Chapter 20
20
ENNIO
T he heavenly aroma of melted cheese hit me as soon as I stepped into Pizzeria Gabbiano. My eyes scanned the crowded restaurant, searching for that familiar face. And there he was, Cas, waving enthusiastically from a corner booth.
I weaved through the maze of tables, my heart light with excitement. It had been far too long since Cas and I had a chance to hang out together. As I approached, Cas stood and enveloped me in a bear hug that squeezed the air from my lungs. The guy was strong, with gorgeous muscles forged by many hours of physical labor as a contractor. Alas, no sparks had ever flown between us, but we had built a dear friendship, which was worth just as much, if not more.
“It’s so good to see you,” I mumbled against his shoulder, holding on maybe a tad longer than I should have.
He gave me a thorough look when I finally let go but didn’t comment. We settled into the booth, knees bumping under the small table. A waiter appeared almost instantly with menus, and we put our drink order in.
“This place is cute,” Cas said.
He wasn’t wrong. Upturned wine bottles hung from the ceiling amid fake grape vines, and the brick walls were adorned with vintage Italian posters. The decor was a little cliché, but it did work, as did the ambiance with the wood-fired oven crackling merrily in the open kitchen. “It is. It has more atmosphere than my current employer.”
Cas made a face. “Not having fun there?”
“It’s a job and pays the bills, but it’s not great, no. But it is in my field, so at least it’s valuable work experience I can add to my resume, so there is that.”
“But it’s temporary, right? You’ll be back home soon?”
“I hope so.”
“I ran into your brother yesterday, and he told me he misses you.”
My heart went soft. “I miss him and my parents too. And everyone else.”
Cas fanned himself with his hand. “And man, does your brother look hot, strutting around in that sexy sheriff’s uniform…”
I rolled my eyes. “Down, boy. You’ve got your own man candy waiting at home, remember?”
Cas sighed dreamily. “Ah yes, my beautiful Tiago. Speaking of which, how’s your love life? Marnin still keeping you sexually satisfied?”
In a classic case of saved by the bell, our pizza arrived, a work of art with its perfectly blistered crust and fragrant basil leaves. My mouth watered, and I immediately took a careful first bite. “Oh my god, this is amazing,” I mumbled with my mouth full. “They added a finishing touch of truffle oil.”
“You can taste that in one bite?”
I shrugged. “You can step into any building and see its issues right away, no? Occupational experience, that’s all.”
“Fair enough.” Cas took a big bite, then closed his eyes and let out a happy hum. “Damn, this is good.”
“How’s life with Tiago?” I asked, hoping he wouldn’t remember his last question. “I saw some pics of you gallivanting through Madrid.”
“Oh my god, that was the best thing ever. We had so much fun, and it’s such a gorgeous city. My highlight was seeing the Sagrada Familia in person. It’s this massive cathedral they’ve been building since 1882, and it’s still not finished.”
My eyes widened. “Wait, what? They’ve been working on it for over a hundred years?”
Cas nodded. “Crazy, right? The original design is by the famous architect Gaudí, but they kept running out of money. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“That sounds amazing.”
“Tiago would love to take me all around the world, but I do actually need to work, unlike him.”
Tiago and his twin, Tomás, had been supermodels and had only recently retired from their modeling careers. “I get that you’re not ready to retire.”
“Dude, I feel like I’m only getting started. Tiago gets frustrated sometimes, but it’s because there’s so much he wants to show me, but he understands I need to prioritize my business. It’s great that he’s got money, but I don’t, and I need to look at my future.”
“How’s the contracting business going?”
Cas’s eyes lit up. “Booming, actually! I landed a huge project renovating an old Victorian. It’s going to be a monster, but the payoff will be worth it.”
I smiled, genuinely happy for my friend’s success. But I couldn’t quite quash the twinge of envy that pricked at my heart. If only I hadn’t lost all that money, maybe I’d be telling Cas about my own exciting business venture right now. Cas must have sensed my mood shift. He reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “Hey, what’s going on in that pretty head of yours? You went quiet all of a sudden.”
