Oh god, this is so embarrassing. I can only nod at the man as I snatch up tissues. At least Dante gave him my address. God, Dante and Bethany. Shame fills me. I was always going to tell Dante, but I don’t know when, later, closer to when I did it and not in a way that made me seem so desperate and pathetic. How dare Enzo spill what I told him in private as if it was no big deal? He was lucky it was water I threw at him.
Stomping upstairs, I resolve to quit. I’m not working for him, fuck him. It’s not worth it. Until I’m lying on my bed staring at the ceiling. Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars for three months of work. With that money plus my investment in Enzo’s fund, it would be the perfect down payment on a multifamily property without me having to touch my savings. I need that money. No, fuck him. I’m not going to make anything easy for him. If he wants me gone, he’ll have to fire me. God, is it too early for wine?
10
Enzo
My phone ringing pulls me out of a restless sleep. Damn it, I got no sleep last night, and the clock by the bed tells me I only got another hour from the nap I was taking. It’s Bethany. “Yeah.”
“You’re coming, right?”
“I said I would be there.”
“Then why haven’t you left yet?”
“I’m leaving now, okay?”
“Good, see you in an hour.”
Fuck. I’m still groggy. I decide
to jump in the shower, hoping it will help clear my head.
I don’t bother knocking, the door is open. I’m barely three feet into the family room when Matteo takes a running leap at me as he yells my name. Damn this kid is fearless, and big. He’s grown at least three inches since I saw him at Christmas, it’s only been four months. I catch him close and swing him around, and he squeals in delight. Not one to be left out of the fun, Sophia toddles up to me, demanding I lift her. Fuck, I really thought the whole melting in my chest was going to go away on my orders, but nope, it’s still there as I pick up Sophia. She’s so damn small, delicate, adorable, her giggle as sweet as her smile. Then she demands a hug. Her little arms can’t even go all the way around my neck, but it doesn’t stop her from trying.
It takes almost a half hour to untangle myself from the kids. I make my way outside where Che, Dante, and Dom are standing around the huge barbeque Che is using.
Che nod then frowns the minute he sees me. “Where were you?”
“I’m here, man.”
Dante nods. “At least you look like shit. I hope you feel like it too.”
“What the hell is the matter with you two?” Che looks from Dante to me.
“He’s got a hard-on for Chloe but he’s a fucking twelve-year-old, so he’s hitting out at her. He made her fucking cry yesterday and didn’t even blink.”
Che shakes his head and sighs. “Fuck, Enzo. Chloe is an awesome woman, but she is not for you. No man, just no.”
Straightening in surprise, Dante hits Che on the arm. “What the fuck are you talking about? Enzo would be lucky to have a woman like Chloe. He should go down on his knees begging for her to give him a chance.”
“Look, I respect Chloe, I like her—as an employee. As a woman to get involved with, no. She’s got way too much baggage any man would get buried under all of that the way she has let herself be. Enzo’s got enough baggage all on his own. It would be a disaster.”
Dante is offended. “We all have some baggage. Chloe’s has been earned, it’s not her fault she grew up with her mother and grandmother fucking with her head, then some assholes clinched it. At least she isn’t some vapid, gold-digging bitch. She’s real, she cares about people...she’s exactly the kind of woman he needs.”
Dom nudges me with his elbow. “Are you going to add anything?”
“No, I’m done. Che’s right.” Fuck, does it hurt to admit he’s right. “She has too much baggage. She’s beautiful for sure, but no. Better I know now than later. As far as I’m concerned, the whole thing is moot. I’d rather know when that brisket is going to be done.”
“The brisket is done, out of nowhere Alicia doesn’t want brisket and asked for chicken breasts and hot dogs for Matteo. And my apologies now if Alicia starts crying, she got pissed off at me this morning.”
“Dude, what did you do? She is due in like two weeks. Aren’t you supposed to not be upsetting her?” Dante’s eyes go wide.
“I just tried to bring up me getting a vasectomy now before it becomes a scheduling issue when the baby comes.” I wince, then see Dom doing the same. “Yeah, I know, but it’s easier on her if I do it. I love my kids, they are the best thing besides Alicia to ever happen to me, but I feel like three is our limit.”
“It is a pretty permanent thing to do. Are you sure?” Dante asks.
“I’m sure. Even with the nanny and a full-time housekeeper, it feels like the kids consume all of our energy. Thank god we have Matteo in preschool for half the day, which Alicia hated but Matteo loves. Three’s good, three is enough. Alicia isn’t sure she thinks she might want one more. She wants us to wait for another year or two before we decide, I’m not sure we won’t end up with another whether we discuss it or not. Alicia hates me wearing a condom and she’s adamant about breastfeeding longer than six weeks, which makes the Pill a no-go. This is for her as much as me, I suggest her taking time for herself to do anything other than read, and she acts like I’m telling her to take a vacation in Bermuda or something. She’s all consumed with me and the kids; I want her to take time for herself. If we have another kid it’s that much more work.”