She huffed. “There’s five of us, Mia.” Her tone was tired, sounding drained of all life. “Someone is always second, third, fourth or fifth. It’s just Tony’s always number one.”
I heard what she was saying and understood it. After dinner with the family and seeing the way Mona doted on her son and her grandchildren, the fact that Tony went so far as to hire an escort to pretend to be his fiancée to fool his mother showed the kind of power she held over the family.
“So what do you think we should do?”
Angelina stood and picked up the clothes we’d decided upon. I went over to the clothes I’d arrived in and started to put them back on.
“I don’t know about Mama yet. The league will survive just fine. The business, well, we’ll hire Tony an amazing publicist. Someone who can spin the fact that Tony’s gay into something not warranting any news. I run Marketing, and I can brainstorm with my team, come up with some ideas. Either way, it’s our family’s company.” She sounded more confident the more she spoke. “The news that the President is gay may be fodder for some talk for a while, but we have a good product. We won’t go broke or lose the bulk of our business. People love Mama’s recipes, and the prices are solid on a blue collar budget.”
“It is damn good food. Best Italian I’ve ever had.”
“Exactly! Tony needs to just get out of the habit of trying to please everyone. Trying to be everything to everyone. You know?”
Instead of responding, I nodded. It was true. I did know. More than I was willing to admit to someone who was virtually a stranger. Ever since my mom left, I tried to keep the family together. Do everything that needed to be done.
Take care of Dad when he was three sheets to the wind. No problem, Mia would handle it.
Help Maddy get through school. Yep, I’d work with her on her homework and stay up late into the evening hours trying to catch up on my own studies. But Maddy always came first.
I even made sure food was on the table and a roof over our heads. I worked my ass off at sixteen waiting tables in casinos to make a buck. Some nights I’d bring home the leftover buffet items before they changed it over the next day. Those were belly filling nights for sure. Even Dad would pat me on the back and tell me “good work” in one of his drunken slurs.
Of course, I’d done it all while under the age of eighteen. Hell, I’d worked enough jobs by the time I was eighteen to collect Social Security. Even now. I was an escort to bail my dad out of debt. Really, I had no business trying to tell someone else how to live their life since I’d sucked so horribly at living mine. However, all of that was changing. Things were slowly getting better. I now had resources. People who cared about my wellbeing. Maddy, Ginelle, Millie, Wes, even Alec would help me out of a jam. I couldn’t put a price on that. And I liked Tony and Hector. Believed they were meant to be.
“I just want to help Tony and Hector in whatever way I can.”
“How did they find you anyway?”
I wasn’t sure what I should say. If I told her I was a hired escort would she think poorly of me? Usually when the term escort was used, people immediately thought hooker or call girl, but in my case, it wasn’t true. Well, it mostly wasn’t true. Technically, I did sleep with Wes and Alec. And admittedly, I drooled over Tony initially, but those feelings were long gone.
Angelina seemed to wait patiently for me to work through my response in my head, which I appreciated. There was a quiet calm about her. An admirable trait for sure. I stopped and glanced at her pretty face. Her eyes were kind, serene and so blue a person would want to swim in them.
“I’m an escort.”
Her eyebrows rose to her hairline and she gasped. Then, instead of cursing or calling me out for my profession, she tipped her head back, her hair a wave of black satin down her back and laughed. A full belly, piggy-snorting guffaw that had her in stitches in mere seconds. Her laughter was infectious, and I couldn’t help but join in.
When we met up with Hector at the register we both had tears streaming down our faces. “What in the world happened to you two?” Hector looked from me to Angelina. We both tried to stop laughing and failed. Finally, I caught my breath.
“She found out what I did for a living,” I chuckled. That got his attention. He clasped Angelina’s elbow and pulled her close.
“It’s not what it looks like.” Hector spoke through clenched teeth.
“That you’re paying for Mia’s service for the month to get Mama off your back so you and Tony can go on living your life?”
