Page 109 of Cherry on Top

Enzo swallowed hard. He did know it. Or he mostly did. But sometimes he forgot, or that feeling got consumed by all the other bullshit.

But he knew it right now and whenever he got frustrated with her or sick of her bullshit—and that would happen, because even though they loved each other, they were family, and it was inevitable—he’d remember this moment.

“Thanks, Mom.”

She gave him one last squeeze. “Of course. And I’m sorry you didn’t know it.”

“I do now,” he said.

Smiling, she turned towards Rocco at the counter, and after he’d hugged Carla and shaken Patrick’s hand one last time and they were gone, along with Giana and her two coffees, Will looked at him.

“Well, that’s done,” he said.

“You look relieved,” Enzo said. “Did you talk to them about it?”

“A little,” Will said. “But we’ll have to talk more, later. They’re off to Tybee, finally. But I do know it’s not over. They’re still getting used to the idea that I’m not a doormat or an employee they can order around. When they do . . .we’ll talk. But for now, I gotta go to work. Kate came in early to do the prep instead of me, but . . .”

Enzo didn’t need Will to explain. He understood. “I get it. I have work to do, too. I told my mom I’d find her later, tonight, and we’ll talk too.”

“Alright.” Will looked even more relieved then. He tucked a hand around Enzo’s waist, and he tilted his face up towards Will’s. “You okay?”

“Happy the truth’s out, to be honest,” Enzo said. “I didn’t realize it was bothering me, until it was, until . . .”

“Yeah,” Will agreed. He leaned in and brushed a lingering kiss against Enzo’s mouth. “I guess I’ll see you later tonight, at home?” He flushed, like he wasn’t used to saying it, and Enzo had to admit that he wasn’t used to hearing it.

“Yeah,” he said. “At home.”

Will smiled. “That’s gonna take some getting used to, isn’t it?”

“In the best kinda way.” Enzo kissed him again, a little longer this time, ignoring Rocco’s semi-outraged squawk across the bakery.

“Yeah.” Will looked bashful and sweet about it, and Enzo didn’t think he’d ever get tired of that look. Like he couldn’t quite believe that he’d be coming home to Enzo—or that Enzo would be coming home to him.

Once upon a time, Enzo had imagined that feeling would be the death of a relationship. But instead, with Will, it felt like the beginning.

Enzo was going to see a thousand shades of blue in his dreams, tonight.

His hands were splattered with royal and indigo and sky and every color in-between, but when he finally climbed down from the scaffolding, the swirling sea between Eliza’s perch and the town was almost done.

When he gazed up at it, the colors still vibrant even in the growing dusk, pride swamped him. This never got old, seeing his vision come to life. The story in his mind taking solid form, hopefully lighting up the imagination of everyone who walked by this and saw it.

Tomorrow, he’d just need to add a few final touches, and he’d get to move on to the tall-masted sailing ship, and Nathaniel, floating on a broken-off spar.

Enzo leaned back, stretching out his back and then his hands, beginning to pack up his supplies.

A few minutes later, he stuck his head into Cherry’s, saw the long line nearly reaching the door and stepped right back out. He’d talk to Will later, when he wasn’t slammed.

After he walked home and he ducked into his own apartment for a shower, he glanced over at the main house, which was, as it often seemed to be these days, dark.

“Ugh,” Enzo muttered. He shed his paint-stained clothes, throwing them right into the washer before heading to the shower. Right before he got in, he texted his mom, but sure enough, when he was done and dressed, he’d gotten no response.

“Fine,” he said out loud. “Fine, I can go find her.” He needed to find some food anyway, so he’d cross two things off his list while he was at it.

She’d mentioned seeing Joy earlier—admittedly, hours and hours earlier, but Enzo decided, after swinging by the deli and picking up a sub, that was probably the best place to start.

But tonight, the wraparound porch was empty. No Giana. No Joy. Enzo was about to turn and leave, maybe eat his sub in the park, when he heard voices inside.

He pushed the door open, and stopped, right there in his tracks.

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