“Pesto,” Ricky said exuberantly.
“Do you know what that is?” Chase asked.
“Green pasta. It’s good. Bianca made it.” He squirmed, and Chase put him down. Ricky ran to the small refrigerator and pulled it open, then pointed to a plastic container inside. “We cooked together. She makes yummy stuff, and she showed me how to put in the olive oil and the green stuff, and I stirred it.” He seemed so proud.
Apparently Bianca was a lifesaver. “Yes, we can have the pesto that you made.” He pulled out the container and put it in the microwave before getting out the plates and silverware for dinner. Ricky had already climbed into his place at the table, andby the time dinner was hot, he had everything else ready to go. He dished up some for his son and then put some on his plate.
“You still look sad,” Ricky said.
“I’m just busy right now.” His mind kept whirling through things with Antonello. What he really needed was to just go back home. His life was simpler back in Harrisburg, and he wasn’t in this constant state of worry and wonder.
“Did you see Mr. Nello?” Ricky got a piece of pasta on his fork and blew on it. “He was nice. Can we see him again? I liked him.”
“Maybe.” The last thing he wanted was Antonello and Ricky in the same place. “Now eat your pasta.” It was really good, and Chase was both surprised and pleased that Ricky liked it. Thankfully he wasn’t a picky eater and seemed willing to try new things.
Once they were finished with dinner, Chase got Ricky his bath and then ready for bed. After reading him a story and turning out the light, he kissed his son good night and closed the door to his room. Then he settled in a chair with his laptop. He intended to work for a while but ended up watching something on Netflix before getting ready for bed.
He messaged his mom to say good night before turning out the lights, but stared up at the colored plaster ceiling. He hadn’t wanted to come here. His past with Antonello was difficult enough, but now that history seemed to have taken on a life of its own and was making itself felt in the present. He should have gotten past what happened after college, but it was more difficult than he had expected. Feelings he thought had long been buried kept coming to the surface, and just like in college, he didn’t know what to do with them. He knew acting on them would be a bad idea, but every time he was in the room with Antonello, he found it hard not to watch him. His heart beat a little faster, and he could swear Antonello could warm a room just by walking in.
There had always been something about him that drew Chase, always. Back then, their friendship had stopped him from acting on it. And now he had a job to do and Ricky to think about. Chase rolled onto his side, punching the pillow in a futile effort to get comfortable. His mother would have a fit and his sister would roll over in her grave, but if he were honest with himself, Chase had always wanted Antonello. He wasn’t just handsome—unlike a lot of others in his life, Antonello had always listened to him and paid attention to him.
He wasn’t going to get any answers at the moment, and the darkness wasn’t going to provide any grand revelations. Elaine had always told him that he was the worrying twin. “You need to stop wondering what could have happened or what will happen and just enjoy what does happen.” He tried to remember the number of times she had told him that. And she was right. Chase always worried about everything, and most of the time, his efforts were wasted.
One thing he did know: Ricky liked Antonello, and that said a lot for him. Ricky was a great kid who had good people instincts. The truth—something he could only admit to himself here, alone in his room—was that he had loved Antonello back in college, and those feelings were roaring back. The question was what, if anything, he was going to do about them. Logic told him to do nothing, but part of him was desperate to know if Antonello might feel the same.
“DADDY, WHATare we going to do today?” Ricky asked the following Saturday morning. Chase and Antonello had come to a working peace, with Antonello being friendly but professional for the rest of the week. The specifications had been reviewed and the updates approved, so next week they’d move to initialprototype production preparations. But for now all Chase wanted was to rest.
“It’s a little after seven in the morning,” Chase said as Ricky settled under the covers next to him. His son always had trouble sleeping if it was light out, and Chase made a note to get better curtains for Ricky’s room or he was never going to be able to sleep in the rest of the time they were here.
“I’m awake and I wanna do stuff. Bianca showed me pictures of the naked stone man. Can we see that?” Ricky leaned close, whispering. “You could see his penis and everything.” He giggled, and Chase wondered how he was going to explain the styles of Renaissance sculpture to Ricky.
“That’s David, and I don’t think so. Not today. Though we can go to the Accademia another day if you really want.” He could just imagine what Ricky would say when they did visit. Good Lord.
“Are there other naked people there?” Ricky asked, and Chase groaned.
“How about you try to go back to sleep and not worry about the statues? I’ll tell you all about it and what it means later.”Preferably when you’re an adult.“Daddy needs some more sleep. Okay?” He closed his eyes, and Ricky thankfully settled down… until Chase’s phone vibrated on the table beside the bed.
“Daddy, the phone is shaking,” Ricky said as though it was something important.
Chase reached for it and groaned. It wasn’t even eight in the morning, so what could Antonello want?
“Yeah,” he answered groggily. “Is something wrong?”
“No. But I managed to make arrangements for you and Ricky. I’ll be outside your place in ten minutes.” He sounded damned pleased with himself.
“Is that Mr. Nello?” Ricky asked as Antonello hung up.
“Yes. He’s coming over. We need to get dressed.” And Chase needed coffee—lots of coffee.
“For gelato?” Ricky asked.
God, he hoped not. “I think it’s too early for that. Go put on the clothes I laid out for you last night so we can be dressed when he gets here.” Ten freaking minutes. Antonello obviously had no idea what it took to get a six-year-old ready for the day. Still, Ricky raced away, and Chase shaved and dressed before finding Ricky in his room, clothes and shoes on with the Velcro done up. He sat on the side of his bed, looking at Chase like he was wondering what took him so long.
“I even brushed teeth,” he said, showing them to Chase with a big grin. “Is he here yet?”
“Not yet.” He held out his hand, and Ricky took it. Then they went to the kitchen, where he got Ricky something quick to eat and gave him a glass of juice. Chase was too curious to eat, but Ricky ate his grapes and toast, drinking the last of his juice as the bell rang.
“He’s here!” Ricky hurried to the door as Chase set the dishes in the sink. “I’m ready, Guncle Daddy,” he sang. “Can we go?”
