Chapter Eight
“Will you shut the hell up already?” I slammed the water glass on the table. “I’m not talking about it anymore.”
“Why, so you can go hide in your apartment like you’ve done since that other asshole broke up with you?” Mike glared at me, but I didn’t answer. “It’s been a month since you’ve seen Frisco.”
“Three weeks.” I could’ve bitten my tongue off at Mike’s triumphant smile.
“But who’s counting, eh?”
My face flamed, but I remained silent, and of course Mike took that as encouragement to keep going.
“I don’t know why you haven’t called him. It doesn’t matter if it’s a man or a woman; I know when someone’s interested, and dude, he was into you.”
Not yet, but I might’ve let him if he’d come back.
“I guess not.” I put the cutlery on the table and surveyed my handiwork. “Full house tonight again?”
The deep scowl lines on Mike’s face disappeared. “Yeah. It’s been crazy. I’ve had to double all my usual orders, and Val is planting like a fiend to replenish our herbs and veggies aside from hitting up local farmers.”
Ever since thatUltimate NYCreview, Mangia had been busy every night. Mike had even considered opening on Mondays, a traditionally slow night for restaurants, but Val refused, saying he needed a night to relax and see his daughter.
“Happy for you, bro. You deserve it.”
“I can’t tell you how much it means to me to have you with me here. I know you’re not a waiter, but to have you chip in and take up the slack from Rain having to leave…” His voice hitched, and he bit his lip. Tears shone in his eyes, and my earlier annoyance with him faded as it always did. Nothing meant more to me than my family, even if they annoyed me to death.
“S’okay.” I hugged him. “You know I’d do anything for you and Val, and being here at night gives me a chance to see you more. Just don’t overwork yourself.” I didn’t want him to end up like our dad.
A discreet wipe at his eyes and Mike was back with his crafty little smile. “So why can’t you call him again? You didn’t answer.”
“I know.” Mainly because I was ashamed. “I don’t have his number.”
The comical look on his face would’ve been funny if his sputtering laugh hadn’t been directed at me. “You’re shitting me.”
I left him, walking behind the bar to pull down a glass from overhead, but he followed me. Concentrating on whatever beer on tap I’d chosen, I continued to ignore his chatter and handed him one as well.
“Wait, you spent the night with him, and you don’t have his number?” I shook my head, but Mike was nothing if not relentless. “You know his name. Google him, man.”
I took a long foamy gulp and wiped my mouth on my sleeve. “I did. No one with that name came up. Now I’m really glad I never told him anything about myself.”
“Seriously? Damn.” Genuine regret filled his eyes. “I thought he was a good guy, you know? I had hopes.”
I did too, but I couldn’t say that out loud. That night and the following day Frisco and I spent together were wonderful. Even though he couldn’t stay, the lingering kiss he gave me left no doubt of his interest. It took ten minutes for him to let me go to say good-bye. I couldn’t believe I’d been so wrong.
Pity, party of one, your table is ready.
“Well, forget about him. I have. Onward and upward, as they say. I’m too busy helping the next New York City restaurant superstar, anyway.”
“Idiot.” Mike nudged my shoulder and drank down his beer. “Okay, those cutlets aren’t gonna pound themselves. Let’s have at it.”
The next two hours were spent prepping for the night, so I didn’t have time to dwell on my sad, single state. By eight o’clock, we’d run out of two of the specials and were running low on the branzino, even though Mike had ordered a twenty-five percent overage.
“Damn, maybe I’m not cut out for this.” Mike pushed through the doors, and I stood next to him, taking a break before I had to go back in and pick up my orders.
“Don’t be an asshole. You were born for it.” I surveyed the full restaurant. Every table was taken, as were more than half the seats at the bar, with hopefuls who didn’t have a reservation. “It is crazy, huh?”
“Fucking nuts.”
An hour later I finally had a moment to take a drink of club soda, when the door opened and in walked Frisco. His gaze swept across the room, and when it landed on me, his eyes lit up.
