Better latte than never, p.13
Better Latte Than Never, page 13
“That helps, actually.”
“Good, it was supposed to. Don’t worry, I’ll let you know what happens at the cafe while you’re gone.”
“I expect there will be a lot of coffee served at suboptimal temperatures without me there.”
Finn grinned, his melancholy lifting. Yes, Enzo was a gift, and while it might be a temporary one, he’d savor every moment.
The door to the cafe slammed open, as if someone had pushed it with all their strength. Finn wasn’t the only one to look up in shock at the angry stranger who entered. He got a glimpse of dark hair, a blue button down and dark wash jeans before the man stomped up to the counter.
“Is the owner here?” he demanded.
Finn stood, keeping the phone in his hand in case he’d have to call 911. This couldn’t be good.
Lydia worked the counter, and she made eye contact with Finn before looking back to the guy in front of her. “Um. Can I help you?”
“Are you the owner? Then, no.”
Finn inched closer, about to intervene. What kind of jerk took out his aggression on a teenage girl? He opened his mouth to say something, when Rosa herself came out of the back, holding a wooden rolling pin.
“What is this?” she asked.
“I assume you are the owner?”
She tapped the rolling pin against one hand, and stared him down. “I am Rosa, yes, and this is my cafe.”
Finn didn’t think she was going to need his help. Still, he hovered nearby, phone at the ready in case it should come to that.
“I need to speak with you.” The stranger jabbed his finger on the counter. “I’m the owner of Holy Cannoli. Jack Gaetano.”
Why the hell was he here? To learn how to make better coffee? He had a long way to go if that were the case.
Rosa seemed to agree. She sniffed. “You’re Italian? Your cannoli are terrible.”
“Just because they aren’t traditional...” He trailed off and shook his head. “That’s not why I’m here.”
“Then why are you here?” Lydia burst out.
“You”—there went that finger again, this time jabbing the air—“Already registered to do the coffee for the Labor Day Street Fair in September.”
Finn nearly whooped at those words. Enzo must have put the application in early, but he apparently wasn’t the only one with that idea. This guy may have stolen it from Rosa’s cafe once, but not again.
“For ten years,” Rosa started, “I do the coffee for this town. Then you show up and steal it from me. Did I complain? No.”
“No,” he snapped. “You tried to undercut me with that stupid book promotion!”
“Look, dude, first come, first served. You beat us last time, now take your licks like a good boy.” Lydia leaned over the counter.
Finn winced, that was not quite the way to de-escalate the situation, although to be fair, she had a point.
“You little shit, you know the truth. Franchises are the way of the future. Little mom and pop shops like this one are going the way of the dodo. You know I’m right. You should just rescind your application.”
Rosa came around the counter and pointed with her rolling pin. “That’s it! You, get out!”
Finn couldn’t be sure how it happened. From his position, the Holy Cannoli guy blocked the view. Rosa charged forward, and Jack stepped forward too. He’d swept his arm out, maybe to grab the rolling pin, and then next thing Finn saw was Rosa on the floor holding on to her wrist.
Everyone in the cafe got to their feet.
ENZO LOOKED OUT THE window of the empty conference room he’d been herded into to wait for the people interviewing him. The view of the city stretched out before him, the columns of skyscrapers reaching for the sky. His fingers twitched, and he considered how he’d paint this scene, how he’d give it texture, as well as movement, even when the buildings should be still.
He had been to the city before, of course. But even the train ride and walk through downtown had sparked his inspiration. There was so much more than Red Bank—more people, more variety in buildings and vehicles, more colors, somehow. There was chaos too, the kind that made him want to give it order by capturing it all in paint.
It killed him to think Nat had been right. He needed to get out of Red Bank in order to have what he really wanted. The kind of art he could create here!
The door opened, and Enzo moved away from the window, not wanting to be caught staring. He clutched his portfolio in his left hand and reached out with his other to shake the hand of the man who had entered.
