“Sorting his laundry?” Cam threw his hands up in the air. “She’s losing it.”
Mom ignored Cam and walked to Damian’s friend. “Hello. I’m Rosalie Ahern.”
“Anton Scalene.”
Dad tensed at my side pulling my attention from Anton to him. It was the way Dad was looking, his cop face that piqued my interest at the same time it made me nervous. I understood because there was something about Anton, the way he carried himself. He dressed really nicely too, but I didn’t think it was family money. He wasn’t a pampered rich kid, no way. However he earned his money, he had worked for it and I’d bet money whatever he did wasn’t legal.
“It’s nice to meet you, Anton. That’s my husband Edward, Cam and Thea.”
Anton’s gaze settled on me and I swear I saw the corners of his mouth tip up. Weird.
“We were just helping Damian get settled and then we’re heading out for pizza. Would you like to join us?”
Mom was the Tasmanian devil. She swept everyone up into her world. She didn’t judge. Everyone was good until they proved her otherwise. My focus was on Anton though because he had that same hesitancy that Damian had when he first started coming around…a sign that he wasn’t used to kindness or being included. That made me sad.
Dad had come to the same conclusion when he said, “Maybe you two could help me move this back. I’m getting too old.” Dad could move the oven back, but he was trying to include Anton. He and my mom were the same in that people were good until they proved him wrong.
Cam walked over to Anton and held out his hand. “Hey. I’m Cam. Why don’t you and I help Dad and let Damian save his laundry from my mother.”
Mom rolled her eyes. “What’s the big deal? I sort your laundry every week.”
Cam called from over his shoulder, “Let’s stop talking about laundry.”
Mom glanced over at me. “Boys are so weird.”
“Pepperoni and mushrooms…that is a damn fine combination,” Dad said as we sat around a large table at the pizzeria.
Damian liked pepperoni and mushrooms on his pizza. I’d have to remember that.
“How did you and Damian meet?” Mom asked Anton.
Anton looked over at Damian who jerked his head, like he was giving Anton permission to answer.
“Damian was in a fight, five against one. I didn’t like the odds so I stepped in. Turns out, I didn’t need to get involved.”
Mom wasn’t the kind of mom to get upset about a fight, but she did study Damian and Anton for several long minutes before she said, “It was good of you to have his back.”
“We’ve been looking out for each other ever since.”
I was coming back from the restroom when Anton appeared, blocking my way. The man was ridiculously sexy, not as sexy as Damian, but he definitely turned heads. It was the danger that radiated off him that stirred fear, which was why what he said didn’t at first compute for me.
“Thank you for helping Damian get his own place.”
“Ah…well it was my dad.”
“But you went to your dad, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Why did I go to my dad?”
He nodded.
“He’s happier than he was when we first met, but there’s still sadness there. I suspect it’s his mom causing it and whenever I need help, it’s my dad and mom I turn to. Since he can’t turn to his, I offered mine.”
His reaction was very strange. He rolled back on his heels and smiled. “I get it now.”
“Get what?”
“I’m glad I got to meet you.”
I had the sense I had just passed a test, but I hadn’t a clue on what. I felt his comment needed a reply so I simply said, “Yeah, me too.”
Dad, Mom and Cam headed home after the pizzeria. Anton also left. I liked him, liked that Damian had a friend like him. I was going back to Damian’s because I had something for him there, something I didn’t want to give him in front of everyone else.
He’d been quiet for most of the night, something I was learning was just his way, but he had engaged a little…laughed, even smiled. And now that he was no longer forced to be near his mother, my hope was he would laugh and smile more.
Once in his apartment, I walked to the kitchen and took from the cupboard a cupcake with white icing and a candle. I’d baked a bunch, this one turned out the best. Damian’s expression caused an ache in my chest when I turned toward him, his focus going from the cupcake to my face.
“I baked it, so fair warning.”
I lit the candle and slid the plate in front of him and then I sang happy birthday. Tears burned the back of my eyes because his expression was one I would never forget. Heartbreaking. It was why I didn’t include my parents or Cam because I knew how the gesture was going to hit Damian…hard. His eyes were bright when he blew out the candle.