CHAPTER 26

 

“You bought me a car?” Grace stared at Sal for a moment then glanced back at the black Jetta parked in the restaurant’s parking lot.

She laughed. “What do you mean why not? You bought me a car.”

“I’m telling you, the restaurant can use the write-off.”

Hearing about write-off’s reminded her of Frank and his hotel. Her mom was still pushing the trip. “I can’t afford the insurance.”

Sal pulled her into his arms. “You won’t be paying for it.”

“You’re crazy. You can’t buy me a car and expect me to let you pay for the insurance.”

“Yes, I can. Remember I said I’d do anything for you?” He kissed her. “I’m not being as selfless as you think. I did this just as much for myself as I did for you. It’s for my own piece of mind, Grace. I hate knowing you’re on the bus.”

Grace pulled away from him and walked over to the car. “I don’t even have a license.”

“Do you know how to drive?”

She ran her fingers over the side of the car as she walked alongside it. “Yeah, one of my mom’s ex-husbands taught me. I passed all the classes I needed to and took all the tests, just not the main driving one.” She glanced back at Sal, still unable to believe he’d done this. “By the time I was ready for it they were divorced. Her next husband drove a motorcycle. No way was I testing in that and since I didn’t have a car, I never bothered.”

She lifted an eyebrow, remembering what Taylor had said about the way Sal had looked at him. Then she remembered his reaction to Frank showing up at the restaurant. She really hoped this car thing had nothing to do with him not wanting her to spend time with Joey and Taylor. “I’ll make an appointment with the DMV.”

Sal smiled satisfied. “Good.”

 

~*~

 

Sal muttered under his breath as he finished up the schedule for the next week. A few days after he’d gifted Grace her car, she brought up going out with her friends. “I’ve been spending a lot of time with your family and friends and I love it, but I’d also love for us to spend time with Taylor and Joey.”

He should’ve known Grace was too smart to not pick up on him hoping the car would also make her less dependent on Joey and Taylor. He didn’t realize he was still muttering until Alex walked in the back. “What’s your problem?”

Sal didn’t even look at him. “Nothing. I just gotta hurry and get out of here.”

“Where you headed?” Alex opened up the cabinet.

Sal turned to face Alex. “To get Grace. We’re hanging out with her friends tonight.”

He grabbed his phone off the desk and searched for his keys. “I think I’d still have a problem with it. Some of those guys swing both ways.”

Sal stopped and squeezed his eyes shut. Damn. He and Alex did think alike. He never thought it possible. He hated to admit it, but deep down he did worry about that. He’d justified the ridiculous paranoia to him being so crazy about Grace, but he didn’t like to think he and Alex thought the same when it came to women. Geez.

“Yeah, well I trust Grace. And she’s hardly around them anymore anyway. Which is why we’re doing this tonight.” And if Sal had to be honest with himself a part of him was actually anxious to get to know them—make sure once and for all that he didn’t have anything to worry about.

Alex shook his head. He obviously didn’t agree with Sal but who cared. Sal knew he could trust Grace. All the way to Grace’s apartment, Sal tried to think positive. He was determined to make tonight a good thing. These guys were a part of her life and it wasn’t fair for him to ask that she just forget about them.

Both she and Rose came out after he texted her to tell her he was there. They stopped to pick up a twelve pack of beer and some chips. Then they drove to a slightly better neighborhood than Grace’s about ten minutes away and he parked his car on the street, making sure he set the alarm.

Grace smirked when he clicked it twice to double check that it was set. “What?”

“It’s not La Jolla is it?”

“I didn’t say anything.” The last thing he wanted was for her to think he was judging. He was just being careful—nothing wrong with that.

Joey greeted them at the door, hugging and kissing Grace. “I finally get to formally meet you, Sal.” He held his hand out. “I’m Joey.”

Sal shook his hand. “Nice to finally meet you too, Joey”

They walked in. Taylor was in the tiny kitchen, working on something on the counter. “Hey you guys. Just in time. Grace isn’t the only one with some bartending skills. Don’t worry, Rosie. I made something special for you, too.”

“Grace, I told you not to bring anything,” Joey scolded as he took the beer from Sal and the chips from Grace.