“Enzo LoBianco? Pleased to meet you. Sorry about the wait. I was with a client. I’m Lucien Fielding. Nat’s boss.” He let out a little laugh at that.
Fielding looked to be about Finn’s age, with gray hair at his temples and eyes surrounded by smile lines. Unlike Enzo, he didn’t wear a suit, but was dressed in a smart casual style—black slacks and a polo shirt. “Pleased to meet you.”
His resemblance to Finn caught Enzo off guard slightly. Of course, Finn was old enough to be Enzo’s boss. He’d been thinking about that, ever since seeing Finn’s place, hell, ever since learning Finn was actually Morgan Heart. Finn was somebody. What the heck could Enzo offer him?
Right now he needed to push that out of his head and concentrate. Fielding kept the interview low key, a conversation more than an interrogation, and Enzo found himself settling in, the nervousness that had dogged him since last night easing.
“Of course, what we are really looking for is someone with some creativity.” Fielding sighed. “I could hire a million graphic designers who could do exactly what I tell them to do. But I want someone who pushes back and tells me when my design is piss ass.”
Enzo turned his laugh into a cough. “I would describe myself as creative. I know you saw my digital portfolio, but I don’t know if it does my art justice.”
He opened the leather folder of his portfolio and pulled out the small painting that he’d done as a demo of his texture work. That kind of thing couldn’t be truly mimicked digitally. Enzo slid the folder across the table, letting Fielding take him time with the contents.
Fielding looked thoughtful. “You like to capture that small town feel, huh?”
“I can capture anything,” Enzo said. “I was thinking before you came in how much the city inspired me.”
Fielding smiled. “Okay, kid. How about a tour of the place?”
Enzo followed him out of the conference room, his head spinning. Had the interview gone well? He couldn’t tell. Of course, this tour was still part of it. Enzo kept the smile on as Fielding introduced him to about a dozen different people and showed him what would be his workspace if he got the job.
He stared at that desk and swallowed. It wasn’t quite the cubicle he’d imagined, although the designers worked in an open floor plan. “I encourage collaboration,” Fielding had said.
Did he want to be locked into a desk? Could he create when he had deadlines and a client to satisfy? Enzo didn’t know. But when Fielding started to discuss the benefits of working for the company, like vacation time, health insurance, a retirement plan, Enzo saw something else—a future. He wasn’t sure if it was a future he wanted, but damn, wouldn’t it be nice to be settled for once?
“Thank you for meeting with me,” he told Fielding as he pumped his hand, hoping he came off as sincere, but not desperate.
“Absolutely. Your art is incredible, and I do mean that.” Fielding grinned. “Expect to hear either way by the end of the month.”
End of June: that meant three weeks away. Nat would have moved out, and the lease would go month to month, and that would give Enzo time to decide if he was moving himself. He swallowed, feeling time slipping away. Wasn’t yesterday April and his thirtieth birthday?
On the train ride home, he stared at his phone. Finn hadn’t texted since Enzo warned him that he was about to head into his interview. What would this mean for them if he took the job? He wouldn’t be there to serve Finn coffee every day. How would Finn finish his book?
“Hey,” he texted. “On my way back.”
“What time does your train get in?”
Enzo checked the schedule and texted the time. “Unless we have delays. Which, you know, always happens.”
“I’ll pick you up at the station.”
That surprised him. They hadn’t made any plans for afterward. As far as Enzo knew, Finn had to really buckle down and finish his book. Admittedly, he had no idea what went into writing a book, how Finn could turn his hours typing in the cafe into something magical that would appear at bookstores.
Despite his dislike for the Morgan Heart endings, Enzo genuinely liked Finn’s writing. He had a way with words that drew readers in. More than one of his books had captured Enzo’s attention, even though he’d known it would end horribly.
Maybe he could convince Finn to write a happy ending.
With that thought in mind, he exited the train, jacket draped over his arm, portfolio clutched under his elbow, and looked for Finn’s familiar form. Enzo felt sweaty all over, and he was grateful he’d gotten this interview before the summer heat had fully kicked in and he soaked through his shirt.
