CH 26

“Thank you for giving me a ride home Nikolas.” Gia said getting out of his jag. “No problem Sparky.” Nik said. “Why don’t I fix you some coffee and we can talk?” Gia suggested. Nik scrunched up his face at his wife. “OK, why don’t you fix your own coffee and we can talk?” Gia said. Nik laughed and nodded his head. He and Gia walked up to Gia’s door and stopped abruptly when they saw Lucky leaning up against the door. “Hey, can I talk to you both?” Lucky asked. Gia immediately said yes but Lucky saw the resistance on his brothers’ face. “Please Nikolas, it’s important.” Lucky said. Nik nodded his head and both men let Gia open the door and let them in.

Nik walked into Gia’s penthouse and looked around. It hurt him more than he thought it would when he looked around. The fact that Gia was living in the lonely looking place made him sad. The well-decorated penthouse looked very nice, it just didn’t feel like Gia. It made him more then ever to have her home with him. He needed to get her out of here. A feeling of jealousy surprisingly stung him when Lucky made himself comfortable, the knowledge that his brother had been here before and he hadn’t was hard for him to take.

Gia felt uncomfortable with Nik in her new home. The way he was walking around and looking at things unnerved her. The tension in the room was brutal, looking between Lucky and Nik she saw the look of jealousy on her husbands face and maybe even sadness, it was killing her. “Coffee?” She asked looking back and forth between the two men. Nik nodded yes and Lucky nodded no. Gia reached up in the cupboard and turned around, grinning at Nik as she held the coffee can out towards him. Nik smiled and walked toward her, taking it from her hands. Their fingers lightly touched together and they both had to blink away the electricity they felt flow through their body’s. Nik walked past her and went to work making coffee.

Gia sat down on the couch next to Lucky and tucked her legs underneath her as she faced him. “How did today go?” Lucky asked. Nik’s head snapped at the sound of their voices and was hurt that they were talking. “Oh Lucky, it was the most amazing thing ever!” Gia said smiling. Nik’s lips curled as he heard the excitement in her voice, the same excitement me felt about it. “That’s great Gia.” Lucky said smiling.

Nik brought himself a mug of coffee over and sat in a chair across from the couch and placed it on the coffee table before him. They sat there in silence for a while, no one brave enough to start the conversation. Nik quietly sipped his coffee until he finally Nik broke the silence, turning to Lucky. “So what was it you wanted to tell us?” Nik asked. Lucky looked uncomfortable as he rubbed his throbbing fist. “I uh went to go see Casey today.” Lucky said. Nik’s eyebrows knitted as he looked at his brother. “Yeah, and?” He asked. After brief irritation at his brother’s tone, Lucky spoke. “Look, I know you think that guy is your friend but he’s not Nikolas.” Lucky said looking his brother in the eyes. “And why should I believe anything you tell me Lucky?” Nik asked. Ignoring his brothers question Lucky turned to face Gia. “Gia, the other day when we were at looks and you were talking to Casey. What kind of vibes did you get from him?” Lucky asked. Gia looked down as she thought for a moment, she looked back up at him when she came to her conclusion. “Like her was hitting on me. But Lucky, a lot of men do that.” Gia said blushing. This caught Nik’s attention, he looked over at Gia and could tell that she was uncomfortable talking about Casey. “I know Gia but I don’t think that he simply has a crush on you, I think he thinks he’s in love with you.” Lucky said. “You know, he told me that if I ever needed to talk, that he was there. He even gave me his business card.” Gia said. “When I walked up so see you two talking, I could tell that you were uncomfortable.” Lucky said. Gia nodded. “I was, he even touched my hair and my face. It was pretty creepy.” Gia said. Nik looked over at his wife and ached at the look of disgust he saw on her face. Memories of the night of the party came rushing back to Nikolas as images of the look on Casey’s face when he bet his wife flood back. As these images continued to flash, a sinking feeling began to brew in the pit of his stomach. Hearing Gia talk about how he was touching her was driving him crazy.

“I went to his office today and confronted him about it, what he said shocked me.” Lucky said. “What did he say?” Nik finally spoke quietly. “Well I yelled at him for trying to hook up with a pregnant woman. He seemed shocked at first but then he said something that pissed me off.” Lucky said. “What did he say?” Nik asked, afraid to hear the answer. “He said that if it meant being with Gia, that he would raise your bastard son.” Lucky said looking at his brother. Gia gasped and stood up. “He said that? That sick f*ck! I’ll go right over there and kick his ass!’ Gia yelled as her hands flailed around. Lucky reached up and gently pulled Gia back down on the couch. “Gia calm down. You need to think about the baby and it won’t be safe to go see him. Besides I already took care of it.” Lucky said. “You, you did?” Gia asked. Lucky nodded and smirked as he showed Gia is swelled knuckles. Gia laughed and hugged her friend.

Nik hadn’t said a word. Hearing Lucky refer to his child as a bastard not only angered him immensely, but it hurt him. He thought about what Casey had told him about Gia. His heart hurt at the thought of how mean he was to her and Lucky. He couldn’t believe that Casey let him to doubt his own wife. He was shocked and hurt that a man he considered to be his friend would do this to him. Nik slowly stood from his chair, saying nothing as he went over and placed his mug in the sink.

Gia watched Nik as he silently placed the dish in the sink and was concerned for him. She expected him to yell out in rage but he didn’t, he didn't say anything. “I have to go.” Nik said quietly, Gia barely heard him. “Nikolas, are you OK?” Gia asked. Nikolas nodded and attempted a weak smile that never reached his eyes. He walked over to Gia who was now standing. “Thank you for letting me come see the Ultrasound with you today.” He said quietly. Gia nodded her head as she looked at his face. “Nikol..” Gia started to say but was cut off. “Gia I just have to go, I’ll talk to you later.” He kissed her on the cheek and walked out the door. He walked straight to his car, got in and headed towards Cassadine Industries to Casey’s new office.