42. Not Quite a Proper Date
FORTY-TWO
Not Quite a Proper Date
STEVE
John talked a mile a minute on their way to the restaurant located across from the fire station. He told Tara, Steve, and Logan about his new apartment above a stand-alone garage. “It’s just a studio, but it’ll be my own.”
“Hey. Don’t knock a studio,” Tara said. “That’s what I had in Chicago for a couple of years before I got a roommate last summer. They’re great for just one person.”
John perked up. “Really?”
“Yeah. Really.”
DiMonaco’s Pizza was a family-owned restaurant with a nice-sized indoor dining area and one heck of a delivery and carry-out business. The hostess led them to a table in the back beside a yellow wall, sponge-painted with a darker rust color. Centered just above the table was a large picture of the Roman Colosseum.
Before long, Matteo DiMonaco, who opened the restaurant nearly twenty years earlier, made it a point to stop by their table to greet them. His restaurant had become a family favorite since Jo’s, with its open bar, wasn’t a viable option for high school kids’ date nights.
After they ordered, John started describing his new job to Steve and Tara. “Mr. Mitchell’s going to help me with the construction stuff.”
“So you’re going to work for Mitchell’s Contracting, then?” Tara asked.
“Just part-time at first,” John answered.
“It’s part of an on-the-job pilot program we’re implementing to help displaced youth and young adults enter into the workforce,” Logan explained. “Abe’s business is the first to bring someone in.”
“How does it work?” Steve sipped a drink of his beer.
“Basically, John will start working a few days a week to learn the business from the ground up. It’s a sort of an internship slash apprenticeship.” He tilted his head toward John. “Abe’s bringing him in knowing he doesn’t already possess a lot of skills in the trade. He will devote a certain number of hours per week to teach John what he needs to know until he has learned enough and can work full time.”
“I’ll start small and work my way up,” John interjected with a shrug. “I’ll actually be working with the guy at the main office to learn the business side first and then with the demo crews because how hard can it be to swing a sledgehammer?”
Steve couldn’t help smiling at the excitement on John’s face.
“Eventually, I’ll start learning new things such as painting, putting up cabinets, installing windows, all sorts of stuff. Mr. Mitchell fixes up a lot of old houses, so there’s a lot to learn.”
Logan and Tara exchanged excited smiles, much to Steve’s chagrin. He wanted Tara to smile like that at him, not Logan.
John looked pensive for a moment. “Is this a good idea? I couldn’t find one job to give me enough hours.”
“No,” Tara spoke up first. “Not at all. You’ll be learning so much, and after a while, you’ll have some really terrific skills you can use toward a good career. We’ll always have part-time hours for you at the bookstore to help bridge the gap to a full workweek.”
“Tara’s right.” Logan smiled in her direction, something Steve didn’t miss. “You’re just getting started, and these are some great opportunities to get yourself into the workforce.”
To say Steve didn’t care for all the friendly smiles exchanged between Tara and Logan was an understatement. She was clearly comfortable around the man, but that didn’t mean Steve liked it. Maybe she and Logan used to date each other. Kiro once mentioned how she’d broken up with an old boyfriend a few months ago. Steve usually went out with women once or twice, hooking up, then moving on, but he didn’t want to let go of Tara. She wasn’t like anyone he’d ever dated before. She was… so much more than a hook up.
Perhaps he wasn’t the player he once thought he was, dating a different woman every week. He and Tara had really only kissed once, but in his mind, she was already his.
Steve returned his attention to the ongoing conversation and bit back an urge to say something while they were all together.
“Hey. I never seen ‘em make the pizza. I’m gonna go watch.” John looked up at the large, plate-glass window behind which a man was tossing a large piece of dough that spun in the air.
Tara jumped up as well. “I’ll join you.”
Steve and Logan watched them walk away, both with smiles on their faces. Steve’s gut sank when Logan flashed Tara another big smile when she looked back toward the table before focusing their attention on the man rolling out the dough.
“What’s the story with you and Tara?” Steve asked.