“Yeah, I’m sure.”
“Then I’ll be there.”
The call ends. I watch Tommy like a hawk. “You have a call tonight?” I ask, hoping he’ll open up.
“Guess so. The last time Renzo and I talked … it wasn’t pretty. He didn’t want me in on the call with Biba, and it pissed me off. I sort of said some shit that didn’t go over well.”
“But now he’s decided to include you,” I surmise.
“Yeah, it looks that way.” He’s uncomfortable, and I get it. Conflict is icky.
“You might feel better if you talk to him again, you know. Now that you understand a little better where he’s coming from.” I really hope I’m not overstepping, but I hate to see him so at odds with his family. Especially his brother since they also work together. It’s important they find a way to relate to one another.
Tommy tosses me a side-eye. “I’ll think about it,” he says dryly. “Me going out tonight means you’re going to be home alone. I was thinking about that tiny girl with the purple hair—”
“Sachi?”
“Sure. You’re close to her, right?”
“Yeah, she’s my best friend.” Where’s he going with this?
“What if you give her a call now and see if she’s free? We could pick her up, and she could hang with you at the apartment while I’m gone. That way, you’re not alone worrying, and I know you’ve got someone to keep you company. Female company.” The last part is added as a tiny verbal jab.
“You know she’s a lesbian, right?” I deadpan.
Tommy looks over at me, face twisted in confusion, and nearly hits the car beside us.
“I’m kidding! Watch the road. I was kidding,” I laugh and yell at the same time.
He snarls, but in a grumpy teddy bear kind of way. It makes me want to laugh harder, but I don’t want to distract him again, so I choke back a snicker.
An hour later, Sante is at our place to keep watch, and Sachi is on her way over. She was at a friend’s orchestral dress rehearsal when we called, so we weren’t able to pick her up. I’m kind of glad because that’s given me a little time to figure out how I’m going to tell my best friend that I got married since the last time she saw me. I’m not sure if I’m more nervous about Tommy’s call with Biba or a pissed-off Sachi. At least I can onlyreally worry about one at a time. And by the end of the day, I’ll probably have a whole new checklist of things to worry about.
Huzzah.
CHAPTER 37
TOMMY
“Where’s DiAngelo?I figured he’d be here by now.” I take a seat in Renzo’s office, surprised to find the room unoccupied aside from the two of us.
“He had somewhere to be. You and I can manage a video chat, even if it’s with Biba Mikhailov.” He sounds worn down. I realize I haven’t asked about his wife recently, and I feel a twinge of guilt. They’re expecting their first baby in another month, and I’ve hardly acknowledged the new addition at all.
“How’s Shae feeling? Everything okay with the baby?”
“Yeah, baby’s doing great.” His entire face softens as though the mere mention of his unborn child erases all the world’s troubles. It’s fascinating. And I suppose I have a tiny inkling of how that might feel now that I know there’s a chance Danika and I could have conceived a child of our own. The anticipation and uncertainty are a thrill unlike any other—one that’s also absolutely terrifying.
“That’s wonderful,” I offer genuinely.
“Yeah, and I think we’ve got all the baby stuff we could ever possibly need—I know Shae is ready. She is desperate to get the kid out of her already.” He chuckles to himself.
“She’s due on the eighteenth, right?”
My brother looks at me, a tiny bit of surprise registering. “Yeah, that’s exactly right.”
“I’m sure you’ll do great. God knows you had plenty of experience taking care of kids as the oldest, especially with Dad not around much of the time.” I’m trying to apologize in a roundabout way, but Renzo’s grimace tells me I’ve fallen short.
“I hope you understand that the only reason he worried about you was because he loved you. He worried about all of us.”