“Okay, so it’s exactly what it looks like.”
That started both of us back on our laughing jag. Hector paid for the clothes then led us both outside. In the limo we got things back under control. Hector turned to Angelina and clasped her hand. “You can’t tell Mona. She’ll be devastated. I’ve promised Tony we’d get through this and I support his decision. He feels Mona is incapable of understanding what we are to one another. Knows that she believes real love is between a man and a woman.”
“Even if it means he’ll be hiding your love forever?”
Hector’s shoulders slumped and he frowned. He closed his eyes as if he was thinking. We both waited. “If that’s what it means to have your brother’s love, that it has to be in private? Then that has to be enough for me. I love him. I’d do anything for him.”
***
Turned out Hector wasn’t lying. He played the game well. Over the next week with the Fasanos we made appearances at business functions and family events. I spent most of my time with Hector and really just served as Tony’s ‘piece on the side’ or trophy when he needed a pretty thing dangling from his arm. It annoyed me on so many levels. Not because I was being used for my looks but because I knew every time Tony introduced me as his fiancée and people gushed over our relationship it killed Hector a bit more every time. Something had to be done. I just didn’t know what.
CHAPTER 7
“She’ll be here any minute,” Hector skidded into the kitchen in his dress socks. “Where the hell are my shoes?”
“Papi, why are you wearing shoes anyway?” Tony smirked while checking out Hector’s feet.
“Ugh,” Hector groaned. “He doesn’t get it.” While practically running past me he stopped cold. “Are you wearing that?” Those dark eyes of his assessed my tank and jeans. By the pinched, sour twist to his lips, he found the look lacking.
“I thought your mom coming over to make dinner with us was casual.” I tugged on my tank, making sure it covered the slip of skin between my jeans and shirt. I’d left my hair down and wild. It was my best feature. Aside from my tits. Those were pretty awesome.
Tony glanced my way, gave me his own assessment and shrugged. “Hector’s the style guy. You look fine to me.”
I placed my hands on my hips. “See, I look fine to him,” I said sticking my tongue out at Hector. “You’re the one acting insane. What’s the deal anyway?” Hector ignored my questions and stomped off. “Seriously. Why is he acting like he should be committed?”
“Oh he’s committed all right, to making Mama believe he’s the perfect man.”
“He is,” I said and Tony nodded. He stared off down the hall where Hector had stormed off. “You do think that, right?”
“Of course I do.” His eyebrows pulled together as he cocked his head to the side. “I wouldn’t have been with him for all these years if I didn’t.”
Honesty time. I’d been dancing around between Hector and Tony for the better part of two weeks. I felt as though I had a pretty good handle on the dynamic. Hector seemed to be the passive, less dominant of the two and Tony the alpha male. Maybe I could appeal to that side of him and get him to see what would lie beyond my time here, and if he doesn’t come clean with his mother and family soon about his relationship with Hector, he stood to lose something he’s always had…Hector’s trust.
“Look Tony, it’s been great being here and I love spending time with Hector and you.”
“We’ve enjoyed having
you, Mia. Truly. You’re welcome back here any time. Helping us through this bind, it means a lot.”
“Well, technically you’re paying for it.” I grinned and he smiled.
“It’s just, I was wondering, have you thought about coming out?” Tony’s smile turned into a frown. I held my hands out and stepped closer. “Just hear me out.”
His shoulders slumped and he leaned against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. Damn, those arms. Even gay they still made me drool. I shook my head and leaned on the opposite counter.
“Look, your sister Angelina knows the truth.” Tony’s eyes widened and his jaw clenched. “I didn’t tell her! I swear. She figured it out last week when we shopped. Said she’d known since college.”
Tony took in a breath and let it out, scraping his hand along his five o’clock shadow. Christ the man was handsome. “Jesus, so what did you say? Does Hector know?”
“He was there.” I looked down at my bare feet. Hector had painted my toes a siren red along with my fingers. He did a great job. “Your sister basically wondered why you hadn’t come out.”