I plastered on a bright smile. “Oh, it’s nothing. Just thinking about how much I’ve missed Forestville. And you, of course.”
Cas narrowed his eyes, clearly not buying it. But before he could press further, I quickly changed the subject. “So tell me more about this Victorian project. I bet it’s going to be stunning when you’re done with it!”
As Cas launched into the details, I tried to focus on his words and push my financial woes to the back of my mind. This was supposed to be a fun catch-up with an old friend, after all. No use dwelling on things I couldn’t change. But even as I nodded and laughed at Cas’s animated storytelling, my heart was heavy.
Cas’s story about the Victorian renovation trailed off, and he fixed me with a penetrating look. “Okay, spill it, Ennio. Something’s eating at you. I can tell.”
I sighed, my shoulders slumping. There was no use trying to hide it from Cas. He knew me too well. “Is it that obvious?”
“Only to someone who knows what a ray of sunshine you usually are,” Cas said gently. “What’s going on?”
I toyed with my napkin, avoiding his gaze. The bustling chatter of the restaurant faded into the background as I struggled to find the words. “I…I lost all my savings,” I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
Cas’s sharp intake of breath made me look up. His face was a mask of concern. “Oh, Ennio. What happened?”
The whole story came tumbling out then—the bad investment, the promise of high returns, the sickening realization that I’d been duped. As I spoke, I could feel the sting of tears threatening, but I blinked them back furiously. I wouldn’t cry. Not here, not now.
“I feel so stupid,” I finished, my voice cracking slightly. “All those years of saving, gone in an instant.”
“That’s why you’re staying with Marnin. It didn’t make sense to me that you wouldn’t simply stay in Forestville while applying for jobs, but you need the money.”
“Yeah, I do. And he’s been so generous, letting me stay without allowing me to pay for anything. He’s been amazing… And yes, the sex is still great, to answer your earlier question.”
“You’re falling for him…” Cas’s voice was gentle.
Of course he would pick up on that. “Spare me the warnings, okay? I know it’s stupid.”
Cas shrugged. “That’s what I told myself after meeting Tiago, and look how that turned out.”
“Marnin isn’t interested in anything serious. He’s made that abundantly clear.”
“People change, honey. Look at your own brother who suddenly fell for a man. Or at Tomás, who was the world’s most famous bachelor and is now a devoted stepdad.”
“I can’t allow myself to have hope… I’m afraid I’ll only end up even more hurt.”
“I’m so sorry about your money. It’s easy for me to say, but this was not your fault. He was a predator, a criminal, and you aren’t the only one who fell for it.”
“I know, and on some level, that does make me feel better, but only a little. But it doesn’t bring back my money. Or my dream.”
“Your dream?” Cas prompted softly.
I nodded, a lump forming in my throat. “I’ve always wanted to open my own restaurant in Forestville. A place that’s welcoming and homey, yet vibrant and colorful, like…” I gestured vaguely at myself, managing a weak smile. “Well, you know. Me.”
Cas reached out and squeezed my hand. “That sounds amazing, Ennio. And it still can be. This is a setback, not the end.”
I shook my head, feeling the weight of disappointment settle heavily in my chest. “I don’t see how. It took me years to save that much. By the time I save it again, I’ll be too old to run a restaurant.”
Cas leaned forward, his eyes intense. “Ennio, I have an idea. What if Tiago and Tomás invested in your restaurant?”
My heart skipped a beat. For a split second, hope flared bright and hot in my chest. But I quickly tamped it down, shaking my head. “No, Cas. I couldn’t possibly?—”
“Hear me out,” he insisted, gesturing with a half-eaten breadstick. “You know the career they’ve both had, and none of them are big spenders. They have a lot of money put away, and I mean a lot. More than you and I have ever seen or will ever see in our lifetime. If they heard about this, I know they’d want to help you.”
