Page 95 of Cherry on Top

Enzo didn’t miss the determination in his expression as they walked out the door. Or the equally as certain look in Will’s eyes that he wouldn’t be going anywhere.

Phew. Enzo was going to have to be on his best dancing monkey behavior to distract Will’s parents from what they’d come to Indigo Bay for.

“So, Enzo, tell us a little more about you,” Carla asked as they walked down the sidewalk towards Sweetie Pie’s. Will hadn’t let go of him yet, which Enzo was taking as a very good sign. He’d hoped Will wouldn’t be upset he’d ignored Kate’s message, but this was even better than he’d envisioned.

Okay. He hadn’t really envisioned anything.

It had been clear enough that Will had been trying to white-knuckle this situation alone, and Enzo just wasn’t going to let him. He’d charged in, without really thinking it through at all.

“Mom,” Will chided gently.

“I’m from here, originally,” Enzo said. “My mom and I moved here when I was ten. Then five years ago I moved away, went to art school in San Francisco.”

“And you’re a full-time muralist?” This question was from Patrick.

Will hadn’t said it explicitly that his father was a hard-ass businessman, but he didn’t need to, now. Enzo could see it.

Will’s dad was Luca, if he’d never met Oliver.

“Yep. Booked about a year in advance. All over the US. Even a few dates in Europe, now. Bless social media. It does all my marketing for me.”

“You must have quite a reputation,” Carla said approvingly.

“He’s brilliant,” Will said, his firm response making it clear he wouldn’t tolerate any kind of argument on this point. Enzo flushed with pleasure.

He knew he was good, sure. People said it all the time. But hearing it from Will’s lips meant something more.

“So you travel all over, but you’re based here?” Carla asked as Patrick opened the door of Sweetie Pie’s, ushering them all inside.

Enzo felt Will tense and knew they’d hit on the one potential wrinkle that worried both of them.

“Uh.” Enzo hesitated. He didn’t want to lie. Not to Will’s parents. But what else could he say? “I wasn’t before, but I am now.” He glanced over at Will, meeting his eyes, full of sudden trepidation. “After meeting Will, it was a no-brainer. I want to be with him, as much as I can.”

Carla melted again, but Patrick was a tougher nut to crack.

“That sounds awfully lonely for you, Will,” Patrick said.

Yep, this guy was just as blunt as Luca had been. Before he’d been forced to learn how to be an actual human being with emotions and with tact.

Bless Oliver for all that work he’d put in, because Enzo had a feeling it hadn’t been a particularly easy job.

“Not at all,” Will said, his jaw jutting out with frustration and annoyance. “I’ll have the business here.”

“And I’ll always make time for him,” Enzo added, deciding that if Will was going to brazen this out, he could too.

“Let’s order,” Will said, turning towards the front counter.

They ordered sandwiches and iced coffees and then took a large table in the corner, Rocco eyeing their group with undeniable interest, but because Rocco had a brain in his head, at least he didn’t offer any pointed comments.

Enzo was grateful for that, at least.

“I’m sure,” Enzo said, after taking a sip of his iced coffee, eyeing Will’s parents across from him, “that when Will’s business is more established, he could even come with me to some projects. See the country.”

“Will’s business is established now,” Carla argued.

It was pretty brazen for her to claim that now, when she’d just freaking arrived. Will tensed next to him, even though he’d hardly relaxed from the last time, and Enzo knew shit was about to hit the fan, no matter how public of a confrontation this might be.

At least there was nobody else in the bakery except for Rocco, who was not doing a very subtle job of listening in to the whole conversation.

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