He found Finn waiting by the curb, his SUV idling. Enzo grinned when he saw him and pushed through the crowds to get to him. “Hey.” He leaned forward for a kiss.
“Hey.” Finn returned the kiss, but something was off. “How was the interview?” He walked over to the driver’s side, and Enzo slid into the passenger seat.
“Really good. Nat’s boss is interesting, and I found the city inspiring, you know?”
“Many people have.” Finn put his hand on the gear shift. “Look, something happened. I’m going to take you home to get changed first before we head over to the urgent care.”
Enzo blinked. “What do you mean, something happened?”
Finn pulled out into traffic. His jaw tightened, and Enzo realized this was what Finn looked like angry. “That asshole who owns the place across the street came over to complain about your aunt getting the contract for the Labor Day Street Fair.”
Enzo had put those papers in last week. He didn’t want to get screwed again. They couldn’t always depend on Finn to bail them out with free books.
“Your aunt tried to show him the door. He resisted, she tripped and hurt her wrist. Lydia is with her at urgent care.”
“What?” Enzo stiffened. “Take me there, now!”
“Not in your suit,” Finn said calmly. “You’re no good to them if you go there all panicked.”
Finn was right. But still Enzo couldn’t stop the racing of his heart at the realization that his aunt had been hurt, and he hadn’t been there. She’d needed him, and he’d been off on his interview, trying to get away from this town and ultimately her.
She’d done so much for him. And here he was, making plans to leave her. Enzo curled his hands into fists, but wasn’t sure exactly who he wanted to punch.
“Besides, I handled it.” Finn’s shoulders dropped.
“How exactly did you handle it?”
“I dragged the guy outside, told him if I ever saw his face again he’d be hit with a lawsuit so huge he’d have to mortgage his mother to pay for it.”
“What about calling the police? Pressing charges?”
“Considering your aunt was threatening him with a rolling pin at the time, it could have gone either way.” Finn made the last turn and double parked in front of Enzo’s place.
“I leave for one day,” he tried to joke, but the humor caught in his throat.
“See? They need you.” Finn tossed him a smile before exiting the car.
What about you? Do you need me? The thought came up unbidden, swirling in his mind like dark miasma. Finn kept doing this, coming out of nowhere to save the day. And while it was nice to think he had his own knight in shining armor, Enzo couldn’t help worrying that there was something else behind it.
It reminded him of the chasm between them. Not only was Finn settled and successful, he was rich and famous. For the first time Enzo felt like the sugar baby, enjoying the benefits of dating an older man. He didn’t like it. He didn’t want to be Finn’s project. He wanted to be his partner, his lover, his equal.
He wanted more, and he didn’t know how to ask for it.
“You coming?” Finn waited on the sidewalk.
Enzo checked for traffic, and got out of the car slowly, his legs stiff after the long train ride. He let Finn lead the way, his emotions tied into a knot in his chest.
“Don’t worry.” Finn stopped him and touched his shoulder gently. “She’ll be fine. And that guy won’t bother you or her again. I promise.”
That wasn’t the promise Enzo wanted to hear.
Chapter 17
Finn could see the stiffness in Enzo’s posture. Once they arrived at Enzo’s place to get changed, Enzo had gone quiet and somber. Finn didn’t blame him. The sooner they got to see that Rosa was okay, the better. Finn only wished he’d been able to stop the accident from happening in the first place.
He should have escorted the man out himself. Gotten between him and Rosa. Threw a right hook and knocked him the hell out.
The thought made him snort while he waited on Enzo’s couch. Finn dropped his head in his hands and sighed. He wasn’t one of the heroes in his books. He couldn’t charge in and save the day. What he’d done was piss poor in return. Of course, Enzo would have expected more.
“Let’s go.” Enzo emerged, dressed in dark jeans and a black band t-shirt. He looked better in casual clothes, more relaxed. This was why Finn had come here first, besides giving Enzo a moment to calm down.
“I’m sorry,” Finn blurted. “I wish I could have done more.”
