Disclaimer: This is what I do for fun, not for profit.

A/n: A very special thanks to those of you who reviewed the last chapter. It really helps to know that people are reading and enjoying this.

As Easy as Pie

A story by Ryeloza

Part Three: Double Cross

Chapter One: New Information

The doorbell rang and Carlos barely turned his head as he yelled for Gaby. His attention was currently focused on the television and he didn't really want to be bothered with things like answering the door. Of course, Gaby couldn't help but get back at him—she purposely crossed the path of the television on her way to the door, an act that emitted groans from everyone in the room.

"Oh hi, Rex," said Gaby loudly, rubbing in the point that it was Carlos' guest, not hers. Carlos didn't care. Everyone else had managed to make it before kickoff and he wasn't getting up now just because Rex couldn't be bothered. "You look happy today. Good night's sleep?"

"Something like that," Rex muttered.

"The guys are in the living room. Carlos!" Gaby's voice raised three notches even though he'd heard her clear as a bell before. "I'm going over to Bree's for awhile. I'll be back."

Carlos lifted a hand and waved in her general direction, barely paying attention to Rex as he came into the room and sat down. It was only when Karl said in an odd, sing-song voice, "Someone got lucky," that Carlos actually turned to look at his neighbor.

All eyes now on him, Rex just shrugged. "Okay. I'm out a hundred. But—"

Rex couldn't quite finish his thought amongst the whistles and cheers from the group—an odd mixture of glee that none of them had caved first and admiration that Rex had gotten laid. Personally, Carlos wasn't sure whether to be jealous or grateful that someone other than him had caved first.

"Okay, really, guys, there's more," said Rex, interrupting the hootenanny. "The girls know about the bet."

"What?" said Paul as all the blood seemed to drain from Tom's face. "How do you know that?"

"Bree told me."

Carlos' hands tightened into fists. Of course they knew. Of course Gaby knew. This explained the past few days; the teasing; the innuendos; the damn bed sheets. It all made perfect sense.

"No," said Tom, painfully in denial where the rest of them seemed to have accepted it instantly. Well, except for maybe Paul, who looked somewhat shell-shocked.

"Who blabbed?" Karl asked. If his blasé attitude was any indication, his week hadn't been nearly as rough as Carlos'. Not that anyone's could have been. This sort of thing was like a calling for his wife.

Paul shrugged. "Lynette probably overheard us last weekend."

"No way," said Tom. "She would have come down and killed me right then. Oh my God. She knows. Oh God."

Purely disgusted, Karl pulled a face. "Will you relax? I knew you were whipped, but I never realized she had your balls in a vise."

Tom didn't bother to respond, still too busy muttering to himself. Worse still was Rex, who seemed almost overly-satisfied that he'd ruined everyone's good time. Carlos wondered if he could punch him sans consequences.

"You guys are looking at this all wrong," said Karl lackadaisically. He laced his fingers behind his head and leaned back in his chair. "So they were playing us. Who cares? We'll just play them back."

"I think we've all had enough of your ideas," grumbled Paul.

"Hey, I'm just saying, the ladies want it as bad as we do. We just do the same thing to them that they've been doing to us."

"Tease them."

"See? Carlos gets it. We get them all fired up and then don't follow through. I don't know about you guys, but Susan sure deserves it."

"I'm in over my head," said Tom. He picked up his beer and downed quite a bit of it, Paul nodding along in agreement. Carlos, despite desperately wanting to get Gaby back for what she'd put him through this week, had the unsinkable feeling that if he initiated anything it would inevitably lead to sex. He wouldn't be able to stop himself.

"Fine. You guys go on letting your wives taunt you and I'll have some fun."

"But you won't win the bet," said Carlos.

"Oh trust me. I'll win."

Carlos glanced at the other guys. Already he could tell that they were reconsidering, and if Carlos was truthful, he was too. It was probably suicide, but what a way to go.

"You guys are idiots," said Rex.


"You had sex!" said Gaby triumphantly the minute Bree opened the door. Bree's eyes widened and she grabbed Gaby's arm, forcibly pulling her inside.

"Are you crazy? You don't say a thing like that on the front porch! What if someone had heard you?"

Gaby refrained from pointing out that short of Martha Huber lurking in the bushes, no one could have heard her. She was too excited to get into an argument with Bree. "Well?"

To Gaby's delight, Bree got a cheery, almost naughty look on her face. It was the happiest Gaby had ever seen her. "How did you know?"

"Rex is over at my house. He looks like he just won the lottery."

"Really?"

Gaby winked. "The sex lottery. Oh, that sounds kinky."

Bree frowned. "Must you be so crass?"

"Hey, not all of us got laid last night. All I have left is a good imagination."

Apparently unable to find an appropriate response, Bree simply turned and started to walk toward the kitchen. Gaby trailed behind her, wondering if she could pry any details from her closed-mouthed friend. "So," she said with a grin, "how was it?"

"Do you want some coffee?"

"You're not giving me anything, are you?"

Bree smiled, a nonverbal agreement, and started to set up the coffeemaker. "I confronted Rex about the bet. We talked…and then we didn't talk."

"Kept your mouth pretty busy, huh?" Gaby smiled saucily. Half the fun of saying these things was just to see Bree's horrified reaction. "Wait…" she said as her brain caught up with her instinct for innuendo. "You told Rex you knew about the bet?"

"I had to. He was…Well, let's just say he was being less than forthcoming."

"Bree, if you told Rex then that means he knows that we know."

"So?"

"So don't you think he's going to share that information?"

"Oh. I didn't think of that."

Gaby sat down at the kitchen table and sighed. Tonight Carlos would confront her about how she'd been treating him all week and, admittedly, she could at least get him to confess what he had been up to by playing it cool. But that would be the end of it. No breaking him down until he was a quivering pile of man-goo like she'd wanted. They'd have sex and that would be that.

"I guess we should tell everyone else," she said sulkily. Bree rolled her eyes.

"I would think you'd be happy. All this nonsense can end now. We can go back to talking about other things."

Gaby sighed. "But things were just getting interesting."

"Yes. Well…" Bree trailed off, apparently unable to come up with a platitude, and picked up the phone instead. "I'll tell Lynette if you tell Susan."

Gaby nodded. "Fine. But only because I'm not sure which of us is getting the worse end of that deal."

Bree grinned and handed her the phone.