Page 112 of Cherry on Top

“It could’ve happened that way,” Enzo agreed. “But it didn’t. You can’t always force things to happen the way you want. You’ve got to let me figure things out on my own. When you don’t—that’s when I stay away, Mom. You know that. We’ve talked about it.” He said it gently, but he could feel the words hit her and her gaze grow solemn as she absorbed them.

“I know. I’m sorry. I got carried away. I shouldn’t have, but . . .ugh, he was perfect for you, Enzo, darling. He is perfect for you.”

Well, he’d known he probably wasn’t getting out of this conversation without a little I told you so, but he’d take that, as long as she understood the boundaries he was setting.

“Yes, he is,” Enzo agreed.

She sighed again, but happier this time. “All’s well that ends well. I shouldn’t have pushed, I know. I am sorry. Well.” She laughed. “Mostly sorry. Also happy to be right.”

“You know what?” Enzo wiped his hands on a napkin and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tight. “I’m really happy you were, too. And one more thing. I’m happy you were going to tell me about you and Joy. That you wanted to tell me about you two.”

“Well, of course.” Giana beamed at him. “You’re my beloved son. I just wish I’d managed to say it before you saw.”

“Well, how about we just . . .make sure there’s no more seeing,” Enzo said.

Giana batted her eyelashes innocently. “And I’m sure you and Will won’t be engaging in any PDA whatsoever.”

Enzo groaned. “I take it back. I don’t approve at all.”

Giana just laughed though. “Oh, you can’t take that back. Any of it, actually.”

And he knew then that they’d be okay.

“And then,” Enzo continued, “I walked inside the Inn and there was my mom and Joy. Kissing.”

Inside the shower, Will made a gratifyingly surprised noise. “What?” he exclaimed. He dropped the soap as punctuation, just like how Enzo had dropped his sub sandwich. At another time, Enzo might’ve made a joke about how if he’d been in there, he’d have taken advantage of that fact, but he was too occupied telling Will what had happened next.

“They were kissing. And then, thank God, they stopped kissing.”

“What happened after that? Did they tell you what’s going on?”

“Apparently they’re in love. Or dating. Or whatever.” Enzo wiped a hand across his face. He didn’t want to think about the whatever. Giana wasn’t old; she still deserved happiness and companionship. He just didn’t want to think about it. “My mom told me she’d wanted to tell me about it, she just didn’t have time before I walked in on them.”

“But she did talk to you,” Will said. He flipped the shower off and Enzo reached over, handing him his towel.

He’d meant to tell him all about their talk. But then Will stepped out, towel wrapped around his waist, chest still damp, droplets of water snaking their way down his tanned chest. Enzo wasn’t proud of it, but okay, he still got a little distracted whenever Will was naked around him. Even when Will was partially naked around him. Just a little flash of skin and his blood went hot and his brain power slowed to a sluggish crawl.

“Enzo? You okay there?” Will asked, chuckling under his breath.

“Sorry, you’re just . . .you’re just really distracting.”

Will laughed out loud. “I’ve finally figured out the secret for shutting up a Moretti. Get naked.”

“This Moretti isn’t going to argue with that technique. Not in the least.”

Will ran a hand through his hair, shaking droplets all over Enzo, even though he hadn’t moved from his perch on the counter. “But you did talk to her?”

“Yeah.” Enzo hesitated. “It does make sense that she was working overtime to find someone for me, if she was happy and worried that I wasn’t.”

“It doesn’t excuse it, but it does explain it,” Will agreed.

“I told her she can’t interfere anymore. She promised she wouldn’t. I didn’t say this, but next time, if she breaks her word, you know who I’m going to tell.” Enzo waggled his eyebrows.

Will laughed again. “Your cousin?”

“Luca’s disappointed face could make anyone regret their choices,” Enzo said, nodding. “Ask me how I know.”

“You didn’t change your life because he disapproved of you,” Will argued loyally.

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