Page 36 of Cherry on Top

Will laughed, and that somehow did more to soothe his bruised ego than anything else. “The answer is no, that isn’t all I’d get out of it. You’re a cool guy. Could be a friend, even. I wouldn’t mind spending more time with you. Of course if I did, your mom would probably be lurking around every corner, waiting for one of us to drop to one knee.”

Enzo didn’t have to hold back his shudder. “She probably would, wouldn’t she?”

Will nodded as he finished off the rest of the artichoke spread, Enzo deciding as he scraped the rest of the spread out of the container that this probably made him a good boyfriend, already.

“Just let me talk to her first,” Enzo said. “Maybe I can make her see the facts of the situation. That I’m not sticking around.”

“No matter how much you like me?” Will’s voice was teasing again, but Enzo couldn’t deny the little thrill that wound its way through him at the idea of it.

But they didn’t like each other that much. They’d just managed to make it past I think you might be vandalizing my building and you’re accusing my painting of being illegal graffiti.

“Right,” Enzo agreed. He snagged the last piece of salami. Popped it into his mouth. “Thanks for the water and the break. I’d better get back out there and finish up my scaffolding before it gets dark. And I assume in a little bit that you’re gonna get busy.”

“Hope so,” Will said, smiling, helping Enzo fill the basket with the empty containers. He gestured towards the basket as Enzo closed it up. “You want me to keep this in here, ’cause you know she’ll be back for it?”

“No. I’ll take it. And talk to her,” Enzo said firmly.

He was already dreading it, but he knew he needed to try.

He was desperate enough that he’d even considered enlisting Luca and Oliver, but he didn’t want to. He wanted to prove he was an adult; that he could take care of difficult situations himself. Luca might’ve saved his future by insisting he attend art school, in spite of his mother’s protests, but Enzo wasn’t about to rely on him for Giana interventions forever.

“Sure,” Will said. “But the offer’s open.”

Chapter Eight

Enzo expected his mom to return to the scene of the crime sooner rather than later, but to his surprise, she didn’t.

When he finally finished up the scaffolding, it was nearly full dark—and she’d still not stopped by.

Gathering his phone and the basket, he rounded the corner and discovered a whole crush of people inside Cherry’s. He’d been planning to stop in and maybe re-configure the plan, but Will looked run off his feet, and happy, and so Enzo left him alone, trudging the few blocks back to his mom’s house.

Unlike Cherry’s, her house was dark. Unexpectedly. Where was she? Enzo paused in front of her door, considering texting and asking, but a shower and his bed were calling, and he was honestly too tired to deal with this tonight.

He’d find her in the morning, and this time, he had a feeling she wouldn’t be so intent on avoiding him. After all, she’d want to know all the details of their romantic rendezvous in Cherry’s back room.

He took a long, cold shower, and when he was finally clean, slumped down on the futon that doubled as his couch. Discovered he was too tired to even flip on the TV. But not too tired to glance over at his phone, especially when he realized Will had texted him while he’d been thoroughly scrubbing himself down.

How did it go?

Didn’t see her actually. She’s not home, either. He omitted that it was weird for him not to find his mother absent at nearly eight PM on a weeknight. Don’t tell me you’re that eager to fake date me? The artichoke spread is good but not that good.

My tastebuds beg to differ.

Enzo laughed, head slumping back against the edge of the futon. He should really drag his exhausted ass to bed.

You guys looked busy tonight.

Busier every night, Will texted back. I’m gonna need to hire some more help.

You thought about asking Rocco? I know he works at Rudy’s but only during the weeknights. I think his weekends are free.

Great minds. I’ve already called him up. But I think I’m gonna need another more permanent employee. I know Rocco’s not planning on sticking around.

He wasn’t. Eventually he’d find a business he wanted to buy in another small town, and leave.

I wish I knew someone to suggest, Enzo replied.

It’s alright. Part of being a business owner.

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