“And what did you say?”
“Me?” I held a hand to my heart and shook my head. “I didn’t say jack shit!” I could hear the tone in my voice getting louder, but I couldn’t help it. Irritation at the entire situation was like a fully loaded gun and the trigger was being squeezed. “Hector basically told her that you didn’t want to disappoint your family, and the business and the boxing league could be issues. But mostly you were worried about how your mother would take it.” Tony’s shoulders slumped. He turned and braced both hands on the counter. It was as if the weight of the entire Fasano name hung like a heavy albatross around his neck.
“You know, Mia, it’s so tiring. Always hiding, worrying about who might find out, what it would mean to Mama and the family. How the public might take it. I couldn’t bear the thought of hurting my family and Hector in the process just for my own selfish desires.”
I walked the couple steps and placed both hands on his back. “It’s not selfish to want to be with the person you love, Tony.”
“Isn’t it?”
“No, it isn’t. It’s your basic human right. And Hector loves you. He wants nothing more than for you to be shouting it from the rooftops or at the very least allowing him to.” I chuckled and rested my forehead on his back. He turned around and gathered me into his arms. Yep, they were wonderful. Warm, strong, and secure. Just as I’d expected. Tony was quite possibly the best hugger around.
“I don’t know what to do.” Tony whispered into the crown of my head.
“Yes you do. You’ve always known. You just have to do it.”
He shook his head. “The timing hasn’t been right.”
I leaned back and looked into his eyes. His arms stayed loosely around my waist. “It’s never going to be a good time to hurt someone.” Tony winced, and I placed a hand over his heart. “But, once it’s done, it’s done forever. You don’t have to worry about it anymore. You move on. Everyone moves on.”
“And the league?”
“Angelina said that you weren’t that involved anymore anyway, and it’s no one’s business.” He tilted his head to the side, his eyes focused on mine. “Besides, as a huge sponsor, they wouldn’t risk losing you. Plus, look at you? You’re a giant among little people. And you’re fucking hot. Everyone—and I mean everyone—will want to see all this,” I waved a hand up and down his front, “slicked up and beating the shit out of another guy…gay or not.” I winked and grinned.
Tony laughed then backed up. He swept a hand through his black hair. “And the business?”
“Again, Angelina says she’s Marketing. She’ll hire some fancy publicist PR guru to work their magic for a shit ton of money. Thinks it’s something that will be big news for a short time, no more than a few months. Then it will blow over and business as usual. The food is too good and too affordable to go under for something like the President’s sexual orientation.”
He sighed, went over to the fridge and pulled out a beer and twisted off the top. In two huge slugs he finished it. Watching Tony eat and drink was like watching a professional eating competition. The man could just put things away as if his jaw was unhinged.
“And what of Mama, the family line? Everything is not so easy.” His tone turned a smidge harsh.
I nodded and tilted my head to the side. “It will be hard and she may get mad, cry, or hell, she may even throw something. That is one fiery Italian!” And the smile was back. All white, even teeth. Too pretty for his own good. Then again, in my experience, most gay guys were too pretty or too good looking. “And you and Hector talked about having a family?” I asked dying to know, but being too afraid to stick my nose any further in their business.
Tony grabbed another beer and popped the top off tossing the cap on the counter where the other one was. “Yeah, he says he definitely wants to have kids and soon.” Tony’s smile got brighter, as if the sun was shining directly on him. Only thing, he wants us to be married or have some type of commitment ceremony first.”
“I can see that. If you’re going to bring a child into the world, the smart thing to do would be to get married first.”
Tony’s lips pursed together. “I guess I just never saw us getting married. It seems so old-fashioned and formal. Our relationship has always just been. There was never any pomp and circumstance. We just fit together you know? Like puzzle pieces.”
“Is that how Hector feels about it? Because even only knowing Hector for the past couple weeks, he definitely seems like the type of guy that would appreciate a little pomp and circumstance. A real big show of affection.”
