I splash a dash of wine over the vegetables and wonder when the last time George cooked anything here was. A long time ago, I’d guess. Maybe when Luca was still around? Or maybe they hadn’t cooked at all.
I can’t imagine it. To me, the sights, sounds, and smells of a home-cooked meal are what make a home. Maybe that isn’t the case for George. Probably he’s one of those classic New Yorkers who thinks kitchens are for storing your takeout and cooking is something moms do. In the suburbs. In the 1950s.
Still, as I swirl crushed tomatoes into the pan and set the water on to boil for the fresh pasta I’ve splurged on, I feel like I’m doing a service, somehow righting a wrong, by taking the shiny, disused kitchen out for a spin.
I’m just taking the sauce off the flame when my phone rings.
“Did I catch you at a bad time?” Zoe asks, sounding seriously out of breath.
“No… did I catch you at a bad time?”
“Huh? Oh, I’m just out running errands for the wedding. You’d think Luca and Cory would have gotten their rings sized—which they have had for a month by the way—beforethe last possible second, especially considering how busy jewelers are the week before Christmas. Hello, this is shopping 101. It’s like they aren’t even gay.”
I chuckle. Zoe can be a lot, but I’ve still missed her today. “Pretty sure they would not be marrying each other if that were the case.”
“Yeah, yeah.” But I can hear the smile in her voice. “Anyway, I need a break, so you are taking me out to dinner.”
Ugh. There’s that exhausted feeling again. “Zoe, I?—”
“No! No. You are not begging off again. I never see you, and now you’re in the city, and I want to spend time with my favorite cousin, dammit. And this morning doesn’t count because I was too busy trying not to trip over my own shoelaces. Plus, I’ve had aday,and you owe me. We did it your way the other night.”
All of this is true, plus I want to spend time with her, too, really. I sigh. “I just made dinner, though.”
There’s a knock at the door.
I squeeze my eyes shut. What now?
“Hang on, Zo, I need to get the—” I swing the door open and… there she is.
“Perfect! I’ll eat your food—mmm it smells yummy! You’ve always been such a great cook, O.” She peels off her coat and thrusts it at me. “But then, after that, you are taking me out. I want a gigantic cocktail and people andloud,and you can’t say no to me because I’ve had a hell of a day.”
I blink at her.
“What? Oh. Luca and Cory’s jeweler is right around the corner.”
“Ah,” I manage. I hang her coat in the front closet.
“Sooo.” She grins. “What’s for dinner? And how’d you make out with today’s to-do list? Better, right?”
I clear my throat.
“Pasta.” I lead the way to the dining table. “And, you know what, going out for a drink sounds great! Where are you planning to take me?”
She grins. “You’ll see. I have the perfect place in mind. Oooh, is that homemade bread?!” She grabs the loaf and tears off a hunk.
“I’ll just go make us plates.”
“Mmm, George has pasta bowls, second cabinet on the left,” she says around a mouthful of bread.
“Got it!”
Crisis averted, at least for now. As long as I keep her focused on the meal, maybe I can avoid talking about the list…
CHAPTER 26
OWEN
It turns out,I have nothing to worry about. After plying Zoe with food and wine, I spend the rest of the meal and the cab ride to the bar listening to her animated retelling of her day, from writing of her latest listicle to her adventures as Luca Santora’s unofficial wedding PA. I do feel a little guilty about my lie by omission, but I’m pretty happy to have avoided explaining that I abandoned her carefully thought-out suggestions. Again.
