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Denny didn’t say a word which meant no, she hadn’t.
“Okay. Make sure she doesn’t come back.”
“Will do.”
I looked out the window as we drove to Gus’ shop. She must’ve needed more money than they’d offered her. Not my problem. She’d been lucky that I’d allowed what I had. My instinct was to grab her by her hair and drag her outside. What man tried to build a life with a tramp that was clearly for everybody?
I wasn’t.
* * *
Gus trimmed my hair while I talked to Martina on the phone.
“I think you like her.” She teased.
“I think you like her.” I joked.
“I definitely do. She’s good for you. Keeps you on your toes. You have that look in your eyes when you stare at her.”
“I don’t stare, Tina.”
“You do. She knows it, too. She smiled at you every time she caught you being googly eyed over her.”
“Is this the reason why you called me?” I laughed at her match making attempt. I knew I was into Simone, but until it was concrete I’d tell her nothing.
“Partly. The other is because of you and Max. You’ve got to get him off the streets. It’s driving him nuts. You’re not Pop and that’s good for him. He really looks up to you and I don’t want you making him false promises.”
“He told you.”
“Of course he did. I’m his best friend.”
I snickered.
“I’m yours too.”
She had a point. I didn’t trust anybody else.
“Look, Tina.”
“No, look, Beni. He’s capable of better things. He’s done with all that other crap. It’s not his fault that Pop kept you two apart so it’s time that you changed all that.”
“What do you mean ‘kept us apart’?”
“You were the golden boy. I wonder if you’re so much like him that you’ve convinced yourself that Max would just be okay.”
“Tina, what the hell are you talking about?”
“You’re not this stupid, Beniamino.”
“And you’re calling me by my first name. What gives, Tina?”
“Stop by when your done. Max is at the door. He’ll be gone by then.” She hung up the phone leaving me alone to wonder what the hell it she was talking about.
Infuriating women seemed to be the one weakness I had. I went to her house wondering if I wanted to know anything she would tell me. Why had Massimo never told me himself? My father was a man of secrets but I’d been privy to a lot of them. What had he kept from me?
I entered Martina’s and she came downstairs while I raided her refrigerator for leftovers.
“Microwave.” She nodded in the direction of it.