Enzo whirled around, his eyes wide in shock. “Are you kidding? You were there when I wasn’t.”
Finn took Enzo’s hand and squeezed. It needed to say all the things Finn couldn’t. I’m sorry. I should have stopped him. Please don’t leave.
No. He couldn’t even think that. Enzo was going to get this job and do spectacular things in New York. Finn wouldn’t stop him, but if he wasn’t careful, when Enzo left he’d take a little bit of Finn’s heart with him.
“Come on.” Enzo tugged on Finn’s hand, and they headed back out to Finn’s double-parked car.
Luckily he hadn’t gotten a ticket or towed in the ten minutes they were inside. Although someone honked pointedly at them as Finn merged into traffic. Rush hour was creeping in, and it took longer than normal to get to the other side of town.
Finn pulled into the parking lot of the urgent care place adjacent to the hospital. But he barely had time to look for a spot. Both Rosa and Lydia came out of the entrance as he drove around. Enzo rolled down the window and waved to them. “I have to talk to my aunt. Would you mind waiting here for a few?”
“Of course not.” Finn stopped the car and put his hazard lights on. Enzo scrambled out and headed for his aunt. Rosa looked pale, but she was walking fine, her wrist wrapped up in an Ace bandage.
The back door opened and closed as Lydia slid inside. She scooted forward, one hand on Enzo’s seat. “Sprained her wrist. Looks like I’ll be rolling out the dough for a while.”
Finn let out a breath. “Thank goodness it’s not broken.”
He continued to watch out the window as Enzo approached his aunt, hugged her and then took a step back to yell at her. She yelled back, pointing with her uninjured arm.
He must have appeared concerned, because Lydia said, “Don’t worry about them. They’ll be hugging in about five minutes.”
“I suppose that’s how they show they care.” Finn would have to remember that for when Enzo yelled at him. He smiled at the thought, but it faded when he realized they might never get to that point.
Why was he so melancholy tonight? He knew, knew that this thing between him and Enzo wasn’t permanent. They hadn’t made any promises to each other. Their entire relationship had been sex and coffee. However, the whole job interview made it more real than it had been. Finn couldn’t push it to the back of his mind like he’d been doing the past month. He had a time limit now on how long he had Enzo in his life.
Lydia rested her head on her arms. “The entire family gave my mom a hard time when she left my dad. Conservative Italian family? That’s a huge no-no. But apparently the asshole was abusive, and she loved me too much to keep me in that environment.”
That snapped him out of wallowing. Finn twisted in his seat to look at her. “Lydia...”
“That’s why she stood up for Enzo when his parents kicked him out. She knew exactly what he was going through. Some people are assholes, Finn.”
He let out a laugh. “I think truer words were never spoken.”
“Let me know if you put that in a book.”
“Contrary to popular belief, not everything in an author’s life ends up in his books.” Finn ran his hand through his hair aware of the lie in his words.
He was in every single one of his books. While he might not have anything in common with the characters—unlike Steele he was never a reformed drug dealer—he always had a core truth at the heart of his books. That was turning out to be especially true in his current work in progress. But it was Enzo who starred as the heart of that one.
Enzo, who he based Leon on, his personality, his looks, even his profession. Although he’d made Leon a famous artist and Lily the cafe waitress he’d fallen in love with. Oh god, this was way more autobiographical than Finn had intended.
But he couldn’t help it. Enzo had inspired him. He was Finn’s muse. Without him, there would be no book.
Out in front of the urgent care place, Enzo threw his arm around his aunt and hugged her close, placing a kiss on the top of her dark brown curls. He was so full of love and life, everything Finn couldn’t have. This wouldn’t last. Enzo’s interview had gone well. He’d be leaving soon.
And Finn would be left with nothing more than his laptop and a coffee addiction.
“Can I read what you’re working on?” Lydia asked, breaking into his sour thoughts.
“What? Oh. The book? No, it goes through so many revisions that what you’ll read today will be different tomorrow.”
