“Except the only team you’re playing for is Frisco’s. Time to stop moping about that idiot.” He clapped me on the shoulder.
“I’m not moping. I’m busy. I’ve been helping you so much at Mangia, I’ve been neglecting the blog. I have ad space to fill and reviews to put up. I don’t want them regretting me before I even start.” My phone buzzed, and my heart leaped. Maybe it was Frisco. I slipped it out of my pocket to check, but it was only more forms to fill out and paperwork to read.
“I’m sorry. I think I’ve got the situation under control, though. I took your advice and went to Kingsborough, and arranged to be part of their internship program. They have restaurant management programs, so next year I’m gonna get some of the kids in the place. I started at the bottom, taking shit from customers. That’s how you learn.”
“Yeah. Sounds great.” I didn’t even know where Frisco lived. The man had kept his personal life on lockdown. Maybe he was a federal agent…
“Yo.” Mike nudged me. “Did you hear anything I just said? I bet you’re thinking of that schmuck, right?”
Aggravated not only for getting called out, but for letting my dick control my brain, I smacked my hand on my thigh. “No. I’m not. I’m running Edward Harvey’s offer through my mind, trying to process it all. It’s the breakthrough I dreamed about but never thought would happen, and I’m a little overwhelmed, to be honest.”
“I’m sorry.” Looking properly chastened, Mike finished his beer and set the empty on the coffee table. “Now let’s go upstairs and have some wings. Val made them, and I’ve also got meatballs and ribs. My chances for getting away from the restaurant for game nights are becoming slim to none, so I wanna grab what time I can.”
“Okay.” I picked up my phone, giving the screen a discreet glance, but there were no new texts. This was stupid. I wasn’t sixteen anymore, hoping Paul would notice me in school and want to hang out after class so we could make out. My finger hovered over Delete Contact, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it and instead slid the phone into my pocket.
I’m an idiot.
“Ready?” Mike waited as I took the empty beer bottle and put it in the recycling, then grabbed my keys.
“Yeah.”
A figure passed in front of the window blinds and knocked on the door.
“Who the hell is that?” I shoved my keys into my pocket.
“Probably Val wondering what the hell is taking you so long. Or Mom.”
I opened the door.
It wasn’t my sister-in-law or my mother.
“Hi.”
Frisco stood on my doorstep, face taut, blue eyes wary and strained. My hands itched to brush the windblown hair off his forehead.
“Oh, hello.”
“We were just leaving.” Mike pushed past him and waited on the steps. “You coming, Torre?”
“Could we talk a second?”
“Why?” I leaned against the doorway. “I textedyou and you ignored me. Why are your wants more important than mine? Sorry you wasted a trip, but I’m busy.” A grin spread across Mike’s face, and he gave me the thumbs-up, then bounded up the steps, no doubt anxious to spread the word to everyone upstairs that I was kicking Frisco to the curb.
But for the first time since I met Frisco, he looked nonplussed, and I forgot all about my brother. I wondered if anyone had ever stood up to Frisco, and it only reinforced my conviction that I was right to refuse him.
“I…I don’t know. I guess…because…shit. Please, Torre?” He peered up at me through the fall of wavy locks, and as much as I wanted the satisfaction of slamming the door in his handsome face, I couldn’t. Not without hearing what he had to say. I could hear Mike grumbling in my ear not to be a fucking asshole, but today was not going to be that day. I opened the door wider.
“Come in.”
