Page 23 of Falling for the Knockout

“I can’t do this right now,” she said. He had walked out on her yesterday, so why should she let him hang around her bakery today? “I have customers coming in twenty minutes. You need to leave, and we can discuss you working here another time.” Yeah, she sounded like a bitch, but Aurora just didn’t care.

“You can’t be serious,” Tony barked. “Are you firing me?”

“For now, yes,” she said, “if that is what you need to leave. You asked me to give you space, and now, I’m asking you for the same thing.” She watched as Tony seemed to work through everything in his head and Aurora could tell when he decided not to fight her. Tony grabbed his jacket, not bothering to take off his apron, and stormed out of the back door of the bakery. She heard his car’s engine roar to life and speed away. Aurora could tell that he was mad, but she wasn’t going to let that bother her right now. No, she had a bakery to run, and dealing with Tony’s little fit was going to have to wait for now.

Anthony

Seeing Aurora that morning was a mistake. She was right—he was the one who said that he needed space and now, he was crowding hers. God, he missed her last night. Not having her in his bed felt wrong, but there was no way that he could ask her to just forget everything that he had said to her the day before. He had said too much and acted like an ass. Rocco was at least right about that, but when his so-called best friend asked Aurora to move into his place, his inner caveman went a little crazy. He wanted to tell Aurora not to go with Rocco and to stay with him, but he just couldn’t. He needed time to think and showing up at the bakery was a huge mistake—that much he didn’t need to think about.

Speaking at his grandfather’s funeral wasn’t something that he wanted to do. He just never knew that it would be something that he needed to do. He had pushed everyone and everything that he loved out of his life, and he was starting to see just how stupid he had been. He had turned into the one person he never wanted to be like—his mother. She had pushed him out of her life because she didn’t want to have to deal with his boxing. Shesaid that she cared too much to watch him die the way that his father had. But the years of silence only proved to Tony that she didn’t care at all. Her showing up at his grandfather’s funeral to confront him only proved his point.

After he left the bakery, he decided to blow off some steam, and he knew the best way to do just that—sparring with the guys. He was still pissed at Rocco for offering Aurora his spare room, but maybe beating the crap out of his friend would help.

Tony walked into the gym and found Luca and Rocco already in the ring. “Well, look who’s here,” Rocco drawled. “It’s about time.”

“Actually, I’m early, asshole,” Tony spat. “I went by the bakery to help open up, as I usually do, and Aurora basically told me to get lost. I think she actually fired me.”

“Can you blame her?” Luca asked.

“You’re not even a part of this, so why are you opening your mouth?” Tony grumbled.

Luca shrugged, “Rocco told me about what happened after the funeral, and I have to say, man, you’re a fucking idiot. Did you really break up with Aurora?” He asked.

“I wasn’t planning on breaking up with her. I just needed to take a step back, but then things escalated, and I ended up sticking my foot in my mouth,” Tony admitted. He just wanted to suggest that they take a break because his head was all over the place, but when Aurora asked him if he was breaking up with her, he let her believe that he was. It was easier that way, and when things got heated, he ended up taking the easy way out.

“Well, Tony’s loss is my gain. Aurora is living with me now, and since you’re no longer together—“ Tony didn’t let Rocco finish his sentence. He knew that if he did, Tony would want to fucking murder him. He jumped into the ring and pushed Rocco against the ropes, ready to beat the hell out of him if necessary.

“Don’t fucking say it,” Tony breathed. “Just because we broke up doesn’t mean that you get to move in on my woman.” Rocco laughed—actually laughed and Tony released him. His friend had completely lost his mind.

“Why the fuck are you laughing?” Tony shouted. He ran his hands through his hair and started pacing, knowing that if he didn’t distract himself, he’d end up putting his hands on Rocco again, and this time, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from pummeling him.

“Because you just called her your woman,” Rocco said. “If you still feel that way about Aurora, why the fuck is she sleeping at my house?”

Tony turned to face his friend again, staring him down. “Tell me that you have a spare room and that she didn’t sleep in your bed,” Tony ordered.

Rocco shrugged, “Why does it matter,” he asked.

“It matters because if you tell me that you slept with Aurora, I’m going to kill you,” Tony said. Rocco laughed again and this time, Luca joined him.

“Man, you’ve got it bad for her. Why don’t you just fucking admit that you messed up and ask her to take you back? Hell, ask her to marry you for fuck's sake,” Luca insisted.

Tony gasped and took a step back from his friend. Hearing those words from Luca, just a day after reading Elio’s note—it was like the universe was trying to give him a message. Hell, the universe was hitting him over the fucking head with a hammer, and he still wasn’t paying attention. Luca was right about one thing—he did fuck up and now, he worried that he’d never be able to get Aurora back. Showing up at the bakery was a mistake, and seemed to just piss her off even more, if that was even possible.

“What did you say?” Tony asked, needing to make sure that he had heard Luca correctly.

“I said that you should ask Aurora to marry you,” Luca repeated. Tony’s world felt like it was spinning around him, and he could only think of one thing to do. He needed to go home—to the house that was his grandparents’ and was now his. It might have sounded crazy, but it just felt like the right thing to do. Sure, Elio wouldn’t be there waiting for him, but it would still feel like home, and Tony needed that comfort right now.

“I’ve got to go,” Tony said. He hopped out of the ring and grabbed his gym bag and keys from the bench.

“You sure that you’re okay?” Rocco asked.

“Yeah, you look a little pale, man,” Luca agreed.

“I’ll be fine,” Tony said, “I just remembered that I need to do something.” He didn’t miss the way that his friends looked at each other as he turned to leave. Standing there and explaining how he was feeling wasn’t going to happen, and his friends wouldn’t let him off the hook. He didn’t like talking about his fucking feelings, but right now, that didn’t matter. He planned on going home and spilling his guts into the air, hoping that somehow, Elio was listening and would give him a sign of whatto do next because right now, Tony was lost.

Tony pulled into the driveway, parked his car, and looked the house over. As soon as he saw the place he felt the comfort and peacefulness that he always had when he went home. His grandparents might be gone, but their spirits were still there. He could feel them, and right now, he needed to talk to them, even if that made him sound like a crazy person. He knew that they weren’t actually there, but hopefully, he’d find what he was looking for through the mahogany door that seemed to be begging him to come in.

He walked back to the kitchen, holding his breath that he’d find them both back there—his Nonna cooking and his Nonno eating and fussing at her to hurry up and make more. He laughed at the memory as he stepped into the kitchen. “Hey guys,” he said, just as he used to every time he greeted them. He was almost sad that there was no response.

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