Heartsville 02 - Unscripted (Nico Jaye) (7 page)

Gia turned to face him, a sly look inching across her face. “Sunday dinner, Carter-who’s-Teddy’s-partner-
business
-partner,” she said, her eyes glittering with mischief. “You know, you should come. I’ll bet Mama and Pops would love to meet you, and they always cook up a feast anyway.”

Teddy had already guessed Gia’s train of thought and was shaking his head vigorously, his eyes wide with growing horror. When Carter glanced at him, Teddy stopped his movement abruptly and offered him a weak smile.

“You… you really don’t want to come, honestly,” Teddy managed to say. “It’ll be loud, and it’s all the way in the city.”

“I live in the city already, Teodoro,” Carter pointed out.

“Ooooh, Teodoro,” Gia said, grinning widely.

Teddy narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re one to talk,
Giacinta
,” he said, barely resisting the urge to stick his tongue out.

Carter whistled low under his breath. “I’ll admit I’m incredibly curious, even if only to find out everyone else’s names.”

Gia turned her attention back to Carter, her gaze reflecting both delight and her own curiosity. “You should definitely come, then; it’ll be way more fun with some new blood around. Teddy can give you the address.”

“Actually,” Teddy said, breaking in and wondering when he’d lost control of the situation, “there’s another show on Sunday—”

“Teddy! After missing last week, you know the parentals’ll have a shit fit if you miss another one.” Gia gave him what he liked to call the Carbone-Crazy-Eye. She and Lucy had inherited it from their mother.

“Shit fit,” Carter said under his breath, as though trying the phrase on for size.

“Okay, okay,” Teddy said to Gia, considering the weekend ahead. “I’ll see how the first two shows go, and if everything’s okay, I’ll ask Malik to cover the theater for Sunday.”

“Perfect! I’ll give Malik the heads-up.” Grinning, Gia headed to the door.

“No, I didn’t actually say—”

“See you on Sunday, Carter!” With a quick wave, Gia darted out of the room as suddenly as she’d arrived.

Teddy blew out a frustrated breath. “She’s the youngest, and she’s used to getting her way,” Teddy said helplessly, shrugging and looking up at Carter. “You—you don’t have to come on Sunday, you know. Don’t feel obligated or anything.”

Carter watched him with that unreadable expression in his eyes. Finally, his mouth curved into a small smile. “Send me the address, and I’ll be there.”

Teddy’s mouth dropped open. “O-okay.”

When Carter bent and placed a soft kiss to his lips that warmed him to his toes, Teddy found himself wondering when exactly his life had chosen to go so drastically off script.

Chapter Six

Considering he’d practically grown up in the kitchen of Nonna’s, their family restaurant, Teddy had learned to leave the cooking to his folks; he’d given up on contributing to Sunday dinner years ago. His mother’s love of irises, however, had him at Bloom Box Sunday afternoon, looking for a contribution of a different kind.

“Something with irises and… I don’t know, yellow stuff maybe?” Teddy said with a vague gesture.

The young guy behind the counter grinned. “You’re a natural—that’s a great combination!”

He grabbed a few stems and held them out to Teddy. “How do these look? You can’t really go wrong with irises, lilies, and daisies—they’re just such a happy bunch!”

Teddy eyed the flowers. The irises and daisies he recognized, and the other yellow ones must be a type of lily. Looking up, he met the florist’s bright gaze and smiled. “Sure, they look nice.”

“Perfect! I’ll wrap ‘em up and make ‘em all pretty.” He gathered the flowers and some greenery and returned to the counter. After pulling some of the butcher paper from the roll, he looked up. “I’m Milo, by the way. Are you from around here?”

“Teddy, and yep, I live here and run the theater down the block. The Oasis?” Belatedly, Teddy realized he owned it now too.

“Oh, right! I think we have flyers for your Halloween thing next week.” Milo was plucking different stems of flowers and arranging them with happy little movements.

