“Let’s go inside.”
“No! Was she in Vegas with you? Is that who you were with that night?” She had to fight the urge to slap him. She’d let him answer first.
“No.” He spoke calmly. “She was there. She’s part of the wedding party. I didn’t know she was going to be there.” He reached for her hand but she pulled it away again.
Grace took a step back and he stepped forward. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“’Cause I knew you’d be mad. I didn’t wanna upset you for nothing.” He turned and gave Alex a hard look as if he wanted privacy but they all stood there staring as if they were watching a catastrophic train wreck.
Grace felt the tears coming and it enraged her, she stepped back again but he followed. “Did you spend time with her?”
“No. I was with the guys the whole time and she was with the girls. They sent over drinks one time but we never hung out. She was just trying to get in your head, baby. She probably figured I wouldn’t mention it. I should’ve.” He reached for her hand again and this time she let him. She needed to feel his touch—his reassurance. “I’m sorry.”
“Why was she here today?”
“She’s drunk. Her friend said if she hadn’t driven her here, she was gonna drive herself. She’s stupid that way.” He squeezed her hand. “Gracie, she means nothing to me.”
She stared at him, wanting desperately to believe him. He took another step forward and hugged her, kissing the side of her face. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
She finally lifted her arm and hugged him back. “I hate her.”
“I do, too.”
~*~
A week later Sal still couldn’t get over Melissa showing up at his place. He treasured every moment he got with Grace but he lived with constant fear of the possibility of it all being ripped away by something Melissa might say or do. He considered just confessing and praying Grace would forgive him, but he knew she’d be crushed—he saw the trepidation in her eyes the day Melissa showed up.
The memory of her kissing him that night had gotten longer since then. He now remembered her telling him how much she missed him, but he had no recollection of what his response was only that she kissed him again. He’d tossed and turned even on the nights Grace was lying right there next to him. A few times he even lay there, staring at her wondering what he’d do if he lost her. One thing was for sure he wouldn’t go down without a fight. If he had to get down on his knees and beg, he would.
It was early and Grace wouldn’t be in until a few more hours. He sat in the back online looking up cars for sale. He hadn’t told her yet but he was looking into getting her a car. Joey was dropping her off today, but she’d told him that before, then he found out later that she’d actually taken the bus, because at the last minute Joey’s car wouldn’t start and she didn’t want to call Sal to pick her up. He hated her taking the bus. She was one of, ifwasd hi not the most important person in his life now. He wasn’t about to keep risking something happening to her.
Alex walked into the back. “What are you doing?”
“Looking up cars.”
“For Grace?”
“Yeah.”
“’Bout time. I don’t see how you’ve let her take the bus all this time. It’s dangerous.”
Sal frowned. “Well, most of the time I make sure she doesn’t. But she’s stubborn. She says it’s not my job to chauffer her everywhere.”
“You don’t have to tell me about stubborn women.”
Sal chuckled and spun his chair around. “Close the door will you? I wanna talk to you.”
Alex did and stared at him curiously. “I’m thinking about telling Grace about Vegas.”
Alex’s face immediately went hard. “Are you insane?”
“Don’t you think it’s just a matter of time, before Melissa does? Wouldn’t it soften the blow if she heard it from me and not her? Fuck!” He dropped his head back. “I’ve tried so hard to remember how I could possibly let that happen. I don’t remember shit!”
“Why don’t you file a restraining order on her ass? You can keep her away that way.”
Sal covered his face with both hands then slid them down slowly. “If she wants Grace to find out, she’ll get the message to her one way or another. I’m literally losing sleep over this, Alex. Seriously, what would you do?”
Alex started to auto-answer then stopped and seemed to ponder it a little longer. “I’d play the odds. Melissa already made an ass out of herself. She probably didn’t count on all of us being there either. My guess is once she sobered up she felt pretty stupid. She’s an attorney, Sal. She can’t be doing shit like that. Maybe you can warn her that you’ll slap her with a restraining order if she keeps it up. That can’t look too good for her and I’m sure that kind of shit shows up if someone ever runs a background check on her. That might make her think twice before doing anything like that again.”
Sal thought about it. He hadn’t heard a thing from her ever since s
he showed up. Not even a text. Before that she’d been texting him at least once a day, so the theory about her feeling stupid made sense. Maybe she finally got it. Nothing was happening between the two of them ever again. If he filed a restraining order now he might piss her off. “You’re right, she can’t be doing that shit anymore. If she texts me again I’ll tell her I’m filing a restraining order, because I’m not calling her.”
“And you’re not telling Grace.”
Sal nodded in agreement. “No I’m not.” He couldn’t even imagine having that conversation. “Thanks, man.” He turned around and went back to searching for cars.
&nb wianks,sp;
CHAPTER 26
“You bought me a car?” Grace stared at Sal for a moment then glanced back at the black Jetta parked in the restaurant’s parking lot.
“It’s a write off.” Sal shrugged. “I can list it as a delivery car for the restaurant but it’s yours.”
Grace shook her head. “I can’t accept this, Sal.”
