Jenwas wrong in thinking she was alone. She was fine. She had her husband to gohome to, she had her kids. If I wasn't here, she'd still have Moe and Nicky torely on and keep the restaurant going. She could always keep her head abovewater without any problem because she had never known what it was like to loseher footing and drown. Me, though? I wasn't fine, and I knew I wasn't by thefact that I wouldn't allow Andy to leave.
Inthe days that had passed since Pops's funeral, Andy had spent her several days offwork at the apartment. She did what she had to do during the day, while I wasat work, and was there, waiting for me when I came back. She cooked us dinner.She gave me someone to talk to and sleep with. I loved her, and I loved havingher around, but above that, I was scared of what could happen if she wasn't.
***
“Vin,what the hell do you call this?” Jen asked, holding up a slice. Meltedmozzarella cheese only covered half, while the other side was oversaturated inmarinara. “I can't give this to anyone.”
“So,don't.”
Shepeeked inside the case and groaned. “This entire pie is bad. How the hell didyou manage to do this?”
Iglanced over my shoulder from the pie I was making. The pizza in questionlooked like crap and I knew it, but my pride wouldn't let me admit it. “It'snot that bad,” I insisted before quickly diverting my attention.
Moesnorted. “Man, that thing looks like a damn bullseye.”
“Ican't serve this,” Jenna groused, pulling the pie from the case and hurryinginto the kitchen to shove it in the fridge.
“Ican't believe she's gonna waste that whole pie,” I mumbled, shaking my head.
“You'dhave her serve that to someone?” Moe asked doubtfully.
“Sure.”
“You'reso full of shit,” he laughed, shaking his head.
“Idon't understand what the big deal is,” I lied.
Jennaemerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. “The big deal, babybrother, is that Pops had dreams of you taking over the place and you are, forsome reason, slacking miserably.”
Iswallowed, recalling the conversation we'd had with Pops's attorney the daybefore. Zach had come down for the reading of the will, for us to find thatPops had divvied his savings in three ways but wanted to put Famiglia Bella inmy name with Jenna as co-owner.
Icouldn't have thought of a worse idea.
“I'llput it in your name,” I said to Jenna, dusting a pie with oregano. “I can'thandle this shit.”
“Youcould,” she said. “You just need to get your head out of your ass.”
It'ssomething I could imagine Pops saying. I could almost hear his voice. And itmade me so angry that everything—his heart disease, his death, his dyingwish—had all come as a surprise. I hated that he hadn't spent more timepreparing us. I hated that he hadn't told us. Fuck, sometimes I just hated him,and I hated that more than anything.
“Iknow how to make pizza, Jen, and I’m good at it,” I practically whined. “But Idon't know the first thing about running a business.”
Shecame to stand beside me, gawking. “Uh, how long have you worked here?”
Laughing,I shook my head. “You know what I'm sayin'. The business shit, you and Popshandled. You know, keepin' the books, orderin' shit ...”
Crossingher arms, she considered what I was saying. It was an excuse, but it wasn't alie. “Okay,” she said, nodding her agreement, “but I could teach you.”
“Or,”I went on slyly, “you could just do it, right? I mean, why do I need to learnif you're here?”
Jenfurrowed her brow. “Well, I guess I could, but—”
“Fornow,” I quickly added without any plans of following through.
CHAPTERTWENTY
VINNIE
Overthe next few days, I did the right thing. I woke up when I was supposed to, andonce, I even came into work early. After spending my nights with Andy, havingsex and staying up late, keeping my promise to Jen wasn't easy, but I managed.I kept her off my back, and it was fine. I was tired and I was sad, but I hadAndy and the distraction of her being at the apartment.
