“Yes. Right this way, please.” I didn’t want to tell Frankie how to run his business, but if this was the first impression they were making to guests, the food had to be out of this world to keep people coming back.
“I’ve got it, Gage.” I tensed at the sound of Frankie’s voice. We’d technically said our goodbyes this morning because Ryan and I were hitting the road as soon as dinner was done and having him so close to me, I wanted to drag him into a dark corner for one more kiss goodbye.
“Do you want to put that in the office until it’s time for you to give Ryan his presents?” Frankie offered as he led me through the bar. There was something mischievous about the tone of his question. Maybe I wasn’t the only one wishing for a little more time together. Too bad there was no time for me to bend him over the desk and pound into that ass while everyone went about their business. Another time…
Frankie opened the door and ushered me into his office. No sooner had I stepped over the threshold when the door slammed behind us and he spun me around.
“Glad Ryan has good taste in food,” he told me before his mouth crashed against mine. I grabbed his ass, shoving him against the wall. “Fuck, I don’t want you to leave.”
“I’m sorry,” I began to apologize, but Frankie cut me off with another searing kiss.
“Don’t be. You’re a man of integrity and I love that you’re helping Ryan achieve his dreams. Doesn’t mean I won’t miss you while you’re gone.”
I curled my hand around the back of Frankie’s neck and stared into his dark eyes. Bad move, because he was practically begging me to do everything I’d been thinking about a minute earlier.
“Maybe we shouldn’t go out of town when you get back,” he suggested before I could get my brain to remember how to speak. “You can fuck me senseless at home just as well as you can in an impersonal hotel room.”
“True, but our vacation isn’t only about having as much sex as humanly possible,” I reminded him. “You need to get out of the city for a while. Truly relax. And I’m looking forward to taking you out on a proper date. Are you sure you’ll be okay this weekend?”
“Yes, Calvin. I’ll be fine.” He pointed to a bag next to the desk. “I’m heading to Tony’s tonight. We’re even going out for a drink after close. That’s still okay with you, right?”
The insecure part of my brain wanted to tell Frankie I’d rather he didn’t, that we could go out as a group another time. I bit my tongue, because even though my worry was that he’d have some sudden realization that he could find someone hotter, younger, and less distracted than me, that wouldn’t be what he’d think. He’d assume I didn’t trust him. And I did. Implicitly.
“Babe, I’m glad you’re going out with your brothers,” I reassured him. “You shouldn’t spend all your time here and at home. And I don’t want us to be one of those couples who has to be together all the time to be happy.”
“You really are practically perfect.” He kissed me one last time, a sweet, innocent peck that had me longing for more. “And I promise I’ll text or call if I need to hear your voice. Now, if you’re satisfied that I’m not going to have another meltdown while you’re gone, you need to get to your table. Tony said Ryan was already digging into the second bread basket right before you got here.”
“Tony’s serving us?”
“Of course. I wasn’t going to leave you in anyone else’s hands. He’s the best we’ve got.” From what Frankie had told me about his brother, I didn’t doubt that for a minute. It seemed a waste for him to be on the serving floor, but according to Frankie, it was where his brother was happiest.
Marisa gave me a sly wink when she noticed us approaching the table. Jack leaned in to whisper something in her ear before standing to greet me.
“Calvin, it’s nice you could make it.” From anyone else, that would’ve sounded like a subtle dig, but Jack and I got along. The project I was finishing was for a buddy of his, so he knew what a pain in the ass my client could be. “Frankie, it’s nice to see you again. Are you joining us for dinner? I’m sure we can ask the waiter for another chair.”
I reached out to Frankie when I heard the sharp intake of breath. I tried to pull his hand free from mine, but I held firm. There were no employees in the direct vicinity and I needed him to be okay. When I felt him relax, I released him.
“Unfortunately, Frankie is still on the clock, but I might see if he can be persuaded to join us for dessert later.” I leaned closer so only Frankie could hear me. “Breathe. Your family knows we’re roommates. They won’t think it’s odd if I invite you to sit with us for a few minutes after the rush.”
“You’re right, Cal.” Frankie took a few slow breaths. “I’m sorry I’m being so twitchy.”
“Don’t worry about it. Now, go tell that brother of yours I’m in dire need of caffeine.” I resisted the urge to swat his backside as he walked away.
“You two are adorable,” Marisa teased after Tony left with our dinner orders. Jack and Ryan were talking about this weekend’s tournament. While I usually jumped into any hockey talk, I wanted to give them some one-on-one time. Jack would be Ryan’s step-dad soon and it was important that they have a healthy relationship. Unfortunately, that left me open for Marisa to grill.
“Ris, keep your voice down,” I warned her. I’d seen an older woman who could only be the Marino matriarch hovering near the edge of the room. “He’s not out to his family.”
“Then I’m thinking it was probably bad for us to come here on a night when he’s working,” she continued. “Anyone who looks at the two of you can see how much you love one another.”
“You just know because I used to look at you that way,” I argued.
“No, you never did.” Talk about a punch to the gut. She held up a hand to silence me before I could protest. “Cal, I get it. And until now, I don’t know if I really did. You never could have looked at me that way because it’s not who you are. But I want you to know I’m happy for you. Seeing you like this… I’m proud to call you my first love and my best friend.”
“Damn, can you two tone it down with the sappy stuff?” Ryan complained. I elbowed him playfully as Marisa laughed some more. Then, Ryan’s expression went serious. “But if this is the time for Hallmark moments, I want to say thank you to all three of you. A lot of my buddies have horror stories about their parents and step-parents, but I can’t relate to that. And Dad, tell Frankie that I include him in that. That’s why I wanted to eat here tonight. I know he can’t be with us for the meal, but I wanted him to be a part of tonight.”
There had to be dust motes in the air, because I definitely wasn’t about to cry. Okay, I was totally on the verge of tears. I couldn’t help it. For so many years, I’d resigned myself to living a lie or having my family hate me. Now, I realized I still had my family, they’d simply taken a different form now.
The elderly woman appeared again, this time a few tables closer. I watched as she wiped the same spot on a table, her head cocked slightly. I gave Ryan a subtle shake of my head to cut him short because I got the impression we were being spied on. Either that or I was paranoid tonight.