“Why not?”
She laughed. “What do you mean why not? You bought me a car.”
“I’m telling you, the restaurant can use the write-off.”
Hearing about write-off’s reminded her of Frank and his hotel. Her mom was still pushing the trip. “I can’t afford the insurance.”
Sal pulled her into his arms. “You won’t be paying for it.”
“You’re crazy. You can’t buy me a car and expect me to let you pay for the insurance.”
“Yes, I can. Remember I said I’d do anything for you?” He kissed her. “I’m not being as selfless as you think. I did this just as much for myself as I did for you. It’s for my own piece of mind, Grace. I hate knowing you’re on the bus.”
Grace pulled away from him and walked over to the car. “I don’t even have a license.”
“Do you know how to drive?”
She ran her fingers over the side of the car as she walked alongside it. “Yeah, one of my mom’s ex-husbands taught me. I passed all the classes I needed to and took all the tests, just not the main driving one.” She glanced back at Sal, still unable to believe he’d done this. “By the time I was ready for it they were divorced. Her next husband drove a motorcycle. No way was I testing in that and since I didn’t have a car, I never bothered.”
“So you go get it with this now.”
She turned and leaned against the car. “I can’t believe you.”
Sal walked up to her and leaned against her. “You’re not mad are you?”
“How can I be mad?”
He kissed her softly. “You and your sisters can go places on your own now. Shopping—the movies.”
She lifted an eyebrow, remembering what Taylor had said about the way Sal wiane kissed had looked at him. Then she remembered his reaction to Frank showing up at the restaurant. She really hoped this car thing had nothing to do with him not wanting her to spend time with Joey and Taylor. “I’ll make an appointment with the DMV.”
&
nbsp; Sal smiled satisfied. “Good.”
~*~
Sal muttered under his breath as he finished up the schedule for the next week. A few days after he’d gifted Grace her car, she brought up going out with her friends. “I’ve been spending a lot of time with your family and friends and I love it, but I’d also love for us to spend time with Taylor and Joey.”
He should’ve known Grace was too smart to not pick up on him hoping the car would also make her less dependent on Joey and Taylor. He didn’t realize he was still muttering until Alex walked in the back. “What’s your problem?”
Sal didn’t even look at him. “Nothing. I just gotta hurry and get out of here.”
“Where you headed?” Alex opened up the cabinet.
Sal turned to face Alex. “To get Grace. We’re hanging out with her friends tonight.”
Alex obviously picked up on the sarcasm because he smirked and waited for the punch line.
“The two guys that used to pick her up before I started taking her home.”
Alex’s jaw dropped. “She still hangs with them?”
“Well, she’s always with me now. But every now and again she’ll do something with them, shop—catch a movie.”
Alex’s faced soured. “And you don’t have a problem with that?”
Sal stood up. “They’re gay and they’re her best friends.”
He grabbed his phone off the desk and searched for his keys. “I think I’d still have a problem with it. Some of those guys swing both ways.”
Sal stopped and squeezed his eyes shut. Damn. He and Alex did think alike. He never thought it possible. He hated to admit it, but deep down he did worry about that. He’d justified the ridiculous paranoia to him being so crazy about Grace, but he didn’t like to think he and Alex thought the same when it came to women. Geez.
“Yeah, well I trust Grace. And she’s hardly around them anymore anyway. Which is why we’re doing this tonight.” And if Sal had to be honest with himself a part of him was actually anxious to get to know them—make sure once and for all that he didn’t have anything to worry about.
Alex shook his head. He obviously didn’t agree with Sal but who cared. Sal knew he could trust Grace. All the way to Grace’s apartment, Sal tried to think positive. He was determined to make tonight a good thing. These guys were a part of her life and it wasn’t fair for him to ask that she just forget about them.
Both she and Rose came out after he texted her to tell her he was there. They stopped to pick up a to she twelve pack of beer and some chips. Then they drove to a slightly better neighborhood than Grace’s about ten minutes away and he parked his car on the street, making sure he set the alarm.
Grace smirked when he clicked it twice to double check that it was set. “What?”
“It’s not La Jolla is it?”
“I didn’t say anything.” The last thing he wanted was for her to think he was judging. He was just being careful—nothing wrong with that.
Joey greeted them at the door, hugging and kissing Grace. “I finally get to formally meet you, Sal.” He held his hand out. “I’m Joey.”
Sal shook his hand. “Nice to finally meet you too, Joey”
They walked in. Taylor was in the tiny kitchen, working on something on the counter. “Hey you guys. Just in time. Grace isn’t the only one with some bartending skills. Don’t worry, Rosie. I made something special for you, too.”
“Grace, I told you not to bring anything,” Joey scolded as he took the beer from Sal and the chips from Grace.
Sal glanced around the colorful apartment. Admittedly, he’d expected something more flamboyant. But it was tastefully decorated with pictures and paintings of bakeries and coffee shops. As small as the apartment was they’d used every inch of it quite stylishly without making look overcrowded and their furniture matched their polished wood flooring, giving the whole place an aura of elegance.
