This is my first Ugly Betty fiction, so it's certainly my first Gio/Betty. It begins directly after Bananas for Betty and I have yet to decide if I want to update it immediately or wait until "Zero Worship." But I promise that I will update!
Anyway, please read and tell me what you think. Thanks!
Chapter 1
"I don't think I'm the Suarez sister you like."
Gio stood there in front of Hilda, squinting, trying to understand her words for what felt like hours. But after only a few moments, he knew he must say something. She looked determined to believe what she had said and he knew protestations to the contrary would only make them both more uncomfortable. He certainly wasn't going to agree with her out of tact and confusion.
So he was relieved when she stuck out her hand and said, "Goodnight, Gio."
His mouth was an apologetic straight line, his lips curling in. He took her hand, firmly yet gently, saying, "Goodnight, Hilda. I did have fun with you."
She smiled disappointedly again and nodded. "Just be careful," she said, her eyes honest and stern. "She loves Henry."
His eyes darted away from hers. He turned and opened the door in silence, only looking back quickly as a voiceless goodbye before closing the door behind him.
He stood on the Suarezes' front step and looked out at the neighborhood. It was sprinkling and looked liked it was going to start raining again. He contemplated standing there and waiting for the rain to hit his face.
It would be the second hit of the night.
As he walked down the steps towards his van, he let out a sigh. He had had a good time with Hilda. He had thought that she did as well. When he asked her out a second time, he was almost sure that she would accept.
Hilda Suarez was his type. She was like almost every girlfriend he had ever had. She was sweet, vivacious, sexy. She was a girl from the neighborhood. And what was better, and different than other women, was that she was genuine, funny, and had goals.
And she was honest.
When she said that she thought he liked Betty, she meant it. But he didn't understand it. He turned on the ignition and put the van into gear. He began thinking about Betty. It was crazy to think that he liked her.
Not because she wasn't pretty. He was sure that the Mode Girls she worked with must think she was ugly, but he did not agree. Her long hair was so dark and looked soft and touchable. Her eyes were even darker and had such life to them, a laughter and wit and passionate temper that shone brightly with everything she said. She was of a good height and had a nice smile, especially when she was purely happy. And she was an eater. For a cook, that was a great trait to have. To him, she was definitely attractive.
It was crazy for him to like her because she was kind of annoying. Pushy. A know-it-all. She only talked to him when she needed something. She always thought she had a better plan or idea than he did. But he did have to admit that he usually liked her thoughts, even if the way she expressed them could drive him crazy.
There weren't too many women that could make him quack in public. And there were fewer that would woof in return.
He laughed softly to himself as he parked and got out. It was fun to piss her off. But that did not mean that he liked her. She was a friend. A new friend. There were plenty of reasons why he didn't want her.
She got him fired.
But it did kick start his plans.
She was constantly making a disgusted face when he said something teasingly or sexual.
But her wrinkled nose was cute.
She loved Henry.
But she seemed restless. Unsure.
By the time he got to his apartment and inside his living room, he was more confused than ever. His sister Antonella had mentioned something about him "scamming" on her, but he hadn't paid much attention. And now Hilda was saying it too.
Could he really like her?
Dropping his keys onto the coffee table, he thought back to when he first met her. He did find her charming and he remembered flirting with her initially, but he hadn't done that since he found out about her boyfriend.
He didn't think he was flirting anymore. And even if he was, she wasn't paying attention anyway. Hilda was right. Henry was there for four more months and Betty seemed determined to spend those months worshipping Egg Salad.
Unwillingly, his mind fluttered to the idea of what type of sandwich Betty would see him as. He shook his head, embarrassed of the silly thought.
He took off his leather jacket and started to strip. Once he was only in his boxers, he fell onto his bed with a long breath and closed his eyes. He was exhausted.
When he turned over and gripped the empty pillow beside him, pulling it close to him, words whispered through his mind.
And then Gio can show you his fancy dance moves.
…………………………………
The sunlight came through the window and warmed Henry's face, waking him up. He stretched and before he opened his eyes, he slid his hand over to Betty's side of the bed. But he only felt sheets. As he became more awake, he heard blow-dryer and could smell the sweet, fruity fragrance of body wash.
He smiled at the thought of her being damp and wanted to snuggle his nose into her neck and smell her warm, feminine perfume.
Last night had ended well once they had made up after their fight. They had both decided that they just wanted each other. What would happen in four months could be forgotten for the time being.
He was certainly ready to forget about Giovanni Rossi. Betty had made it clear the night before that she didn't want or need him to be like Gio, but he still wasn't sure. She didn't realize how often she spoke of him and what he thought.
But he pushed that fear away. Gio didn't have her heart. Henry did. And he planned on keeping it.
Looking over at the clock, he saw it was only 8:00. When he heard the blow-dryer shut off, he called into the bathroom, saying, "Betty, what are you doing up so early? It's Saturday."
She peeked her head out the door while she put an earring in her left ear. "I know. I was going to go home and check in."
He flinched when she still referred the Suarez house as her home but chose to ignore it. "Is everything okay?"
