“Sure,” I whispered, too exhausted for actual sound.
A sad, half smile curved one side of her lips before she kissed me, her hand drifting across the week’s worth of stubble on my cheek.
“You need to shave,” she said as her nails scratched through the long bristles at my chin.
“I’ll do that right after I eat and sleep. Happy?” The hint of a smile tilted my lips, and my chest squeezed at the quiver in her jaw.
“I knew my wiseass boyfriend was in there somewhere.” Her hand feathered down my cheek. “Please finish the food in the bag.” Thea’s chest rose and fell with a heavy sigh. “For me.” She didn’t wait for me to answer before she climbed into her car and drove off.
I wished we could go back in time to a place where we were so high on love we didn’t come up for air, before the lingering loss I hadn’t even fully experienced yet, sucked the life out of me. Mom had been in and out of treatment since her diagnosis a year ago. Each time it hadn’t worked, the more I’d withdrawn from Thea—along with everyone and everything else.
I dug my buzzing phone out of my pocket after I threw the rest of the food into the trash. I felt awful doing it but I couldn’t swallow another bite without the threat of it coming back up.
Joe:Hey, my dad just told me your mom is back in the hospital. How are you holding up?
My best friend had just moved from Queens to a small town on the Jersey Shore to open his own restaurant. He’d been saving every penny he’d made since we were in college and found a good price on an old dive bar in need of an overhaul. It was a huge undertaking, but that was Joe. I had no doubt he’d have that place up and running by the end of summer.
Dominic:Like shit. How’s the place coming along?
Joe:Slow. I’m a one-man show, but I’ll get by. Tell me what’s going on.
Dominic:She’s not coming home. Moving her into hospice tomorrow.
Joe:I’m so sorry, man. What can I do?
Dominic:I wish I could tell you. After… I don’t know what to do or where to go.
Joe:You could come out here for as long as you want. Remember you said I’m in the middle of nowhere. Could be perfect.
I was surprised to hear myself snicker. I had teased Joe about the tiny, obscure little town he’d moved to.I vaguely remembered calling him a bumpkin before asking if the new place had running water.
Joe:Go tell Linda her favorite son loves her.
I smiled at the memory of Mom referring to us both as her boys when we were kids since Joe had always been over the house. I didn’t know how to say goodbye to the most important person in my life or figure out my place in a world without her.
Dominic
Present
“Look,”Joe started before running his hand down his face as he leaned on the edge of his office desk, “you both need to stop this.” He snuck a glance at me, and I could only shake my head, marveling at the stupidity of having to call one of our waitresses and waiters into the office to scold them like children and tell them to get along.
Up until this point, we were waiting out whatever was going on between them, but the fighting in front of customers was getting out of hand.
“Well, maybe you could tell her to stay at her own damn tables,” Tommy said while giving Jordan a scathing look that almost made me laugh in both of their faces.
“If you served them quicker, I wouldn’t have to.” Jordan crossed her arms and shot Tommy a snide grin.
“If a customer at one of Tommy’s tables asks you for anything,” I said as I motioned to Tommy, who was still looking Jordan over with a disdain far too intense for this ridiculous discussion, “all you have to do is find Tommy and tell him rather than take it over. Joe and I will take you at your word that you’re just trying to help and not take his tips, but let’s make sure there’s no confusion the next time.”
Both of them lifted their heads, scathing from the dissatisfaction over the compromise I’d proposed. I reared back in Joe’s chair, fighting a laugh. I had zero doubt I’d find them making out instead of duking it out one of these days. Infatuation made people do crazy shit.
“I think that’s a great solution. Don’t you agree?” Joe had that intimidating edge to his voice that even made me stand straighter sometimes. I was second in command, so I was allowed to break everyone’s balls as we comanaged The Beach Pub, the bar and restaurant I’d helped Joe build from almost the ground up four years ago.
I lost my cool a few times, but Joe never had to yell. He reminded me of when we were little and his dad would make us stop whatever we were doing with a look. Until I’d met Mr. Hunter, I’d thought old Italian ladies like the ones in my family cornered the market on the glare of death.
They both exhaled in defeat and reluctantly nodded.
“Good!” Joe pushed off his desk and made his way toward the closed office door. “It’s getting busy out there. Glad to know I don’t have to babysit anymore.” He jerked his head to the side, his polite but firm way of saying get out.