Taylor came around the small counter separating the kitchen from the front room. He wore camouflage carpenter shorts that had a few strategically placed rips in them. They hung just off his waist and the muscle shirt he wore looked a size too small. The pitcher he held was very big and Sal knew just by the color, the orange slices and different berries floating around just what it was. “You have to try my Sangria. It’s the best.” He glanced at Rose. “I made pink lemonade for you, sweetie.”
Sal noticed how comfortable Rose was and how she made herself at home, immediately, walking into the kitchen to grab a glass.
Taylor poured everyone but Rose a tall glass of Sangria. It was damn good. Sal nodded and gave Taylor the praise he was obviously waiting for. “Good stuff.”
“Hors d’oeurves!” Joey called from the kitchen.
He brought a great looking spread of different appetizers. “Wow, that looks delicious.” Sal had to admit.
Joey set it down on the coffee table in front of Grace and Sal then put his hand over his mouth. “I gotta tell you, Sal. I don’t know how Grace does it. I’ve been a wreck all day, knowing I’d be cooking for you.”
Both Grace and Sal laughed. “Joey, I told you we could just order pizza. You didn’t have to do all this,” Grace said, reaching for an appetizer.
“Are you kidding me, Grace? And miss showin’ off for one of the owners of Moreno’s? I don’t think so. Wait ‘til you see what’s for dinner.”
“Well, I appreciate it and even though you didn’t have to, I’m already impressed.” Sal reached over and put a fork through something that looked like a cheese puff. Everyone stared at him as he bit into it. It turned out to be a crab puff and it was delicious. He lifted his other hand and connected the coves tips of his thumb and forefingers and held it out for Joey as he chewed; once done chewing he wiped his mouth. “God, that’s good!”
After going through most of the pitcher of Sangria and munching on all the appetizers, Grace and Joey were getting a little giggly. Since they were both just about done with school, they were reminiscing about some of the things they’d gone through.
“Remember when they teamed you up with Herman The German for that one presentation?” Grace laughed.
“Ah shit. I had to hear about that for weeks.” Taylor rolled his eyes, pouring himself another glass.
Joey didn’t laugh. He looked pissed. “He asked me, ‘What means blackened?’ Are you fucking kidding me? What third year culinary student has to ask that?”
“Joey, the poor guy’s English was limited,” Grace said taking another sip of her drink.
“Was he really German?” Sal asked.
Joey and Grace looked at each other then fell into one another laughing hysterically.
Taylor smirked, shaking his head. “Apparently the guy was short with a bad hair cut and a weird mustache, so these two decided he looked like Hitler. Hence, Herman the German, but he was as Mexican as they are. I hope you know you have a spoiled snob on your hands.”
“I am not!” Grace protested.
“She has every right to be a snob!” Joey sat up straight. “She out cooked even the professors. God, I loved it when she showed them a thing or two and left them speechless. But spoiled? Never!” He put his arm around her. “My baby girl has worked so hard to get where she is.”
Suddenly both Joey and Grace teared up. “All right that’s enough Sangria for both of you,” Taylor said.
Sal slipped his hand into Grace’s and squeezed it. She pulled out of Joey’s embrace and wiped her eyes. “We’re so stupid,” she said smiling.
“I know. I know.” Joey stood up. “Taylor get that stuff away from me—you know what it does to me. And I haven’t even finished showing off for Sal.”
“You want some water too, Gracie?” Taylor smiled at her sweetly. “Because that’s what Joey is getting for the next half hour or so, or at least until he has a full meal.”
Gracie smirked at him then glanced back at Sal. “Yeah, I better.”
Dinner was impressive—oven roasted sea bass with ginger and lime sauce. It was all very i
mpressive and Joey had the presentation down to an art. Sal was also glad it wasn’t anything heavy. After over-helping himself to the appetizers, he couldn’t take anything too heavy and he knew Joey would be watching closely as he ate.
They ate in the front room with dinner served on the coffee table. When they were all done, Taylor cleared the table and Joey brought out the cards. Grace leaned against Sal. “I’m so stuffed,” she whispered.
“Me too.”
“Have you ever played hold ‘em’, Sal?” Joey asked as he shuffled the cards.
“I’ve played a little.”
Taylor brought out a silver poker chip suitcase and started counting stacks of chips. “Don’t get obnoxious, Joey,” he warned, as he continued to count.
Joey stared at him while shuffling the cards with one hand. The cards moved through his fingers almost magically. “Whatever do you mean, Taylor?”
Gracie laughed. “You’re such a show off.”
As expected, Joey was the hands down star player, beating them all several times. Taylor had made another batch of Sangria and Grace was getting giggly again.
Joey passed out another round of cards. “Did Grace tell you about the time we went to Vegas?”
“No, Joey!” Grace laughed, holding her cards in front of her face.
“It’s okay, honey.” Joey peered over his cards. “Now we know. Never mix what Gracie drinks.”
Gracie covered her face with the cards and groaned. “Don’t tell him!”
“What?” Sal’s curiosity had piqued.