Page 45 of Cherry on Top

“I requested a booth,” Enzo said. He glanced up at Will, longer this time, his gaze going positively gooey. It’s fake, it’s fake, it’s all goddamn fake. “So I can cuddle with this handsome hunk of a man.”

“He is . . .uh . . .yes,” the girl said. “I’ve got your reservation right here, Mr. Moretti. If you’ll follow me.”

Will had grown up in small towns. He knew exactly how they were and so did Enzo, obviously, because as they followed the hostess to their table, he was undeniably aware of every gaze in the place following them and the whispers in their wake.

Will kept his arm firmly around Enzo’s waist, even though the aisle between the two rows of booths wasn’t that big, because he was supposed to be persuading the town they were dating, and if he was really dating Enzo, he wouldn’t let go of him for a second.

“Here we are,” the hostess announced, stopping in front of a cozy-looking booth.

“Oh, perfect. Thank you,” Enzo said, shooting her the most potent smile in his arsenal.

At least Will had believed it was, until Enzo turned to him as he slid into the booth. “You gonna share with me?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Will’s fingers gripped the seat cushions. “Like I’d want to let go of you for a moment,” he said.

Enzo beamed, taking his seat next to Will like it had always been his. “Good,” he said. “You want some wine? Did you know since Luca moved to Indigo Bay, he’s been an unofficial wine consultant for Rudy’s?”

“I did hear that rumor,” Will said. “But I’m not much of a wine drinker.” He shrugged at Enzo’s semi-outraged expression. “I grew up in Florida. You think we have decent wineries there?”

“I grew up here and we definitely didn’t, but then I moved to San Francisco and lived with Luca’s sisters. I wasn’t used to real wine, or dry wine, and at first, I didn’t like it either. But it grew on me. Now I love it. Especially when we’re talking the good stuff, and Luca makes sure they stock the good stuff here.”

“For him and Oliver?” Will questioned as Enzo picked up the wine list and began to peruse it.

Enzo nodded. “Do you want to get something else? I was going to get a bottle of this pinot noir, but if you’re not going to have any . . .”

“Oh, maybe I’ll try some,” Will said. After all, what would it hurt? “If you think it’s a good starter wine.”

Enzo flashed him a smile. “I think you’ll like it. Luca mentioned it was nice and fruit forward. Suggested I try it when I said we were coming here tonight.”

Will tensed. Realizing for the first time that pretending they were dating for Enzo’s mom meant they were pretending to date for everyone else, too, including friends like Oliver and Luca. Friends he didn’t particularly want to lie to.

“What did you say to him?” Will asked, hoping his question sounded casual enough.

“You mean, did I tell him the truth?” Enzo’s voice dropped lower, and he slid in closer, practically murmuring into Will’s ear. If anyone saw them together, they’d believe, no question about it, that they were incredibly intent on each other. That they didn’t even see anybody else.

“Yeah,” Will said.

“I told him I was taking you out on a date, and he told me I had good taste,” Enzo said, grinning. “Don’t worry, I didn’t lie. Just slightly stretched the truth.”

“Alright.” Will relaxed. “It’s . . .it’s awkward, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, a little. But we’re gonna be just fine.” Enzo leaned in even closer. “The real question isn’t who we’re gonna tell the truth—or who we’re not gonna tell—but what I’m gonna call you.”

“Yeah?”

“We gotta come up with the best, most convincing pet names,” Enzo said.

“Pet names?”

Will looked up and Rocco was standing in front of the booth, a black apron wrapped around his waist, and wearing a polo shirt with Rudy’s logo embroidered on the upper right-hand corner.

“I forgot you were working here, too, now,” Enzo asked, sounding surprised.

“Rocco’s everywhere,” Will said. “You still good to stop by on Thursday morning for some quick training?”

Rocco nodded. “Yep. What can I get you to drink? Wine? You know Luca is curating the list these days.”

“I was thinking of this Sonoma County pinot noir? What do you think?”

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