Sal glanced around the colorful apartment. Admittedly, he’d expected something more flamboyant. But it was tastefully decorated with pictures and paintings of bakeries and coffee shops. As small as the apartment was they’d used every inch of it quite stylishly without making look overcrowded and their furniture matched their polished wood flooring, giving the whole place an aura of elegance.

Taylor came around the small counter separating the kitchen from the front room. He wore camouflage carpenter shorts that had a few strategically placed rips in them. They hung just off his waist and the muscle shirt he wore looked a size too small. The pitcher he held was very big and Sal knew just by the color, the orange slices and different berries floating around just what it was. “You have to try my Sangria. It’s the best.” He glanced at Rose. “I made pink lemonade for you, sweetie.”

Sal noticed how comfortable Rose was and how she made herself at home, immediately, walking into the kitchen to grab a glass.

Taylor poured everyone but Rose a tall glass of Sangria. It was damn good. Sal nodded and gave Taylor the praise he was obviously waiting for. “Good stuff.”

“Hors d’oeurves!” Joey called from the kitchen.

He brought a great looking spread of different appetizers. “Wow, that looks delicious.” Sal had to admit.

Joey set it down on the coffee table in front of Grace and Sal then put his hand over his mouth. “I gotta tell you, Sal. I don’t know how Grace does it. I’ve been a wreck all day, knowing I’d be cooking for you.”

Both Grace and Sal laughed. “Joey, I told you we could just order pizza. You didn’t have to do all this,” Grace said, reaching for an appetizer.

“Are you kidding me, Grace? And miss showin’ off for one of the owners of Moreno’s? I don’t think so. Wait ‘til you see what’s for dinner.”

“Well, I appreciate it and even though you didn’t have to, I’m already impressed.” Sal reached over and put a fork through something that looked like a cheese puff. Everyone stared at him as he bit into it. It turned out to be a crab puff and it was delicious. He lifted his other hand and connected the tips of his thumb and forefingers and held it out for Joey as he chewed; once done chewing he wiped his mouth. “God, that’s good!”

After going through most of the pitcher of Sangria and munching on all the appetizers, Grace and Joey were getting a little giggly. Since they were both just about done with school, they were reminiscing about some of the things they’d gone through.

“Remember when they teamed you up with Herman The German for that one presentation?” Grace laughed.

“Ah shit. I had to hear about that for weeks.” Taylor rolled his eyes, pouring himself another glass.

Joey didn’t laugh. He looked pissed. “He asked me, ‘What means blackened?’ Are you fucking kidding me? What third year culinary student has to ask that?”

Taylor smirked, shaking his head. “Apparently the guy was short with a bad hair cut and a weird mustache, so these two decided he looked like Hitler. Hence, Herman the German, but he was as Mexican as they are. I hope you know you have a spoiled snob on your hands.”

“I am not!” Grace protested.

“She has every right to be a snob!” Joey sat up straight. “She out cooked even the professors. God, I loved it when she showed them a thing or two and left them speechless. But spoiled? Never!” He put his arm around her. “My baby girl has worked so hard to get where she is.”

Suddenly both Joey and Grace teared up. “All right that’s enough Sangria for both of you,” Taylor said.

Sal slipped his hand into Grace’s and squeezed it. She pulled out of Joey’s embrace and wiped her eyes. “We’re so stupid,” she said smiling.

“I know. I know.” Joey stood up. “Taylor get that stuff away from me—you know what it does to me. And I haven’t even finished showing off for Sal.”

“You want some water too, Gracie?” Taylor smiled at her sweetly. “Because that’s what Joey is getting for the next half hour or so, or at least until he has a full meal.”

Gracie smirked at him then glanced back at Sal. “Yeah, I better.”

Dinner was impressive—oven roasted sea bass with ginger and lime sauce. It was all very impressive and Joey had the presentation down to an art. Sal was also glad it wasn’t anything heavy. After over-helping himself to the appetizers, he couldn’t take anything too heavy and he knew Joey would be watching closely as he ate.

They ate in the front room with dinner served on the coffee table. When they were all done, Taylor cleared the table and Joey brought out the cards. Grace leaned against Sal. “I’m so stuffed,” she whispered.

Taylor brought out a silver poker chip suitcase and started counting stacks of chips. “Don’t get obnoxious, Joey,” he warned, as he continued to count.

Joey stared at him while shuffling the cards with one hand. The cards moved through his fingers almost magically. “Whatever do you mean, Taylor?”

