Page 23 of Until August

“They love you,” Frankie said. “And that’s the most important thing. You shouldn’t take that for granted.”

He sighed and dropped the subject. I got the feeling they’d had this discussion before.

We made small talk, which wasn’t exactly my forte, so they kept the conversation going while I ate the rest of my food. When I was done, I checked the time on my phone. If I wanted to get to Nicola’s on time, I’d have to leave now. “Sorry to eat and run, but I have to go.” I slid out of the booth and reached for my wallet.

“Your money’s no good here,” Rio said, and I tipped my chin in thanks. “We should do it again sometime. Maybe meet up for a couple of beers. Or come over to our place for a barbecue or something.” He looked at Frankie, who smiled and nodded.

“Thanks for lunch. Good to see you again. And nice to meet you,” I told Frankie.

“You too,” Frankie said. “I’ll walk out with you. I’m going to the gym.”

Rio scanned the restaurant before we walked out the door into the early afternoon sunshine and stopped on the sidewalk.

“Good luck with the job,” Rio said. “Where’s the restaurant?”

I took a few steps back as two kids whizzed past on skateboards. “Costa del Rey.”

Frankie did a double take. “You live in Costa del Rey?”

“Yeah. Just moved there a few weeks ago.” I pushed my hand through my hair and looked down the street toward my truck, ready to leave. Depending on traffic, it would take an hour or more to get back to Costa del Rey, so I was already pushing it. I hated being late. In my book, arriving any time after one-thirty was considered late. “I need to get go—”

Frankie cut me off. “What’s the name of the restaurant?” There was an edge to her tone like the answer might mean something to her.

I hesitated before answering. “Nicola’s at The Surf Lodge.”

Frankie shook her head and laughed bitterly. “Of course it is,” she muttered. “Send Nicola my love.” She sounded like she meant the opposite, and her next words confirmed it. “On second thought, tell her to go to hell. It’s where she belongs.” Frankie turned on her heel and strode away.

What the hell?

I turned to Rio and raised my brows. He sighed and scrubbed his hand over his face. “Sorry about that. It’s a touchy subject. Nicola is married to Frankie’s brother,” he added as if that would explain things.

Curiosity got the best of me, and I couldn’t help but ask the obvious. “And they don’t get along?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “They used to be close, but they had a falling out about two years ago and haven’t spoken since.” He looked down the street as Frankie disappeared around the corner. “Any mention of Nicola, and she fucking loses it.”

“Sorry I mentioned it.”

“Nah, man. You had no way of knowing.”

“Go check on her.” I clapped my hand on his shoulder. “And thanks again for the tacos.”

“Anytime.”

We headed in opposite directions, and my phone rang when I reached my truck. I checked the screen as I slid behind the wheel and put my phone on speaker, setting it on the dash so I could talk to Nash while I drove.

“Hey bro, how’s Peaches?”

I chuckled as I backed out of my spot and merged into traffic. “Good from afar but far from good.”

“As long as she gets the job done. Speaking of jobs, have you got one yet?”

“Working on it.” I hung a left at the light and followed the signs for the I-5 North. “I’ve got a trial shift. Just heading there now.”

“You good for money?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” After I’d been released from prison, I was mandated to ninety days in a halfway house in LA. I wasn’t a drug addict, never had been, but I’d been treated like one. While living there, Nash gave me a job on his construction crew. I’d earned decent money, but it wouldn’t last much longer.

Which was why I really needed this job. I had every intention of telling Nicola the truth. But only after I’d had a chance to prove myself. By then, maybe it wouldn’t matter as much.