Speak Low (Speak Easy 2)

“Ha! You’ve got no sway over him.”

“You’re wrong. He listens to me.” What possessed me to say such a thing, I have no idea.

Joey smirked. “If you think that, then you’re a bigger fool than I thought.” He cocked his head, looking more like the old Joey. “What did he do, tell you he loves you?”

“Shut up.” My chest and neck flushed with heat.

“Ooh, she’s blushing.” Joey poked his finger in my side repeatedly. “Did he proclaim his devotion for you, is that it? Is he going to build you a house on Boston Boulevard and buy you a fancy electric car and name his yacht after you? The Tiny.” Joey framed the words in the air with his hands. “Hmm, not quite grand enough, is it.” He widened his gesture. “The Frances Kathleen. Eh, a little better.”

Irritation bubbled up in me, but I was relieved he was back to teasing. “You remembered my full name. Impressive. Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to spell it.”

He turned to me with murderous eyes and poked my side once more. “Get out of my car, ya no-good, backstabbing floozy. Or do I have to drive his girl around as well as feed her?”

“I’ll take a ride home, thanks. Sweet of you to offer.”

Joey looked at me a moment and exhaled. “I should put you out at the curb right now.”

“But you won’t.”

A pause. “I guess not. “

I grinned. I couldn’t help it.

“Why can’t I stay mad at you, anyway?”

Linking my fingers, I tucked them under my chin and batted my lashes. “Because I’m so adorable?”

He scrutinized my face. “Nope. That ain’t it.”

I dropped the pose. “Just drive me home already.”

Rolling his eyes, he started the engine again. “Sure thing, Little Tomato. I only live to serve you.”

Crossing my arms, I turned my face to the window so he wouldn’t see me smile at his nickname for me, which only a week ago would have made me scowl.

When Joey pulled into the drive at my house, I was reluctant to get out of the car, for some reason. “Have you had lunch?”

Joey looked amused. “And if I said no, what are you gonna do about it?”

“Um…invite you in? Scramble you an egg? I do know how to do that.”

He smirked. “Sounds tempting but no, I can’t. I have to work the dinner shift at the restaurant today.”

“Oh. OK. Maybe I’ll see you later this week?” What the hell was I doing? Just get out of the car.

“Maybe.” His tone changed, as if he was irritated I’d asked about seeing him again. “But this week’s busy with moving my ma to my sister’s and all. Plus I’m looking to get out of town. You tell your boyfriend to get in touch with me, and fast.”

“He’s not really my boyfriend.” Then I was embarrassed—Joey knew I was sleeping with Enzo. If he wasn’t my boyfriend, what was he? “I mean…I don’t really know what we are.”

Joey switched his focus out the windshield. “It’s none of my business. Just tell him.”

I nodded as I got out, a funny, prickly feeling in the pit of my stomach, as if a cactus had lodged there or something. Lifting my hand in a stupid little wave, which Joey didn’t return, I watched him back out and drive down the street. I was glad he wasn’t angry anymore, but I still didn’t feel right about things between us. Maybe I was just worried about the deal with Enzo.

That had to be it.

#

Five days later I hadn’t heard from either Enzo or Joey, and I was nearly out of my mind with worry. I started checking the newspapers every afternoon to make sure I didn’t read about any new gang warfare or heists that took the lives of young mobsters.