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T he graveside service was hard on Tony. She could tell that he was ready to collapse, but first, he had a lot of goodbyes to say. She almost wanted to tell everyone that they needed to just leave him alone, but she wasn’t brave enough to do that. Nevertheless, she was still worried about him, especially when his mother showed up asking for money. Tony all but shut down after that.

The ride home was silent, and she wondered if there was anything that she could say or do to help him. They got home and Tony ran up to the bedroom and when she heard the shower running, she knew that he was trying to clean away the dirty feeling that his mother left behind. She felt it too, but she could wait to shower. Tony needed time and space, and she could give him that much.

When he finally came downstairs, he found her in the kitchen making them something to eat. She crossed the room and wrapped her arms around Tony and when he didn’t do the same back, she knew that she was right to worry about him. “Tell me what you’re thinking,” she begged.

“I’m thinking that this has all been a mistake,” he whispered. She looked around the church to make sure that no one was close enough to listen to their conversation. was sure that Tony was going to say something that he might regret later, and she wanted to save him the embarrassment that might come from others listening in.

“What has been a mistake?” asked. “Are you having second thoughts about the fight with your mother?” she asked.

“No,” he breathed, “I don’t want her in my life. I just lost the only person on earth that cared about me.”

took a step back from him, dropping her arms to her sides. “That’s bullshit,” she whispered, “I care about you, Tony. In fact, I love you, but you don’t want to hear that, do you?”

“No,” he whispered. “You can’t just say things like that, ,” he insisted.

“I’m not just saying it, Tony. I mean it. I love you and you’re pushing me out of your life for what?” asked.

“I just need some time,” he whispered. He didn’t seem to be able to even look at her and that pissed her off. If anything, he owed it to her to look her in the eyes and tell her that he didn’t want to be with her anymore.

“If you’re going to break up with me, Tony, at least be brave enough to look me in the eyes when doing it,” she spat. His eyes darted up to hers and she could see all the hurt and pain behind his hazel eyes staring back at her. She wanted to wrap her arms around him again and tell him that it was going to be all right, but she knew that he wouldn’t allow her to do that.

“I think that it would be best for both of us to end things now,” he admitted.

She barked out her laugh, “You think that it’s best for me to have you break up with me after Elio’s funeral? I loved him too, Tony. I lost him too, and now, you expect me to accept that I’m losing you as well. Don’t do this, please,” she begged. didn’t care if she sounded pathetic, she would beg him if she needed to. He silently stood in front of her, and she knew that he had already made up his mind.

“You two trying to cause a scene? I can hear you yelling from outside,” Rocco said.

“Oh, God,” said.

Tony looked at his friend and smiled, trying for casual, but failing. “We’re trying to have a private conversation, Rocco,” he said.

“Yeah, well you’re both failing miserably at that. How about you two take a step back and breathe? It’s been a long day for both of you,” Rocco said. He was right, they needed to calm down or they both might say something that they’d regret later.

“I’m done talking, actually,” Tony said. “I’ve said my peace, and now, all I ask is to be left alone so that I can sort everything out.”

“You mean that you need to sort out the fact that you believe that our relationship was a mistake, right? You do remember that I gave up my apartment to move in with you, Tony. It was your idea, or has that slipped your mind? Where will I stay?” asked, suddenly, not caring who could hear her yelling.

Tony shrugged, “I’m not sure,” he said. “I’m sure that you can find someplace though.”

“Jesus, man,” Rocco growled, “you’re being an ass. , you can stay at my place until you find something better.”

“I accept,” said, hoping that would piss Tony off, but he had his poker face on. He couldn’t just throw her away like trash because he had gotten bored with her. Or maybe their relationship was only about him protecting her. was safe now, so he could just be on his way. She might never know because judging by the look on Tony’s face, he’d never tell her. watched as he walked out of the kitchen, not even bothering to look back at her. He had said goodbye to his grandfather and now, to her, and her heart was breaking for not only herself but for him as well.

knew that Elio’s death was weighing on Tony, but she never expected him to push her out of his life the way that he had. After his fight with his mother, all she wanted to do was be there for him, but he had entirely different plans.

She packed her bags, not leaving behind anything because the idea of having to face Tony any time soon was painful. Rocco helped her load her stuff in his truck and she followed him over to his place around the corner. She never realized that he lived so close to Tony and the gym.

She got out of her car and looked his place over. “Your house is nice,” she said mostly to herself.

“Thanks,” he said. “I bought it with the winnings from my first fight. I don’t have much furniture, but I do have a spare room.” She didn’t want to ask him about that while he was offering her a place to stay until she could find another affordable apartment —which might take some time.

“Are you sure that this is okay?” she asked. “I don’t want to invade your home or your life.”