She shrugged. "Yeah, I just wanted to see how Hilda's date went last night."
He swallowed. "Can't you just call her?"
She gave him an exasperated look. "Henry, this was the first date she's been on since Santos died."
He looked down at his hands. "I know. I'm sorry. But they seemed to be having fun."
She went back into the bathroom to finish her earrings and makeup. "She was pretty drunk."
He sat up. "Hilda knows how to take care of herself."
Betty made a face in front of the mirror but didn't say anything. When she stepped out of the bathroom, she was ready and picked up her purse. "I'll be back in a little while. Then I thought we could get some lunch."
"Sounds good," he said sweetly and kissed her goodbye. Once she left, he fell back onto the bed, disappointed that she hadn't asked him to go with her.
……………………………
She slipped quietly into the house and could instantly smell eggs cooking. She went into the kitchen and hugged her father. He kissed her on the forehead.
"What are you doing here so early, mija?"
She went to the refrigerator and poured two glasses of orange juice, one for him and another for her. "I wanted to check on Hilda."
He raised his eyebrows. "Good luck, mija. They got in pretty late last night. I don't think she's going to stir until at least 11:00."
She looked up as if she could see through the ceiling. "Do you think he's up there, too?"
He put his hands up in defense. "I don't want to know. Seeing Santos in her robe was enough to kill my heart."
She smiled softly, squeezed his hand, and headed upstairs. She went into her sister's bedroom and saw her sprawled out in bed. When she saw the window open, her face dropped and she couldn't help but say, "Oh, Hilda, you made him climb out the window?"
Hilda, who had been in a deep sleep, jumped and fell out of bed. Rubbing her head, she looked up to see her sister. "Betty! Are you trying to kill me?"
Betty rolled her eyes. "Please. If I wanted to perform fratricide, I would have done it years ago."
Hilda just stared at her. "If you are going to say big words, wait until I've had some coffee. And speak softly."
Betty smirked. "Rough night?"
She stood up. "You could say that."
Betty went over to the window and shut it. "Did you really have to make him go out the window?"
Hilda waved her arms in frustration. "Ay, Betty, no. It was hot, okay? I opened a window. I went to bed by myself."
She squinted. "But in the club, it seemed like…"
Hilda grabbed some clothes to take to the bathroom. She thought her sister seemed jealous, even though she would never admit it. Even if she wasn't jealous, she was dying to know what happened. Hilda knew that Betty loved Henry and that he loved her. It would do no good to tell her that Gio had feelings for her. "It just didn't work out," she said.
She followed Hilda into the hallway and asked, "Are you okay? I thought you really liked each other."
Hilda's back was turned to her, so Betty didn't see her close her eyes and sigh. When she turned to look at her, she said, "Yeah, I'm okay. Mira, it just wasn't right. He said that he wanted to be friends."
Betty frowned. After a few moments thought, she said perkily, "Well, it's his loss." Hilda thanked her and hugged her. Betty went back downstairs to talk to Papi. But before she left her, she said, "He doesn't know a great thing when he sees it."
Hilda watched her leave and said under her breath, "Yes, he does."
She went into the bathroom and closed the door. Hilda didn't like lying to her sister—well, not about this anyway. But if she had told her that she was the one to break it off instead of Gio, Betty would have pushed her to tell her why. She knew it was better for everyone if Betty thought that Gio had ended the date. Gio would eventually be forgotten and Betty could go back to obsessing over Henry.
And Hilda could go back to trying to find the right person for her.
…………………………
Betty and Henry sat down at their favorite restaurant and ordered their drinks.
"So how did the date go?"
She raised her eyebrows. "Not well. But Hilda seems to be taking the rejection as well as expected."
Readjusting his glasses, he asked, "Gio rejected her?"
She nodded. "That's what she said. I was surprised."
Henry was less surprised. "It just wasn't meant to be," he said. Then he smiled and took her hand, implying that they were.
She was too deep in her own thoughts to notice and simply smiled back mindlessly. "I don't understand why he wouldn't want to be with her."
Maybe he likes someone else, Henry thought. But instead, he said, "Hilda deserves someone that wants to be with her. Just like you do."
This time, Betty did hear him and gave him a big smile. "I wonder who that could be," she said teasingly as she squeezed his hand.
…………………………….
Monday, Daniel walked by her desk and told her good morning. She followed him into his office and gave him the messages that had already piled up and reminded him of his upcoming meetings.
"Can I leave a little early today?" Betty asked. "I need to pick up Justin after school."
Daniel had been focusing on prints on his desk but looked up at the mention of Justin. Quietly, he asked, "How are they—Justin and Hilda?"
She was touched that he asked. Looking down at her agenda, she said, "Every day gets better. Hilda's dating again."
He raised his eyebrows. "Is it serious?"
Shaking her head, she said, "No. It was just one date with Gio. It didn't end well."
He stood up and came around the desk, resting on the edge of it. "The sandwich guy? Did he ask her out?"
Her forehead and nose wrinkled. "No, she asked him. Why?"
