Page 4 of Falling for the Knockout

“Why’s that?” Luca asked.

“Because Aurora is with me,” he lied. “I wasn’t going to tell anyone since our relationship is so brand new. But you two blew my chances of keeping the secret when you stuck your noses where they didn’t belong.”

“So, you’re saying that she’s hands off then?” Luca asked.

“I am,” Tony said, defiantly raising his chin as though daring his friends to challenge him.

“Why didn’t you two act like you were together earlier at the bakery? You two were more like awkward coworkers, not two people in a romantic relationship,” Rocco insisted. Tony knew that he was going to have to make his lie believable if he wanted the guys to stop bugging him about Aurora.

“I already told you both that we just started seeing each other,” he reminded, “and we both want time to see where this goes. We don’t want to advertise the two of us being together, especially in front of my Nonno. He might not let us work together if he knew.” Yeah, he probably took it too far when he added the part about his grandfather not letting the two of them work together anymore. He just hoped that the guys had forgotten the fact that his grandfather worked alongside his grandmother in that bakery for nearly sixty years.

Rocco squinted his eyes at him and for a second, Tony was sure that he was going to call his bluff. “You three idiots done comparing dick sizes or should I give you some more privacy?” Jonesy asked. Tony wanted to run to the guy and kiss him for saving him from having to continue their conversation. He was sure that he was going to get caught up in a lie, and Jonesy was giving him a way out.

“That’s not what we were doing, Jonesy,” Rocco insisted.

“Sure,” Jonesy grumbled, “get your asses dressed and get in the ring. I won’t say it again. Next time, I’ll run you through a workout that will make the last one look like recess at grade school.”

“Shit,” Luca whispered.

“Glad you’re getting it, Luca. Hey, Tony, you have a phone call in the office. They said they couldn’t reach you by cell and the gymwas the number that they were given in case of emergency.” Shit—he left his cell phone at the bakery as he rushed to get out of there after he kissed Aurora’s cheek and basically told her that he had feelings for her.

“What emergency?” Tony asked. He suddenly had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, and he worried that it was about to get worse.

“I have no clue,” Jonesy said, “I don’t pry into your business, Tony.” He wanted to call bullshit on his last statement, but Tony wanted to get up to the office to find out who was trying to reach him with an emergency. “Go take the call and then meet us back at the ring, got it?” Jonesy asked. Tony nodded and slammed his locker door, not bothering to lock it. He ran up the stairs, taking two at a time, and didn’t bother to knock on the office door. Jonesy was the only person who used that space, and he was down in the locker room, giving the guys a hard time.

Tony picked up the phone and pushed the blinking button for line two. Jonesy was old school and really didn’t like technology, so he kept things the way that they were when he bought the place in the late 80’s. Tony thought that it was endearing, usually, but when he couldn’t get in touch with Jonesy because he didn’t use cell phones, that got to be a pain in the ass.

“Hello,” Tony said into the ancient phone.

“I’m looking for Anthony Vitale, Jr.,” a woman said on the other end of the call.

“Call me Tony,” he said, “how can I help you?” he asked. For some reason, his tummy felt as though it was doing flip-flops inside of him.

“This is Nurse Madison down at County General Hospital. I’m sorry to inform you that your grandfather is here and he’s not doing so well. You’re listed as his emergency contact, and I think you should come down to help him home. I’m not sure that he should drive himself right now.”

“What’s happened to him?” Tony asked. He was filled with panic and his only relief was that his Nonno was still alive and at the hospital.

“I’m afraid that I can’t tell you that because he hasn’t put you on his HIPPA form,” she insisted.

“Wait—I’m listed as his emergency contact, but you can’t tell me what’s wrong with him? Is he having an emergency?” Tony asked.

“Um, not exactly, but he needs your help,” she said. “If you want more answers, I’m afraid that you’ll have to get them from him.”

“Fine, I’ll be there in about twenty minutes,” he said, hanging up the phone. He knew that getting to the hospital in twenty minutes was going to be a long shot, but he could take a few shortcuts. He just hoped like hell that his Nonno was going to be okay.

He ran down the steps and back into the locker room to grab his clothes, quickly pulling them on. He put his keys and wallet into his pocket and grabbed his gym bag to head out to his truck.

“Where are you going?” Jonesy asked, standing in the doorway to the locker room.

“I have to go to the hospital,” Tony breathed, shoving past Jonesy. “My grandfather is there, and the nurse said that he’s not doing well. I have to go help him home.”

“Did she say what’s wrong with him?” Jonesy asked.

“No, I’m not on his fucking HIPPA form, but I plan to change that. Right now, I just need to get to the hospital,” he repeated.

“Of course, kid,” Jonesy agreed. “Call me if you need anything.”

“Thanks,” Tony said, “I’ll be in touch.” He made his way to the front entrance and waved over his shoulder to the guys as they called his name. Jonesy could fill them in. Right now, he had about sixteen minutes to get across town to his grandfather, and with any luck, he was going to make it.

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