Epilogue Part Two
CARLO
“Get out here,” Javier says. “I’ll park and meet you in a minute.”
I push open the door and reach into the backseat to grab my suit jacket, sliding my arms through the sleeves as I approach the restaurant door.
“Mr. Gallo.” The manager greets me as soon as I step inside. “We’re honored you chose our restaurant.”
I nod. “Thank you, Francesco. I heard my father was a fan of this place.”
“He was, sir. The place is as you requested,” he says, gesturing to the empty restaurant.
“Thank you.”
“I’ll be in my office if you need me, but the waitress will be with you shortly.”
I nod again and watch as he walks away.
A few minutes later, Javier pulls open the door and struts inside, his expression showing his confusion.
“Are they closed?”
I smile, sliding my hands into my pants pockets. “No. They’re open. Just for us.”
He grins. “Oh, I see.”
“I feel bad I wasn’t able to make our date on your birthday, so here’s a belated celebration.”
“All of this wasn't necessary,” he says. “I understood.”
“I know you did, but I want to celebrate your existence in the world. Come.”
I turn and lead us to our seats in the center of the room.
The lights are dim, with candles and flowers on every table, including ours.
Javier’s not a romantic. Not in the traditional sense.
He would never ask for or expect candles and flowers, but based on the look on his face, I can tell he’s appreciative of the thought.
“I’d think you were in love with me or something,” he teases.
I pull out his chair, kissing his lips before making my way to my side. “A little.”
The both of us remove our suit jackets, and before we can hang them over our seats, a woman is there with a smile on her face, her hands outstretched.
“I’ll take those for you.”
“Thank you,” we say at the same time.
We sit, scooting closer to the table that already has a bottle of wine sitting in a bucket of ice.
“You’re crazy,” Javier says with a laugh, shaking his head.
“I didn’t want any interruptions. We have this whole place all to ourselves, and I got a room in a hotel just down the street.”
“So you’re just trying to get me drunk so you can take advantage of me.”
I laugh. “Exactly.”
He smirks. “Ah, I’m pretty easy.”
The waitress comes back with ice water, and then opens the wine for us. “Appetizers will be out soon.”
She disappears and Javier raises his brows at me. “You preordered the food?”
“I know what you like.”
He reaches across the table, and my hand meets his. “Who knew a random stop in a church would lead to this?”
I snort. “Well, I never thought I’d be here, that’s for sure.” I squeeze his hand. “But I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Most everyone knows about Javier and me now. We went through another wave of shock at people finding out about Javier being bisexual, and then the fact that we were together. We’ve had to clear out a few more members, but everything’s calmed down the last few months.
Other families know about my sexuality now, but it hasn’t brought up any issues. Not since also finding out that I’ve had members of my own family killed for saying anything negative about it.
They may not agree, or even like it, but business is king, and they want the business I include them in, so they’ll deal with it.
I care less about them talking shit, because I expect that, and until they use it as a reason to try to take me out, I won’t worry about what they have to say.
My priority is my own family and trusting that they have my back so if the time comes that another family wants to do something about it, I know I have a loyal army behind me.
We moved into a house together last month—one a few hours from Boston that we use as a retreat when we need to get away. Javier kept his apartment near the city so we stay there a good amount of time too.
“I’m glad you got over your concern about going to Hell,” Javier says with a smirk.
“Well, the people I love will be there, too. Why would I want to be alone?”
Javi winks at me and takes a sip of his wine. He’s still not a believer. To him, there’s no Heaven, no Hell. No God, no Satan. We live on this earth, we die, and that’s where it ends.
I sometimes wish I had gone through life with that thought process. It would’ve saved me a lot of guilt and fear.
Whether there’s a God that brought Javier into my life, be it to test me or test him, I don’t know. We both failed, if that were the case. He didn’t become a believer, and I turned away from the church.
There could be a higher power, but choosing to believe means knowing I won’t ever reach Heaven’s gates. So, I try not to dwell on it so much these days. I’ve made my decision to be with Javier and to run the Esposito family. No amount of prayers will change either of those things.
Perhaps all life is just luck and happenstance. Regardless of what it was, I’m grateful for whatever brought Javier into my church that day.
I never felt authentic in my cassock and collar. I feel like my true self when I’m with him. If I don’t make it to Heaven, I’m going to enjoy the heaven I have on earth here with him.