Don’t like it? Let us fix it.
Pineapple? Ranch? Eat your pizza how you want it. No pizza shaming zone.
NO JERKS.
After everyone had a second to settle into their stations, I jogged over to the doors and let myself have one quick look at the place before it was too crowded and busy for me to even think.
Like all my other locations, we had the logo painted on the wall with red vinyl booths and checkered floors, but we’d also added some palm tree accents, including an incredible palm tree lamp I found on eBay.
I opened the door to an excited crowd and quickly ushered in my family, followed by Bee and Nolan, who gave me a good smack on the ass for encouragement.
“Thanks for waiting out here so patiently, folks! Now, let’s get you some Slice, Slice, Baby!” I waved to the cameras, feeling silly and out of practice, but the moment was gone in a flash as the crowd snaked inside and formed a steady line.
I rushed to the back and called in an order for my family and friends while Topher led them back to the little section on the patio I reserved for them.
Once their pies were ready, I brought them back myself to find Dad absolutely charmed with Bee while he told her embarrassing stories about me and Nolan in the height of puberty.
“You gotta shut your old man up,” Nolan said as I placed his favorite, pepperoni and banana peppers, down in front of him.
I smirked. “Dad, don’t forget to tell her about the time Nolan got drunk at homecoming and peed in Mom’s birdbath.”
Dad slapped his hand to his chest, laughing so hard he was wheezing.
“He did what now?” Mom asked in shocked disgust. “In my birdbath?”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure that’s only the tip of the iceberg,” Bee said. “Especially based on what I saw at theSanta, Babycast party.”
“A night we don’t speak of!” I told her, only half kidding.
The triplets were playing a serious game of keep-away on the jungle gym with one of the promotional foam pizza hats I had made for today. “Bubbie Jo!” one of them screamed at my mom. “Poppy! Look over here.”
We all turned to see Toby shove Tristan down the slide headfirst. Tucker, with his arms full of a sleeping Talia, ran to catch Tristan, but I beat him to it, throwing him over my shoulder and giving him a quick spin.
Tristan gave a delighted squeal as he began to pound his meaty little fists against my back. Theo and Toby shot down the slide, landing on my feet at the end and then tugging on my legs.
To their absolute thrill, I walked with them clinging to my calves and Tristan still in tow before depositing them next to Tamara, who was waiting to serve them slices of the best cheese pizza in LA.
“Again!” shouted Theo.
“Not until you three put away some of that pizza!” Mom told them.
“I better get back inside,” I told them.
As I opened the door, a small hand pressed to my lower back.
“My sweet boy,” Mom said as I turned back around.
Customers filled in all around us and Mom wound her arms around me, her head resting against my chest for a moment before looking up at me. “Your dad and I are so, so proud. You know that right, baby?”
I nodded silently, my throat burning and my rib cage expanding. I knew they were proud. They’d said it plenty of times before, but in this moment I felt like someone worthy of their pride.
“Now, go make some dough!” she said with a wink.
“Ma! Look at you with the pun.”
She grinned. “Don’t you forget where all that charm and humor comes from. It certainly isn’t your dad.”
“Boss!” Samantha called. “We need you!”
