Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 49490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep rogue tears at bay and huffed. “No questions?”
“Okay, maybe some questions,” she conceded. “But curious questions, not ugly questions. You were his everything, Teo! His pride, his joy, his reason to get up in the morning and put on that apron and greet the day. His son. Everything you did was magic to him. Your first step, your first haircut, your first tooth. He couldn’t wait to show you how to ride a bike, how to make dough, how to throw a football. Every accomplishment was…well, I think our customers got a little tired of him bragging all the time about his successful son.”
I smiled wanly. “Hmm.”
“When things didn’t go your way in Tennessee, he hurt for you. We both did. That’s what parents do. He worried about you and he thought you might be happy here. At least for a while. But his time was up…too soon. And I think you’re angry with him that you didn’t get to say what you wanted to say.”
I swallowed around the lump in my throat and swiped at my eyes. “I…”
“Pretend I am him,” Ma said gently. “Tell me, Teo. Look at me and say the words. Come, love.”
Part of me wanted to scream. What the fuck was she doing? Why now? This was not the time or place for an emotional heart to heart. I was too busy and this was a fucking alley and someone had to tell Sal to turn Bon Jovi down like…now.
But the other part of me was so, so very tired. So sad, so weary. Dad was never coming back and I wasn’t going anywhere any time soon, I hoped. So what could it hurt?
I twisted to face my mother. “I’m gay.”
“Good.” She smiled and inclined her head. “He says he knows and he loves you.”
I blubbered on a choked sob and buried my head in my hands. “What are you doing, Ma?”
“I’m helping you to move on. I hope so, anyway. Because I think that’s a very nice man next door. And I think he likes you quite a bit…even if you’re cranky. Your papa would like Rob. Not because he played football, Teo, but because he makes you happy. And that was all he ever wanted. Just for you to be happy.”
She kissed tears from my cheeks and wrapped an arm around me while I gave into sorrow, mourning what was lost.
And somewhere in my grief spiral, it occurred to me that I’d let regret get the better of me for far too long.
No more. It was time to let go of the past.
I sucked in a gulp of air and exhaled. “Thanks, Ma.”
She kissed my cheeks, one then the other, before heading into the pizzeria.
I stood, brushing my jeans and retying my apron as Sal appeared on the stoop.
“You all right?”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.”
He squinted and moved into my space, scanning my face for clues. “Whatever she said needed to be said. You’re good just the way you are, ya know? Stop beatin’ yourself up.”
I choked out a laugh. That little speech was a sonnet from Sal. He didn’t appreciate emotional exchanges any more than I did. I was touched that he tried, so I let him off easy.
“Thanks.”
“No prob. By the way, it’s a mob scene inside. Every seat is taken, and there’s a line out the door,” he reported.
“So what are you doin’ out here?”
Sal held up a cigarette. “I need a fuckin’ break. Get in there.”
I punched his shoulder lightly. “I will. I just…I have to do something first.”
I strode toward the rear entrance of Great H Bagels and let myself in through the screen door. I waved hello to the staff in the kitchen who all knew me by now, taking a second to check out the melee in the store. It was as crowded as Boardwalk Pizza.
I spotted Rob in the thick of things, chatting with customers and posing for selfies. My heart flipped in my chest on cue. I wanted to be annoyed, but I couldn’t bother pretending I wasn’t head over heels for this guy.
There was no way to get his attention without creating a scene, so I crept across the hall and sent him a text.
In your office. Got a sec?
Two minutes later, Rob opened the door and grinned. “What are you doing in here?”
“Gloating. I’m gonna kick your butt tomorrow,” I replied from my perch on the corner of his desk.
He stepped between my thighs and cupped my chin, a faux-grumpy expression fixed on his handsome face. “I don’t know about that. Our marinara has gotten pretty damn good.”
“Right.” I was going for derisive, but I was too charmed to pull it off. Fuck, I was a goner.
Pull it together, Cavaretti.
“If you’re trying to distract me with a booty call, it won’t work.” He pressed his mouth to mine. “Okay, it’ll probably work.”