He leaned back and took a deep breath, his eyes trying to avoid hers. "C'mon, Betty."
"What, Daniel? Why would Gio not go out with Hilda?"
He stood up and folded his arms in front of him. "I don't want to have this conversation. We talk about our relationships too much."
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "What are you talking about?"
He walked over to her, letting out an exasperated breath. "Gio. I'm talking about Gio. And you."
She paused, as if frozen in time. She stammered, "There…there is no Gio and me."
He put his hands on either side of her shoulders. "Betty, he might have been a fake boyfriend, but the way I saw him look at you was anything but fake. He can't go out with your sister because he wants to be with you."
She was almost shuddering from the inability to say something. "Can I leave early to pick up Justin?" she asked stubbornly, defensively.
He backed away and said softly, "Yeah."
………………………
The rest of the day dragged on. It felt like she was being tortured by needles. She tried to tell herself that it wasn't pangs of guilt and worry and confusion.
At noon, she grabbed her purse and tried to rush out of the building before she ran into Christina and Henry. But she was too slow and ran physically right into Henry. He grabbed onto her waist to keep their balance and they both laughed as they stood straight again.
Henry smiled big, adjusted his glasses and said, "I was looking for you. Do you want to get some lunch?"
She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. She didn't want to lie to him. The truth was harmless. But she instinctually knew that he wouldn't like where she was headed. So she said, "I'd love to, Henry, but Daniel has me working through lunch today so I can pick Justin up from school today."
He nodded, saying, "Okay. I'll see you at home?"
She smiled at him in agreement and hurried towards the elevator.
…………………………
She glared at the smiling pickle on the glass door before she opened it and went inside the deli.
Gio, busy with customers, looked up and smiled. "There she is," he started and when he saw the alarmed look on her face, his smile warmed and he finished, "the writer!"
She still blushed as people turned to look at her, but she was relieved.
He finished the current sandwich he had been preparing and from over the counter, asked, "Hey, do you want something to eat? I'll even put four sun-dried tomatoes on it for ya."
She gripped her purse tighter and laughed nervously. "Can I talk to you?"
He paused, looking at her and was concerned. He leaned over to the guy beside him, who looked quite a bit older and was balding. "Could you take over for me?"
The guy didn't look up. He only nodded and mumbled, "Claro, vaya con la chava."
Gio took off his apron and waved her to go around the counter. He opened the door for her so that she could pass through and then took her to a break room. "We can talk in here."
They sat in a few moments of uncomfortable silence while Gio waited for her to say something. It reminded her of that scene in Pride and Prejudice right before Mr. Darcy proposed but it made her stomach flip-flop to compare Gio to Mr. Darcy and she pushed the thought away.
"Uh, are you okay? Are you sure you don't want a sandwich?" he asked.
That made her stir and she began to ramble. "Is that your comfort item? Food? Do you relate everything back to food?"
He cocked an eyebrow and leaned over to look into her purse. A bag of chips and a wrapped muffin were peeking out. "I use food for comfort?"
She gave him a look, the one she often did. "Okay, so we have something in common. Yay for us," she said sarcastically.
His face got serious. "What's going on?"
She looked into his face and for the first time since she had met him saw all concern and no joking. She glanced away. "What did you do to my sister?"
He blinked. He blinked again. Then he shifted his head and searched for the right words. "What are you talkin' about?" he asked in that deep, husky voice. The Suarez sisters were killing him.
She shrugged as her voice got high pitched. "She's been quiet all weekend and she wouldn't really tell me what happened. She just seems worried or bothered. And I can only guess that it's because you told her that you don't want to see her again."
His jaw dropped and he was shocked at first. But it made sense that Hilda would try to protect Betty and Henry from him if she thought he liked Betty. He knew that if he told Betty that it had actually been Hilda, she would inevitably make him confess what Hilda thought, or Hilda would have to tell her. So to protect himself and everyone else involved, he lied as well. "It just didn't work, Betty. I would like for her to be a friend."
Betty dared not ask him what she really wanted to know. She stuck her bottom lip out and said, "It's just that it was her first date since Justin's dad died. I was hoping that it would work out."
He didn't want to admit that his heart sunk at the thought that Betty wanted him with her sister. "Love isn't perfect, Betty. Searching for it isn't either."
Her eyes flew to his and they stared at each other for a few moments before she broke the stare.
Quietly, he asked, "Is she okay?"
She picked up her purse. "She's Hilda. She eventually gets through everything."
Watching her stand, he stood as well and followed her to the door. Before she opened it, he reached out and grabbed her arm. They both stopped and she turned slowly to look back at him.
A strand of hair brushed across his face as he said, "Are you okay?"
She smirked and her voice lilted again. "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"
He put his hands out in front of him. "I don't know. You came all the way down here during lunch on a Monday to ask me what I told your sister."
"I just worry about her."
He opened the door for her. "Who worries about you?"
She set her jaw firmly, but not angrily when she said, "My boyfriend."
He watched her leave the deli, then he closed the door again and sat back down at the break table. He put his head in his hands and closed his eyes.
He felt like he had been kicked in the gut.
TBC