Part Thirteen

            Carly was still musing over the idea of Jason and Gia when Sonny came in.  He smiled when he saw her stretched out on the couch.  She smiled back, and then threw her magazine aside.  "How was your morning?"

            "Boring." Sonny said sitting next to her.  "But I think things will pick up now." He leaned over and placed a kiss on Carly's neck.

            "Did Jason have anything interesting to talk about?" Carly asked as she closed her eyes and moved closer to her husband.

            Sonny pulled back.  "No…why?"

            "Well, I happen to know something about him and I wondered if he talked to you about it." Carly told him.

            "Now I am completely lost." Sonny admitted.  "Tell me what's going on."

            "I was talking to Gia, and she told me that she kissed Jason last night.  I was just wondering if he told you about it.  You are his best friend after all." Carly pointed out.

            "Yeah, but we don't talk about things like that." He leaned back against the couch.  "Gia kissed him, huh?" Sonny shook his head.  "That's interesting."

            "You're darn right it is." Carly said.  "I think this is the beginning of something.  In fact, the more I think about it, the more I think those two are perfect for each other."

            "You're just saying that because they are your best friends." Sonny told her.

            "And all they need is a little shove in the general direction of love…"

            "Oh no!" Sonny declared.  "Not this again."

            "What are you talking about?" Carly asked him. 

            "This is the whole Zander and Courtney things all over again." Sonny reminded her.  "You wanted those two to get together after Courtney's divorce from AJ.  You tried to set them up but they didn't take the bait."

            "That was different.  Besides everything worked out for the best.  Courtney is married with a beautiful son and Zander is happy with Emily again.  Jason and Gia are each other's soul mates…"

            "Hold on! Soul mates?" Sonny asked.

            "You know, what you are to me." She told him and then gave him a kiss.  Sonny leaned in for another kiss but she avoided him.  "Back to Jason and Gia, I think they are so into each other, they just don't know it yet.  Gia and I are planning to go out tonight, just us ladies.  I am going to go around the subject lightly but I think by the end of the night she will see how much she likes Jason.  Jason will probably be over here tonight, could you do the same?"

            "Oh no!" Sonny declared yet again.  "I am not going to be a part of this scheme."

            Carly gave him a look.  "It's not a scheme!  It's more like match making.  We are just giving them a helping hand."

            "I still won't be a part of it." Sonny told her.  "Let's stop the talking.  Mike has the kids and they won't be back for hours."

            Carly playfully poked him in the stomach.  "You're so bad."

            "And you love me for it." Sonny said as he pulled Carly into his arms.

            ****

            Gia threw another outfit onto her bed.  She had brought the box of her party clothes back to the penthouse and had spent most of the afternoon going through them.  The truth was she already knew what she wanted to wear in the back of her mind but the more time she spent fussing over her clothes the less time she had to spend with Jason.  She wasn't ready to face him just yet. 

            She gathered up all her clothes and added them to the collection she had in the closest.  Hanging up her dress for that night, she decided on a bath.  That would pass some time. 

            Gia ran the hot water and added some bubbles.  She wanted to soak for hours.  Soak away all thoughts of Nikolas and Jason.  Carly was right…a night for the ladies would be perfect.

            Around supper time, Gia realized that she couldn't avoid Jason anymore.  She needed to get something to eat and she knew that he was still downstairs.  She walked down, spotting him on the couch.  He looked up and smiled.  Gia managed to smile back.

            "Just getting something to eat." She explained.  "Carly and I are going out tonight to her club.  Have some fun the way girls only can."

            Jason nodded.  "Look about last night…"

            "Again, I am so sorry." Gia said.  "First I wake you up and then I go and do something stupid like…"

            "Gia, in case you didn't notice, I kissed you back." Jason told her.  "It was a mutual thing."

            Gia was silent for a moment.  She thought about the kiss again and realized that Jason had leaned into the kiss.  His hands had run through her hair.  His lips had pressed against hers.  "Jason, I really don't know what is happening here."