Teddy nodded. “That’s the one. We do the RHPS performance every year. You’re new to Heartsville, aren’t you?”

“Well, I go to college nearby, but I’m new to Market Street,” Milo said with a friendly smile. He tied a bow with some brown papery ribbon and picked up the bouquet. “Here you go! Big night tonight?” Milo’s eyes sparkled mischievously.

Teddy couldn’t fathom why he blushed. “Just dinner with my family. And, um, a friend.”

Milo hummed. “Well, I hope you have a wonderful time with your family and… friend.” At the deliberate pause, Milo winked and moved toward the cash register.

After Teddy had paid, he trekked back toward his apartment, figuring he had enough time to change before driving over to Wicker Park for dinner.

Oh God. Dinner.

No, he thought to himself. It was just Sunday dinner.

Teddy tried not to dwell on it as he showered and got ready, but when he stood in front of his closet picking out one shirt, then two others, then discarding those for a lightweight sweater, he admitted to himself that it wasn’t just Sunday dinner.

He didn’t know what had compelled Carter to agree to come.

Correction: he was afraid to guess the reason Carter had agreed to come.

When Carter had given him that slow, almost sweet kiss at the theater, Teddy’s heart had swelled and a dreamy sigh had escaped his lips. By comparison, their one-afternoon stand had been filled with carnal bites and bruising kisses. They’d been perfect for getting him off, but they hadn’t touched his heart.

This Carter, though? Who offered warm touches and affectionate looks?

Teddy was afraid he could be so much more dangerous.

***

Traffic was worse than usual, and it was already past six when Teddy parked in front of the familiar brick bungalow on Bell Avenue. He spotted an incongruous midnight blue Tesla a few spaces down, and his heart leapt out of his chest.

“Oh shit,” Teddy muttered under his breath. Clutching the flowers, he took the stairs up two at a time, and after a perfunctory knock, he opened the unlocked door.

“Teo!” Teddy found himself pulled into a large, warm bosom, and he caught the scent of grilling fish, baked bread, and tomatoes in the air. His mother kissed him on each cheek, holding him in place after the second one. “Your young man is very handsome,” she whispered into his ear. “We will speak later about you keeping secrets from this family, Teo.”

Teddy glanced into the living room and spotted Carter wearing a thick, cream-colored sweater and dark jeans. He was sitting on the squishy leather loveseat with a glass of red wine balanced on his bent knee. Pops was nearby in his big recliner, and Lucy and Gia were on the other sofa and the floor, respectively. Teddy’s stomach churned. “Mama, what—?”

Mama took the flowers from his hand with a warm smile. “Thank you, Teo, these are lovely. Come,” she said, pulling off his coat and ushering him into the room, where she pushed him onto the couch. When his thigh slid up against Carter’s, Teddy blushed and hurriedly straightened in his seat.

“Hi, Pops. Sorry I’m late,” Teddy said breathlessly, taking in Carter’s amused look and the cozy tableau. “I’m guessing you’ve met everyone…. Where’s Marco?”

“Marco?” Carter asked, raising his brows.

“He’s number three,” Gia said.

“The one who got off easy,” Lucy muttered darkly.

Carter shot Teddy a puzzled look.

“Lucrezia!” Mama shouted from the kitchen. “Come help me fix the fish!”

Lucy winced. “Coming, Mama!”

Carter’s gaze lit with comprehension, and he visibly fought back a smile.

“You see now why we need nicknames,” Teddy whispered.

“I don’t know,” Carter murmured. “I rather like calling you
Teodoro
.”

Teddy’s blush, which had begun to disappear, came back with a vengeance.

“Where is that brother of yours?” Pops said grumpily. The gray that lined his temples lent a distinguished air to his grousing. “Gia, did you hear anything?”

Gia checked her phone and, after a moment, lifted her head. “His movie ran late, and he’s walking from the El stop now.”

Teddy didn’t know what they’d been talking about before, but in the next moment, Carter was asking Gia about her design courses, setting off an elaborate explanation about the importance of fonts. Pops simply watched with a hint of pride on his face.