“No worries,” Rocco said. “I don’t really have a life outside of the ring and honestly, I’m hardly ever here—so invade away. You know he’s hurting, and that’s why he’s acting this way, right?” Rocco asked. She did know that, but right now, she was having trouble getting all the horrible things that Tony said out of her mind.

“I know that, but it’s going to take time for me to get over what he said to me,” she whispered.

“I get that, but be patient with him, . Tony is the best person I know, and he just lost the man who raised him. He made Tony who he is now,” Rocco said.

“I already know all of this, Rocco. I just can’t believe that he tossed me away like I was yesterday’s trash. He walked away from me so easily, and I just thought that I meant more to him. I was wrong, and it’s going to take me some time to get over that.”

“Take all the time that you need, ,” Rocco insisted. “You can stay here as long as you need.”

“Thank you,” she breathed, “I know that me being here puts you in the middle between Tony and me.”

“Not at all. I knew what I was getting into when I offered to let you stay with me. Tony acted like an ass, but he will eventually come around and will want to know that you’re safe. Plus—you’ve kind of grown on me,” he teased.

giggled, “You’ve kind of grown on me too,” she admitted. The day’s events were starting to weigh on her, and she suddenly felt ready to drop. “Would you mind if I unpacked your truck tomorrow? I’m suddenly exhausted.”

“No problem. Let’s get you settled, and I’ll bring your stuff in,” he offered.

“You don’t have to do that,” she insisted. “You’ve already done so much to help me. Just leave it and I can do it tomorrow.”

“Well, we can stand here and argue about who’s going to unpack my truck or you can get some shut eye,” he said. knew that shut-eye was going to win, and taking Rocco’s help wouldn’t be such a bad thing—especially after the horrible day that she had. She was going to have to get up before dawn to be at the bakery. She was a business owner now, thanks to Elio, and she was going to work her ass off to prove that he had made the right choice in giving her the bakery.

“Shut eye,” she said, “and thank you. I’ll bring you something home from the bakery tomorrow.”

“Not necessary, but if it helps, I like bear claws,” Rocco said. She giggled and followed him into the house, carrying her overnight bag with everything that she’d need for the next twenty-four hours. She’d unpack tomorrow after she closed the bakery, but for now, she was going to get some much-needed sleep.

had spent most of the morning in the kitchen, baking her heart out, but mostly crying at the fact that Elio wasn’t ever going to come bursting through the back door and grumble something about being hungry. The man was always hungry, but now, she’d never see the joy on his face when she’d hand him a glazed donut—his favorite baked good. He said that his wife used to make them for him, and somehow, had perfected the recipe.

She kept watching the clock and didn’t miss the reason. Even if she told herself that she wasn’t waiting for Tony, she was. He usually showed up at six in the morning, but when he still wasn’t there at seven, she guessed that he wasn’t coming in. That worked for her because she didn’t need him causing trouble in her bakery.

Spending the night without him was harder than she thought that it would be. She had only been living with him for a few months, yet she had gotten used to having him wrap his arm protectively around her and pull her into his body to sleep. She tossed and turned for a few hours, even though she was dead tired, sleep just wouldn’t come. When she finally figured out that she missed having Tony lying next to her, she cried herself to sleep and woke up feeling even more drained and now had puffy eyes to boot.

“Sorry I’m late,” Tony said. He burst in through the back door much as Elio used to and scared the hell out of her. yelped and nearly jumped out of her skin. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” Tony refused to look at her, and she hated how awkward things felt just being in the same room together.

“Why are you here?” asked, walking over to the sink to wash the dough from her fingers.

“I’m here to work,” he said as though nothing happened the day before and he hadn’t broken up with her.

“Um, you broke up with me yesterday. You called our relationship a mistake,” she reminded.

“I’m aware,” he said. “What does that have to do with me working here?” He pulled down his apron and tied it around his waist as though not listening to anything she was saying to him.

“I can’t do this right now,” she said. He had walked out on her yesterday, so why should she let him hang around her bakery today? “I have customers coming in twenty minutes. You need to leave, and we can discuss you working here another time.” Yeah, she sounded like a bitch, but just didn’t care.

“You can’t be serious,” Tony barked. “Are you firing me?”

“For now, yes,” she said, “if that is what you need to leave. You asked me to give you space, and now, I’m asking you for the same thing.” She watched as Tony seemed to work through everything in his head and could tell when he decided not to fight her. Tony grabbed his jacket, not bothering to take off his apron, and stormed out of the back door of the bakery. She heard his car’s engine roar to life and speed away. could tell that he was mad, but she wasn’t going to let that bother her right now. No, she had a bakery to run, and dealing with Tony’s little fit was going to have to wait for now.