            "I understand." Jason said.  "You just broke up with your fiancée and you aren't ready for anything."

            "I guess you could say that." Gia said, before disappearing into the kitchen. 

            ****

            Carly did one last check.  "Two kids later…and I still got it!" She declared.  Her blonde hair was down against her back.  She had combed it until it shined.  She had decided on a short red dress, one she had bought a last year for Valentine's Day.  Just wearing it brought back memories of her and Sonny's 'date'.  She had fastened on a necklace and bracelet Sonny had given her for Christmas.  She wore sandals on her feet.  She applied some red lipstick and then smiled.  She was ready to go.

            Sonny whistled from the doorway.  His wife looked gorgeous.  "Are you sure I can't come?"    

            "Ladies only." Carly told him as she slipped into a long black coat.  "Sorry, you don't count."

            "You're such a tease." Sonny said wrapping his arms around her waist.  He kissed her.  "Are you sure you want to go at all?"

            Carly swatted him with her purse.  "Look here, mister, the kids are going to be home any minute now and Gia is expecting me.  This will be good for her."

            "I know." Sonny groaned.  He then raised his eyebrows.  "But I'll wait up."

            "Are you sure that you won't talk to Jason when he comes over?" Carly asked.

            "Absolutely not." Sonny told her falling back on his bed, and watching his wife.

            "Fine. I'll have to do it myself." Carly leaned over the bed and kissed her husband's forehead.  She laughed when she noticed she had left a lipstick kiss on his skin.  "You're no help."

            ****

            All Gia had to do was put in her earrings and then she would be done.  She had chosen to wear a strapless beaded black gown that came down to her ankles.  Her hair was put up with the help of a silver headband.  She too was wearing along black coat and sandals on her feet. 

            She looked at the clock.  Carly was supposed to be there at any moment so Gia decided to wait downstairs. 

            "Wow!"

            Gia turned around.  "Thanks." She said to Jason.  He stood right next her, so close that she could reach out and touch him if she wanted to, and she wanted to.  But she didn't.  She had decided that she was going to think about what she really wanted…and then she would make her move.

            The door opened and Carly stepped in.  She cursed under her breath when she saw how close the two of them were.  She knew she should have waited another five minutes.  She might have walked in on them kissing.  "Gia, you're a knockout."

            "I could say the same for you." Gia said, happy for the distraction.  "Ready to go."

            ****

            Jason appeared at Sonny's soon after the women had left.  He came in time to help his friend put the children to bed.  Then the two men sat down on the couch to share a drink. 

            "I am really happy for Carly." Jason told Sonny.  "She and Gia seem to really get along.   I am glad to see that she has a good friend."

            "Yeah." Sonny thought for a moment. Jason had brought up the subject of Gia.  Should he say something?  Now would be his chance…he knew Carly wanted him to say something.  He bit his lip and then decided to go for it.  If Carly found out he would tell her that he did it for his friend and not because she asked him to.  "I think Gia has been good for us all.  The kids love her, Carly and I both think a lot of her.  What about you?"

            Jason thought carefully before he answered.  "She's a good friend."

            Sonny didn't want to seem like he was pushing Jason.  "You don't mind her living with you?"
            "Not at all.  It's nice to have someone else to talk to." Jason said.  "I guess I didn't realize how empty that place was until I had someone around.  I really like it.  I told her she could stay until she found another place.  She told me she's looking but I don't mind if takes awhile."

            Sonny took it all in.  Carly could be right…Jason and Gia just might have a chance at something.

            "Hey Sonny." Jason said a moment later.  "Nice shade…"

            Sonny was confused.  Then he put his hand on his forehead where Jason indicated.  He pulled his hand back bringing some of Carly's lipstick with it.  "Thanks."

            ****

            At the same time Jason and Sonny were talking on the couch, Gia and Carly were entering Club 101.  Both knew that they were going to have a blast, and Carly wasn't surprised when a few heads turned their way.

