“Do you ever think of settling down? I don’t mean marriage,” Presley added hastily. “But don’t you want one person to come home to?”
“Sounds boring as hell. No offense to you and Nate, but I’ll ask you this: doesn’t it get tiring kissing the same person? Don’t you want the excitement of something new? Someone different?”
At the stubborn set of his jaw, I knew Press was girding himself to give one of his spiels on the wonders of monogamy. And I let him, even though both he and I knew I didn’t believe one word of it.
“Having a steady lover doesn’t mean boredom. Nate always surprises me because even when I think it’s perfect, every day is better than the last.”
“That’s because it’s still new between you two. Talk to me in five years.”
A little girl came up to Torre and held her arms out for a hug. When he picked her up, the smile on his face was one of pure, unadulterated joy, and I wondered what absolute happiness like that would feel like.
Our first courses came, and I was thrilled that the food was as simple, fresh, and delicious as the last time.
Torre’s brother came to our table. “Evening, folks. I’m Mike Rossi, the owner of Mangia. Thanks for stopping by.”
I let Press do the talking, and he knew his role well. “This is delicious. We happened to be in the neighborhood, and someone mentioned your restaurant, so we were lucky to get a reservation on short notice.”
“I’m glad you did. And I see you ordered a few of my personal favorites. The vegetables all come from my garden, and all the meat is antibiotic and hormone-free. Everything I don’t personally grow is purchased from local farms. We like to keep it all in the family, so to speak.”
“That’s wonderful. So many restaurants are big conglomerates these days.”
“Not us. My family has lived here for fifty years, and last year my wife, who seated you, and I decided to open a restaurant. That’s my brother, Torre, at the bar, getting mauled by my daughter, Tina.”
“It’s nice he can help you out,” I added.
“He’s the best.”
I could agree with that statement. He’d sure as hell given me the best night in memory. So much so, that I was thinking of breaking my rule of one-and-done to see him again.
“You gentlemen ordered quite a bit of food.”
I could see in his eyes, the same rich brown as his brother’s, that he was trying to figure out why two men would order so many courses.
“Everything looked so good, and I’m so indecisive; he’s letting me take home the leftovers so my boyfriend can enjoy it as well.” Presley took a spoonful of soup. “But not this soup. It’s all mine. Really delicious.”
Mike’s brows rose. “Okay. I’m glad you’re enjoying it all. I’ll make sure you have boxes to bring home the leftovers.”
He walked away, and I finished my salad, aware that we were on his radar. “We probably should’ve ordered less food, now that I think of it. But that was a nice save, mentioning your boyfriend.”
“It’s true.” Presley’s eyes twinkled. “Whatever we don’t finish, I’m taking home to Nate. He’s bummed he couldn’t come.”
“Maybe one day. But I like having this time together. Gives us a chance to catch up, although I can see how happy you are.”
His bowl empty, Press set down his spoon. “I’m going to be honest—I can see that you’re not.” His eyes narrowed. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?” I spit out.
“That. Get angry and grind your jaw. Why can’t you ever talk about yourself? You’re always here for me; why won’t you let me help you? Dammit, Frisco, if it wasn’t for you, Nate and I probably wouldn’t be together. Don’t you get tired of holding it all inside?”
Yes, don’t you?the devil on my shoulder whispered.
And I knew if I let go, I’d fly away and disappear, but pushed to the limit, I snapped, the years of holding back breaking loose. “What do you want to know? That Luca and I were fucking and I was stupid enough to believe he loved me? That one night I found out it was all a big fucking lie and I was nothing more than Luca’s easy fuck? Are you happy now that you know?”
Press blanched. “I-I always wondered what caused you to come live with us. I’m assuming now it had to do with this?”
“I couldn’t stay. Please don’t ask me any more.”
“But, Fr—”
