Page 37 of Cherry on Top

Let me guess. One of the worst parts.

Right up there with being the person everyone calls when something goes wrong.

Luca likes to say everyone who starts their own business secretly has a savior complex, Enzo texted back.

He’s not wrong.

Is that why you’re trying to bail me out with my mom?

Enzo regretted the text the moment he sent it. It sounded needy and desperate like, tell me instead that you liked me too much to resist.

But they both knew that wasn’t true.

Maybe I’m trying to bail us both out.

Enzo relaxed against the futon cushions again. How did Will always know the right thing to say?

You’re annoyingly perfect.

If you were my fake boyfriend, you wouldn’t find my perfection annoying :)

True. I’m gonna talk to her tomorrow.

Good luck. And good night.

When Enzo fell asleep ten minutes later, still on the futon, it was Will’s face, bright smile, and those irresistible dimples swimming in front of his eyelids.

At least before he’d fallen asleep at nine, like a freaking old man, Enzo had remembered to set an alarm so he was up bright and early. A little sore, but a lot rested.

He threw some of his work clothes—a worn-out pair of loose shorts, and a paint-stained tank that had once been white—and ducked into his mom’s house, the back door open, before he headed out to Will’s building.

And sure enough, there was his mother, enjoying her coffee at her little nook table.

“Oh, Enzo, I didn’t expect to see you this morning,” she exclaimed as she looked up.

Enzo knew his way around his mom’s kitchen as well as anyone’s and grabbed coffee and popped a bagel in the toaster.

“Why not?” he questioned innocently.

“Well, you and Will had that very romantic date yesterday. Thought maybe he might’ve crashed here last night. Or maybe you spent the night at his room in the Inn?”

“Mom,” Enzo said, leaning against the counter and crossing his arms over his chest, “you need to stop.”

“Stop what?” She sounded so baffled, so innocent, he almost believed it.

“Stop trying to push Will and me together.”

“Why?” Her eyes were wide and surprised. “You two are so cute together, just like I knew you’d be.”

“Mom,” Enzo chided. Took a long sip of coffee. “Even if I liked him like that—”

“Enzo,” she interrupted, “I wasn’t born yesterday. I heard about you two flirting the other night at Cherry’s. And then earlier, at Oliver’s. You two aren’t being very subtle. I’m just trying to help your relationship along. There’s no law against that.”

Enzo opened his mouth and snapped it shut again. There was no reasoning with her, especially not when she’d already decided they were in a relationship. Maybe Will was right, and the only way to convince her to stop was to convince her all this was unnecessary.

Enzo took a deep breath. Ignored his bagel that just popped up in the toaster. “Mom, it doesn’t need help. It’s . . .uh . . .already going just fine.”

He wasn’t stupid, despite popular belief. He knew what he was saying and what he wasn’t saying and also how his mother would undeniably take it.

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