Gracie laughed. “You’re such a show off.”

As expected, Joey was the hands down star player, beating them all several times. Taylor had made another batch of Sangria and Grace was getting giggly again.

Joey passed out another round of cards. “Did Grace tell you about the time we went to Vegas?”

“No, Joey!” Grace laughed, holding her cards in front of her face.

“It’s okay, honey.” Joey peered over his cards. “Now we know. Never mix what Gracie drinks.”

Gracie covered her face with the cards and groaned. “Don’t tell him!”

“What?” Sal’s curiosity had piqued.

“Let’s just say.” Joey added another three chips to the pot. “We know Gracie’s talents are in the kitchen, not on stage singing Pat Benatar.”

“No, it was ‘See me if you’re best off!” Taylor sang loudly. “You’d think she’d sing something she at least knew the words to the chorus.”

Gracie buried her face in the cushions of the sofa, laughing uncontrollably. Sal had never seen her like this but it was nice to see a different side of her.

“In her defense, Sal.” Joey patted Grace’s leg. “At that point she wouldn’t have known the words to Happy Birthday.”

“So why’d you let me get up there?” Grace sat up, wiping tears of laughter away.

“Let you?” Joey stared at her like she was crazy. “I wasn’t about to tackle you.” He turned to Sal. “Gracie should come with a warning label. ‘Alcohol may cause her to believe she can sing.’”

Grace fell into another fit of laughter. She threw her cards in. “I’m out! Joey, I can’t believe you told him!” She wiped more tears away.

By the time the night was over, Sal was convinced these two were nothing more than true friends who cared deeply for not only Grace, but Rose as well. He understood now why Grace was so close to them. They were fun to be around and there was no doubt how sincere their feelings for her were.

Joey and Taylor walked them all the way out to Sal’s car. “Sal, I have to say something to you,” Joey declared once at his car.

“Joey, don’t start,” Taylor warned.

Joey lifted an eyebrow. “Taylor, she’s our girl and I’m just looking out.” He turned back to Sal. “I have never seen her so happy.” His face fell into the same grimace it had when he’d teared up earlier.

“Here we go,” Taylor said, putting his arm around Joey’s shoulder.

Grace brought her hand to her mouth. Sal pulled her to him and hugged her.

“I just wanna say,” Joey continued, “she means everything to us and we’re so glad she’s found someone that obviously makes her so happy. Please don’t ever hurt my baby girl.”

Sal took a deep breath, feeling a jolt of guilt in the pit of his stomach. “She means everything to me, too, Joe.” He kissed the top of Grace’s head. “I’ll do my best to do right by her.”

Grace dozed off on the ride home. Sal glanced in the mirror. “You mind spending the night at my place, Rose? There’s a bed in one of the extra bedrooms.”

Sal smiled and touched Grace’s cheek. More memories of his night in Vegas had come to him. The only thing he’d learned from them was that Melissa had been the one that walked him out of the bar. He still hadn’t heard a peep from her since she showed up at his place. He could only pray now things stayed that way.

 

~*~

 

Graduating from a small culinary school was nothing like doing so from a big college. The graduating class was less than fifty, but all Grace cared about was that she was finally done.

Sal filmed the entire ceremony, while her mother didn’t even try to hide her boredom, yawning obnoxiously several times then shaking her head as if it was near impossible to stay awake. Grace was a little surprised she’d actually showed up, but after the ceremony she found out why.

Sal drove them to the Marina where he surprised Grace with a dinner cruise exclusively for her and their friends and family. Everyone was there including Joey and Taylor. Grace was surprised even Sal’s parents made it. It was overwhelming.

Her mother was never one to pass up a free meal or in this case a very elegant dinner cruise. Grace knew Sal had paid for it all. She knew for sure her mother hadn’t. She was even more glad her step-dad hadn’t been in town for it.

Joey made a heartfelt toast that nearly had Grace in tears, to which she responded with her own toast for him. He had after all graduated also. When they finished dinner and everyone got up to enjoy their drinks and the view of the sunset, Grace stood on the deck of the yacht with Sal. He stood behind her, his hands on the rail caging her in. He kissed her neck softly. “I’m so proud of you,” he whispered.

Grace was in heaven. She never thought she could ever be this happy. Leaning her head against his chest, she took a deep breath. She could hardly wait for her future to begin.