            "Being the owner has its perks." Carly explained, loving the attention.  "Plus we look damn hot." Carly led Gia to their private booth.  "Nothing but the best for us.  Not only do we get a good view of the activity but we also get privacy."

            Gia shrugged off her coat as she sat down.  As usual, the club was full that night.  People were on the dance floor and drinks were being sold left and right.  "You must be proud."

            Carly nodded.  "This is my third baby." She said.  "Needless to say, I love nights like this."

            Someone came over to their booth.  He was young, and good looking and Gia flashed him a smile.  He flashed one back. 

            "Carly, I thought it would be forever before you came here to party again." He said.

            "You know me, Shane, can't stay away too long." She laughed and then smiled at her employee.  "My friend Gia and I would like a drink.  I'll have an ice tea."

            "I'll have the same." Gia said remembering what happened the last time she drank. 

            "Be right back." Shane said and then left.

            "He's cute." Gia said watching him leave.  The whole idea of the ladies night was putting Gia into a flirtatious mood. 

            "He's taken." Carly said off handedly.  She wasn't really lying but she was hoping to give Gia that gentle shove she was talking to Sonny about earlier. 

            "Rats." Gia shrugged.  "Oh well."

            "Oh well." Carly echoed. 

            "He really wasn't all that good looking." Gia then commented.  "Not like some I know…"

            "Oh really?" Carly pushed.

            "Really." Gia knew Carly was up to something.  "I know you want me to admit that Jason is hot." 

            "I wasn't even thinking that but you just said it." Carly said sipping her drink that had just arrived.

            Gia shook her head.  "You really are a piece of work."

            Carly just raised her eyebrows. 

            "I heard that you would be here."

            Both women looked up.  Carly smiled.  "Hey Jax."

            "Mind if I join you for a few minutes?" He asked.

            Carly shook her head and scooted closer to Gia.  "Hop in." She told her partner.  "I think you met Gia Campbell."

            "A few times…each time she looked lovely as you both do tonight." Jax said shaking Gia's hand.

            "Jax is a charmer." Carly said.  "I would warn you about him but he got married last month.  How is Skye Chandler-Quartermaine Jacks?"

            "A handful…but you know me, I like a challenge." Jax laughed.  "What brings you both out?"
            "Why Jax, it's Ladies Night!" Carly exclaimed.

            "Why do I have a feeling that I should alert the proper authorities?" Jax asked.

            Gia grinned.  "I think you better escape while you still have the chance."

            Jax laughed.  "I do have to be going home to my wife.  I thought I would stop in to see if we were having another successful night.  I tell you Carly, I never expected this much when you approached me four years ago."

            "Well, you just didn't have my vision, Jax." Carly sipped some more of her ice tea.

            "Have a wild night, ladies." Jax said in farewell.

            After a few more ice teas, Gia and Carly decided they wanted to dance.  They worked themselves into the middle of the mass of people moving to the beat.  Gia threw herself into the music and soon her braids were flying everywhere.  Carly was laughing and her dress was flying out.  Both women just wanted to have fun.

            After they were tired of dancing they returned to their booth.  Both had lost a lot of their energy but there was something else they wanted to do…talk.

            "Carly, I really was thinking about what you said.  If I want to be with Nikolas I should go find him." Gia said.

            Carly felt her heart sink.  She had hoped that Gia would go for Jason.  But she wanted her friend to be happy, and if Nikolas was it the brat better treat her right.

            "But I don't want to find him." Gia admitted.  "I don't want to walk back into a relationship like it was.  I really don't think Nikolas will change.  He is set in his ways."

            That's good news, Carly thought.

            "But I am not sure about Jason." Gia also admitted.  "I really don't think I am ready for any kind of relationship.  Part of me still loves Nikolas strongly.  I don't want to ruin my good friendship with Jason because of it."

            Carly knew she couldn't push it any farther.  She put her arm on Gia's.  "Let's not think about that.  It's Ladies Night…no men involved."