Frisco blew out a heavy breath. “It’s a hard balance. Many of the chefs from the top restaurants in the city have little time to spend with their families. Some make it work, but that’s after they have partners or people they can depend on to handle the business with them. Unfortunately, it comes with the territory.”
“Not for this family.”
I knew that look in my mother’s eyes. She wasn’t happy, and Mike would be getting an earful when he came home.
But forty minutes came and went and still no Mike. Even I was concerned. I sat next to Val, who shrugged. “He spends more time there than with us,” she said, tight-lipped. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was having an affair, but I know it’s because he’s pouring everything he has into making the restaurant bigger and better. I don’t need him to be famous. I need him with me.”
The front door opened, and a weary Mike joined us. “I’m sorry, Ma. There was a problem with a delivery, and I had to stay and get it all straightened out.”
“I’ve told you already, you can’t handle this all on your own.” My mother greeted him. “I don’t like the way you look.”
“Your mother’s right. He looks terrible,” Frisco murmured in my ear.
“I don’t like it either. He’s on the road to getting a heart attack from the stress.”
After kissing Val and apologizing to her, Mike gave me a hug and Frisco a slap on the back.
“So you two are together. Like together, together?” He flopped onto the sofa with a grunt, and I sat next to him. Frisco took a seat in a chair across from us.
“You definitely have a way with words,” Frisco teased.
“We are. But I’m more interested in hearing what’s happening with you. Mikey, you gotta slow down.”
“Yeah? And how do you suggest I do that? I have reservations a week in advance. I need to keep coming up with new, innovative recipes and test them with Jasper and Luis. Be on top of my distributors. Do the purchasing, the inventory, the books…” His voice shook with exhaustion.
“I can help you.” I wrapped my hand around the bottle of beer. “It seems I’m back to running the blog full-time by myself, so I have the time to help you with some things.”
“What happened? You quit?” my mother cried out. “You were so happy with what they offered you.”
Mike’s eyes narrowed, and I watched his gaze flicker to Frisco before settling on me again. “Did you quit because they fired Frisco? To stand by your man?”
Frisco quirked a brow and crossed his arms.
“Are you fucking crazy?” I sputtered. “Stand by my man? Where the hell are you getting this from?”
“People don’t give up six-figure incomes without a reason.”
“Maybe it’s not always about the money,” I yelled. “They wanted to use my name but didn’t give a damn about what I worked to create. They wanted to bury me in the middle of the magazine. So I told them to take a walk and exercised my right to cancel within the first thirty days. This had nothing to do with Frisco.”
The room echoed with silence.
“I’m sorry, Torre. That sucks,” Mike apologized. “And sorry, Frisco. I didn’t mean to insinuate you pushed him.”
“Yeah, you did. But I’ll forgive you because you don’t know me and you’re standing up for your brother. I had no say in what Torre did. He’s a grown man and runs his own business. Only he can decide what’s best for his business, like you.”
I didn’t want tension between two of the people I loved most in the world. “I made the decision that was best for me. If you want my help with the restaurant, I’m willing to step in.” Mike rubbed his face, and I put my arm around him. “You know all you have to do is ask me, and I’m there for you. Whatever you need me to do, ask.”
“I’m the owner. I should be able to run my business and provide for my family.”
“That’s a foolish and shortsighted way to look at things,” Frisco said.
I was used to his blunt manner, but Mike, not so much, and I could see him drawing himself up to fight.
“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” Mike snapped.
“Don’t I?” Frisco arched a sleek brow. “This is my business, after all. I don’t only keep in touch with the food side. I’m well versed in kitchen management as well.”
“All well and good, but I can’t have you popping in and out when you feel like it to play chef in my kitchen.” Mike dismissed him to face me. “Bro, I appreciate the offer, but you’re busy.”
