“That I would fall so far from grace?” I laughed.
“That Marco Grado would fall in love. And with my friend, of all people.”
I nearly had to pull the car to the side of the road. “What did you just say?”
“Tris called me last night. He’s there, in Grado Valley.”
I thought of Marco’s text. “He’s with his sister, Lusanne?” I asked, pieces of the puzzle coming together.
“Yes, for two or three days. I couldn’t get away, otherwise you know I’d have jumped at the chance to see you and came with them. But he had to be there—long story. I’ll tell you later. So I’ve basically got both of our places for the next few days.”
It cracked me up that they still ran two competing restaurants in the same town.
Kind of like Grado. And Sunset. How did I never draw the comparison before?
“Now I’m curious. But even more curious about what you said before. About Marco.”
“Ok, so Tris called me last night. He and Lusanne were at dinner with the family. And apparently, he and the boys got drunk, including Marco, who talked about you non-stop. Something about a fight, but he was going to make it up to you. And then they were ribbing him about making fun of the others for all getting married and engaged etcetera, but that he understood now that he was in love too.”
“He said that? Like, those exact words?”
“I mean, I’m paraphrasing a bit. But he definitely said that he was in love. Tris said they were all hooting and hollering but that Marco didn’t seem to care. And then when he asked more about you, Tris realized who they were talking about. I wanted to call you last night, but it was like one in the morning.”
I pulled into a space at the gym, and just sat there.
In love.
“So, how about you tell me what’s going on? I get one phone call asking about him and then boom! Marco’s head over heels. Not that I’m surprised. Actually, I am surprised a bit. Even though of course he's in love with you because you’re amazing. But this isMarcowe’re talking about.”
“He was relentless. I tried really hard to resist, but his charm offensive is strong.”
“Runs in the family,” she said. “But you know what? Maybe I was too quick to warn you away. Tris’s brother Gian is like a carbon copy of Marco. I swear they were cut from the same cloth. None of us ever thought he’d settle down, but then he up and fell in love too. And he fell hard.”
“So Lusanne is the only unattached one in the family left?”
“Mmm, not exactly. Gian’s girlfriend broke up with him two weeks ago. His way of coping has been to double down on dating anyone and everyone.”
“That’s such a great love story,” I teased, finally ready to get out of the car after the bombshell Evie dropped.
She laughed. “I’m pretty sure after talking to Tris yours will turn out a little better than that. My point is, even rakes can be reformed.”
“Rakes? You must be on a Regency kick again.”
“You know it. Hey, gotta run. I just had to see what was going on and pass along the intel.”
“I appreciate it,” I said. More than she realized.
“Let’s catch up soon. You can tell me how it’s going at Sunset.”
Ugh, that was definitely a story that could wait. “Sounds good. Talk soon. And thanks for calling,” I added. “This helped a lot.”
“Glad to hear it. I don’t know what you guys fought about, but it sounds like you’ve got Marco wrapped around your finger.”
“I’m not sure about that, but at least I know what to do now.”
I opened the door to the gym, scanned my tag and smiled at Shaun.
“Go easy on him,” she said. And then apparently changed her mind. “Actually, don’t. Marco deserves a little bit of hell before your heaven.”