I cupped my hands over my dick in a fit of sudden modesty. We all knew it was a conversation that was going to have to happen sooner or later, but we planned on it taking place when we were all together as a united front against the arguments we knew we would face. And, you know, having clothes on would've been a step up as well.
"Frankie, I need you to calm down while I put some clothes on," I pleaded with him. I didn't dare look at Max, no matter how much I needed his quiet reassurance that we would get through this together. It had become a mantra of sorts between us but seeing how close Frankie was to physical violence had me doubting our earlier confidence.
Without a word, Frankie dismissed me with a wave. As I grabbed the first clothing I could find at the top of the laundry basket, I listened to what was going on in the other room. Thankfully, it was silent, making me think Frankie had cooled down enough to at least walk away from Max and listen to what we had to say.
I stared down at my phone, debating whether I should call Tony and ask him to come home. I knew deep down he'd want to be here when we explained our relationship to anyone in the family, but I also knew he had a busy day at the restaurant. I picked up the phone, flipped it over in my hands a few times, then tossed it on the bed. As soon as I did, the display lit up with the face of the man who was at the front of my thoughts right now.
"Hey, I was just thinking about you," I answered, replaying the words in my head to see if there was anything off in my voice. "We have a situation here, and I think --"
"Enzo!" The sharp tone in Tony's voice cut me short.
"Sorry, I just sort of freaking out here, and I needed to hear your voice," I apologized. "Frankie's here."
"Good." I pulled the phone away from my ear and gaped at it. Tony obviously didn't understand what was happening at home because if he did, there was no way he'd say it was a good thing that our brother was here when he wasn't. "I need you to put the phone on speaker."
Something was going on. Tony sounded panicked as he rambled on about how Frankie being there saved him from having to call him too. I rushed out of the room and placed the phone on the coffee table in front of Frankie. He sneered at me, and I shook my head, silently telling him that whatever we had to hash out could wait.
"Okay Tony, Frankie's here now." I took a seat at the opposite end of the couch Frankie, my ass perched at the edge of the cushion. Then, as a way to hopefully reduce Frankie's blood pressure, I added, "Max is here too. Is that okay?"
"Yeah, that's probably for the best," Tony blurted out. Max hovered next to me. "You guys need to meet us at the hospital. Max, do you mind driving them?"
"What the hell's going on, Tony?" Frankie asked, scooting forward as if sitting closer to the phone would help him understand whatever Tony was about to say.
"It might be nothing, but the ambulance just left the restaurant," Tony explained. "Mama was doing her usual thing, walking around the dining room talking to the last of the lunch rush customers when she went down. She was awake when they loaded her up, but she seemed sort of out of it. It might not be anything serious, and she'll probably yell at me later for making everyone worry, but I knew you guys would at least want to know what was going on."
Max was already at the door stuffing his feet into his shoes, keys in hand. Frankie and I scrambled off the couch as Frankie promised Tony we'd meet him there as soon as possible. Despite what had happened earlier, Frankie draped an arm over my shoulder giving me a quick hug as he promised me everything was going to be okay. I wasn't sure either of us believed his words.
I followed my brother out of the apartment while Max locked up. He and Max steadied me when I stumbled at the top of the stairs. I was doing my best to keep my mind from spiraling out of control, but it seemed to be a losing battle. I sobbed, and my body shook as I thought of all the things I wished I'd said to her when I had a chance. Without a second thought, Max pulled me close to his side, pressing kiss to my temple. "She's a tough woman. She's going to be fine."
"You both need to stop saying that," I snapped, jerking out of Max's grip and spinning around to face both of them. "Quit treating me like I'm about to break or need to be protected from what's going on. Right now, none of us know anything more than what Tony told us. Stop telling me everything's going to be fine, because I'm pretty sure the fact they had to take her to the hospital in an ambulance says it's not fine."
"Enzo, calm down." Frankie reached out and smoothed his hand down my arm. He hugged me again, forcing me to follow him, placing distance between Max and me. I wasn't sure if the tension in his body was caused by worry over Mama or Max's casual display of affection. "If Mama was here right now, you know damn well she’d be telling you not to borrow trouble. Let's get to the hospital and see what's going on, okay?"
The problem with Max driving us to the hospital became apparent as soon as we got to the parking lot. Tony had taken his car to work today, which meant we were left with Max's rusty pickup. While it was possible the three of us would fit across the bench seat, I was pretty sure none of us were looking forward to spending time shoulder to shoulder right now. Not when there was still so much unsettled business between us.
"Would it be okay if we just ride with you up to the hospital?" Max asked. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, taking small steps backward every time he fidgeted. I wasn't sure he was even aware of the way he was putting distance between himself and me and Frankie. He done this the first few times we'd gone for family dinner at Mama's house, almost as if he was trying to remember his place as the outsider, which was bullshit because he was one of us now.
With a deep breath, I stepped out of my brother's embrace and crossed the sidewalk to join Max. Frankie opened his mouth as if he was about to say something then shut it and narrowed his eyes on us instead. I wasn't sure the three of us would all survive a trip in the same car.
"Max, why don't you and I take the truck and Frankie can follow us?" I suggested, hoping the drive would give Frankie time to cool down enough so he and Max could be civil around one another in the waiting room. It was bound to be a long, stressful day, and Frankie going into overprotective brother mode wasn't going to help anyone.
Max chewed on his bottom lip. He leaned in, whispering so only I could hear him. "Are you sure that's a good idea? Maybe you should ride with Frankie and I'll just stay here."
"Not a chance," I shot back. If we were alone in our apartment, it’d be easier for me to ease Max's mind. I hated that I couldn't forget about Frankie behind us, watching our every move, because Max needed me to wrap him in my arms and hug him tight, reminding him once again we were all in this together. "Tony and I need you there."
"Enzo, I love you, but I think me being there would do more harm than good. It's bad enough that Frankie is pissed off at me without having to worry about anyone else catching on," he argued.
"He's not mad at you—or he won't be once he understands what he walked in on." With a glance over my shoulder, I nodded to Frankie, and then jerked my head toward the truck. "And maybe this is for the best. We're all tired of hiding, but none of us could figure out a good way to come out to our family. Maybe the answer is we don't come out; we simply live our lives. Once they see the three of us together, I have to believe they'll understand."
Max didn't argue as he unlocked the door and waited for me to slide into the passenger seat. He didn't say anything the entire way to the hospital. By the time we arrived, my nerves were shot. Every ounce of bluster about how our family would simply accept a poly relationship as well as the fact Tony and I were in love evaporated. All I could hope was everyone would be so focused on Mama they wouldn't pay us any attention.
Chapter Fourteen
Tony
Even though therewere over a dozen other people sitting in the emergency room waiting area, I'd never felt as alone or scared as I did while I waited for someone—anyone—to tell me what was going on with Mama. Freddie was stuck at Marino's until Carlos got there to cover the kitchen, but he'd given me clear instructions to keep him in the loop. For now, Peter was staying home with Sophia. Soon, my brothers and Max would get here, but until then I had nothing but the shrill wailing of an infant stuck in their car seat and an old guy hacking up a lung to distract me from what was happening on the other side of the locked doors leading to the treatment area. I'd pleaded with them to go back there, but the security guard simply smiled and told me someone would be with me as soon as they could. Fucker wouldn't be so calm if it was his mother back there.
"Mr. Marino?" I startled, looking up to see an adorable nurse standing before me, a cautious smile on his face.