Gia, who commuted out to Heartsville for her classes at Havenston, and Marco, who had just graduated with his restaurant and culinary management degree, still lived on Bell Avenue. Lucy, on the other hand, shared a small apartment over in Ukranian Village with a friend. Teddy had been immensely grateful when Lucy and Marco had expressed their interest in taking over Nonna’s. Their decision had lifted the weight of guilt Teddy, as the eldest, had been carrying on his shoulders for choosing a different path.

The front door swung open, and Marco stepped inside at the same moment Mama called, “Time to eat!”

While they got to their feet in the living room, Marco hung his coat on a peg by the door and turned around, a grin on his youthful face. “Perfect timing, as usual.”

“Shut up, dork,” Gia said after she stood, punching him lightly on the arm.

“You’re the dork,” Marco shot back, reverting to a level of behavior only reserved for sibling interaction. Marco looked up and sobered, leaning toward Gia. “Hey, is that him?”

“Yep, that’s him.”

“I’m standing right here, guys,” Teddy said, wishing he could disappear into the floor.

“We’re not talking about you,” Gia pointed out.

“No, but you’re talking about me. I’m also standing right here,” Carter said, his lips twitching.

“Hey there, I’m Marco.” Marco offered his hand as they entered the dining room.

“So I gathered,” Carter said dryly, shaking it. “Carter.”

“And you’re Teddy’s new partner, right?” Marco asked.

“Business partner,” Teddy said quickly as he took a seat beside Lucy. Carter was on his other side, between Mama and him, with Gia and Marco across the way. “We’re business partners, Marco.”

“Oh, but, Teo,” Mama said, reaching for the tossed salad dish they always had. She sent a warm look down the table at Pops on the other end. “Your father and I are business partners too. How else do you think Nonna’s came about?” She met Carter’s gaze as she passed him the large bowl of greens. “Nonna’s is a business partnership we built with love.”

His cheeks burning, Teddy hoped the floor would finally choose that moment to devour him and his chair.

No such luck.

Carter sent Teddy a quick glance before turning to Mama. “The Oasis is a special place, and there’s a wealth of love to be found there. Its foundation is strong for a solid future.”

Teddy’s eyes went wide, and he stared at Carter, who handed him the salad bowl with an inscrutable look. Could Carter mean…?

Was the Oasis safe? Had Carter changed his mind about selling?

Teddy’s thoughts raced. He was grateful for once that his large Italian family could produce enough conversation to fill an assembly hall because he found himself at a loss for words as relief—hopeful relief—flowed through him.

With all of them there, dinner was a loud affair. The table was heavy with fresh focaccia, Caprese salad, olive oil and capers spaghetti noodles, and three grilled sea basses with lemon, and Carter’s compliments and praise had Mama blushing like a schoolgirl. Teddy appreciated being back with his family just as much as he did the home-style cooking.

Even though Carter was a little stiff and awkward at times, Teddy loved seeing this version of him. Teddy didn’t have time to worry about what Carter thought when he was busy stifling a laugh at hearing Carter try to explain his job to his mother.

“So you’re in a big office all the time?” Mama tilted her head at him, brows furrowed. “And you just write checks every day?”

Carter gave a small smile. “Not quite, but… pretty much.”

“You’re very fit for someone who sits behind a desk all day.” Mama’s gaze was appraising and appreciative.

The light pink stain on Carter’s cheeks was adorable.

“Thank you,” he said. “I sometimes escape the desk and check out targets in person too.”

“Target! One of my favorite places,” Mama said, nodding. “Their dollar bins are much better than the dollar store.”

“Actually, targets as in target companies.” He smiled and continued, his voice not unkind. “I look for companies in trouble, then I buy them. Sometimes I turn them around and sell them again for a profit, and sometimes I split them up. Whatever makes sense.”

“Like
Pretty Woman
,” Lucy offered, twirling her spaghetti noodles.