I fiddled with my napkin, avoiding Cas’s earnest gaze. The bustling sounds of the pizzeria faded into the background as I wrestled with my emotions. Part of me wanted to jump at the chance, to grab onto this lifeline with both hands. But a larger part recoiled at the idea. “I appreciate the thought, I really do,” I said finally, my voice tight. “But I can’t accept that kind of help. It’s… It’s too much.”
“But—”
“No, Cas,” I cut him off more sharply than intended. I took a deep breath, trying to soften my tone. “It’s not about the money. It’s about doing this on my own terms. I don’t want to be beholden to anyone, even people as wonderful as Tiago and Tomás.”
“I get it, I do. But this wouldn’t be charity. It would be an investment.”
“An investment?”
Cas nodded eagerly. “Tiago and Tomás wouldn’t be giving you a handout. They’d be investing in your talent, in your dream. And you’d have to pay them back, over time, but without the insane pressure of a business loan.”
“Which I will never get without any savings of my own.”
“Yeah, but even if you did, those loans can feel like a chokehold. Trust me, I know.”
The sincerity in his voice made my chest tighten. I glanced around the bustling pizzeria, taking in the lively chatter and the aroma of melted cheese and tomato sauce. Could I really have a place like this of my own?
“I appreciate you looking out for me, Cas. Really, I do,” I said, my voice catching slightly. “It’s just… I’ve always dreamed of doing this on my own, you know? Proving to myself—and maybe to my dad, if I’m being honest—that I could make it happen.”
Cas nodded, his eyes full of understanding. “I get that, Ennio. But accepting help doesn’t make you weak. It can make you stronger.”
“But what if I fail?” I whispered, voicing the fear gnawing at me. “What if I took their money, and it all went south? I’d be letting them down, letting everyone down. I’d never forgive myself.”
“That’s a risk with any business venture,” Cas pointed out. “But you’re talented, Ennio. Your food is amazing, and you have such a gift for making people feel welcome. I’m convinced you could make this work. And even if it doesn’t work out, they wouldn’t see it as a failure. They’d be proud of you for trying.”
I bit my lip, torn between the surge of hope and the stubborn pride that had always pushed me to do things on my own. The possibility of actually realizing my dream was tantalizing, but the idea of accepting such a huge favor made me squirm.
“I don’t know, Cas,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “It’s a lot to think about.”
“Think about it. Talk to them. See what they have in mind.”
Could I really do this? As scary as it was, the thought of having my own restaurant, creating a space filled with love, laughter, and amazing food, made my heart soar.
“I’ll need some time. It’s a big decision.”
“Of course,” Cas said, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand. “No pressure. Just know that the offer’s there if you want it.”
As we signaled for the check, I was lost in thought, imagining the restaurant of my dreams while simultaneously worrying about the potential pitfalls. It was a dizzying mix of hope and fear, possibility and doubt. But for the first time in weeks, I felt a tiny spark of optimism flickering to life.
We stood from the table, and I felt a sudden rush of emotion. Despite my inner turmoil, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for Cas’s friendship and support. Without thinking, I pulled him into a tight embrace, wrapping my arms around his solid frame.
“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice thick with feeling. “For everything.”
Cas hugged me back just as fiercely, his strong arms a comforting presence. “Anytime, Ennio. That’s what friends are for.”
As we parted, I caught a whiff of his cologne, a spicy, woody scent that reminded me of the woods back home in Forestville. It stirred up a complicated mix of emotions: longing for my hometown, anxiety about my financial situation, and a glimmer of hope for the future.
“I’ll think about what you said,” I promised, managing a small smile. “Really think about it, I mean.”
Cas nodded, his expression warm and understanding. “That’s all I ask. And remember, there’s no shame in accepting help from people who care about you.”
We walked out of the bustling restaurant together, the Seattle drizzle a fine mist on our faces. Watching Cas disappear into the crowd, I took a deep breath of the damp air. The conversation replayed in my mind, possibilities and doubts dancing like the neon reflections in the puddles at my feet. I had a lot to contemplate, but for the first time in weeks, I felt a curious lightness in my chest. The weight of my problems hadn’t disappeared, but somehow, it felt more manageable.