“You’ve been hanging out with Angie too much, Mia. You’re turning into one of them.”
I shook my head emphatically. “Nuh uh. No way. If I ever get married, which the odds are very, very slim, I’d just go to Vegas.”
Tony’s arm came out and he pointed at me. His smile now split from ear to ear. “See! I agree with that. A marriage in Vegas. Perfect!”
“Over my dead body,” said the voice of none other than Mona Fasano from behind us.
“Mama! We didn’t hear you come in.” Tony went over to his mother and kissed both cheeks then hugged her. Hector was standing behind her with daggers in his eyes. I shook my head and tried with eye gestures to express that it wasn’t what he thought.
Mona came over to me. She pulled me into a hug, kissed both cheeks then held me back at arm’s length. Her steely eyes traced my form. “Yep, perfect for making my babies,” she gushed before clapping her hands together. “Hector my boy,” she called over her shoulder.
“Yes, Mama,” Hector returned.
“What are we cooking, dear boy?” She turned and placed a hand on his cheek. The way she held his face was clearly affectionate. She loved him like a son. Hopefully, that would help when the truth came out. If Tony ever got his head out of his ass.
“Enchiladas!”
“Not Italian?” I asked surprised that the Italian mother of all mothers, wouldn’t be making one of her famous dishes.
Mona shook her head. “No. When I cook with my Hector, we make food from his heritage. Gives me the opportunity to broaden my skills. Someday I will make a dish that’s Italian and Mexican fusion of cultures and sell it at the restaurant.” Mona pushed on my hips edging me out of the kitchen to one of the bar stools. “Now, you go sit and we’ll talk while Hector and I cook. Capisce?”
Sounded good to me. Tony handed me a beer then took the stool next to mine.
“So, what is this I hear about a Vegas wedding?” Mama Mona went right for the gut.
“Ma, we were just talking. It didn’t mean anything.” Tony said it to his mother’s back while she worked over the stove, but his eyes were glued to Hector’s. “I’d never run off and marry Mia. Never.” His voice was breathy, as if he’d whispered it loud enough for all of us to hear on purpose. Hector’s eyes closed slowly. When they opened they were back to
being filled with love, lust, and hope. It was so clear how much Hector adored Tony and vice versa. The stigma attached to their love was creating a wedge that could eventually bring down the wall around their relationship. If that happened, everything would come out in a flood that could drown what they had. That thought alone drove nails into my soul.
“Good, because you are a good Catholic boy. You will get married in our church. St. Peter’s. The same church your father and I were married in all those years ago,” she said with triumph. “Admittedly, I was worried for some time that you would never marry. Now that we have Mia…” Her head turned and her smile in my direction was glorious. It literally shattered my heart into a thousand guilty shards. “…our family will be complete and you will carry on the Fasano name.”
Mona put down the wooden spoon she was holding, turned around and hugged Tony. “You make me and your father so proud. If he was here today, he’d bless this union happily.” She wiped a few tears from her eyes, cleared her throat and went back to work. Hector swallowed visibly, choking back the emotion I knew had to be tearing him apart.
“Speaking of Church, Father Donahue will be happy to perform the marriage. You’ll need to sign up for counseling though. Perhaps this coming weekend?”
I’m pretty sure my eyes popped out of their sockets. Church? Counseling? I shook my head. “Um…I don’t know about that,” I started, but Tony cut me off.
“Ma, we’re not decided on a date. We also haven’t discussed our religion.”
Mona’s head flew back as if she’d been stricken. “What? That’s one of the first things you discuss. Mia dear, are you Catholic?”
“I’m not anything. I uh…” Mona’s eyes seared into mine like white hot points. “I wasn’t raised in a religion.”
She blew out a breath. “Have you been baptized Christian?” Her tone was accusatory. Instantly fear tingled against my spine which automatically triggered my defense mechanism.
“No.” I clenched my jaw, my spine straightening.
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