was shaking his head vigorously, his eyes wide with growing horror. When Carter glanced at him, Teddy stopped his movement abruptly and offered him a weak smile.
    “You… you really don’t want to come, honestly,” Teddy managed to say. “It’ll be loud, and it’s all the way in the city.”
    “I live in the city already, Teodoro,” Carter pointed out.
    “Ooooh, Teodoro,” Gia said, grinning widely.
    Teddy narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re one to talk, Giacinta ,” he said, barely resisting the urge to stick his tongue out.
    Carter whistled low under his breath. “I’ll admit I’m incredibly curious, even if only to find out everyone else’s names.”
    Gia turned her attention back to Carter, her gaze reflecting both delight and her own curiosity. “You should definitely come, then; it’ll be way more fun with some new blood around. Teddy can give you the address.”
    “Actually,” Teddy said, breaking in and wondering when he’d lost control of the situation, “there’s another show on Sunday—”
    “Teddy!