Mr. September

by Bailey Bradford

  Enzo had said his parents were addicts, but somehow, Tony hadn’t grasped that meant they weren’t around. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t pry.”

  Enzo shrugged. “It’s fine. I’ve taken care of Nat since I was eighteen and our folks split. We’re better off without them. They wouldn’t have been able to handle it when Nat got sick before.”

  Something cold and greasy squiggled in Tony’s belly. “She was sick?”

  Enzo finished getting dressed and turned to him. “Yes. She had leukemia six years ago. She’s fine now and maybe I shouldn’t be so nervous because she’s shown no sign of reoccurrence, but every time she feels bad, is nauseated or hurts, I…I worry. That she’s sick enough to not want to stay with her friends is concerning.”

  “Yes, it would be.” Tony was processing what Enzo had said. “Ina had cancer. She was just cleared a few weeks ago.”

  “I know.” Enzo started for the bedroom door. “Hector talked about her and you when we were doing the calendar, and I saw y’all before.”

  “At the restaurant,” Tony filled in.

  Enzo slanted him a look. “And at the hospital. I’m a janitor there.”

  Tony frowned. “You didn’t tell me which one. I’m sorry, did I ignore you or something there? I don’t remember seeing you.”

  Enzo laughed, and this time, there was a bitter tinge to the sound. “That’s how it always is. No one notices the janitors or staff not wearing scrubs and carrying a stethoscope.”

  Tony opened his mouth up to argue, then found that he had nothing to base his protest on. If Enzo had seen him at the hospital, Tony hadn’t been aware of it. Then again… “That’s not fair, Enzo. My daughter had cancer. I was focused on her.”

  Enzo’s shoulders slumped and he turned to Tony. “You’re right, that wasn’t fair of me at all. I’m…a little sensitive about it. Being a janitor, I mean. I know how stressful it is, having someone you love fighting that battle. I’ve gone through it with Nat. There’s no excuse for me being an asshole to you. I’ll get an Uber—”

  “No.” Tony hesitated then went with his impulse, placing a hand on Enzo’s shoulder. “Don’t. I’ll take you home. I understand what you’re saying, about being an invisible person while working. And you’re right. As much as I hate to admit it, I’m not certain I’d have looked beyond a doctor or nurse, not because I think anyone is lesser if they aren’t holding those jobs. I just, I see who I’m looking for, I guess, and that makes me willfully ignorant of other people. You’re not the asshole here.”

  “I am and I really need to get home.” Enzo had his phone in his hand.

  Tony panicked. He didn’t want Enzo to be gone from his life, not yet. “Come on, I’ll get you there faster.”

  Once they were in the car and Tony had the directions on his phone, he worked up enough nerve to ask a question he’d been suppressing. “Do you think we could see each other again?”

  Enzo’s expression, which had been one of worry, was replaced by one of surprise. “Hook up?”

  Tony swallowed back a lump in his throat that was, he assumed, caused by nervousness. “Or a date?”

  “A…” Enzo glanced away. “A date? Like, go out to dinner or something?”

  “Whatever you’d want to do,” Tony quickly filled in. “It doesn’t have to be dinner. My parents or my sisters will be happy to watch Ina for a few hours if you want to go see a movie or hit up a museum.” God, because nothing says I’m a nerd like asking a gorgeous guy to go to a museum. “Or we could go to one of the Spurs games, or—”

  “Yes.”

  “Yes?” Tony tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “To the Spurs game?”

  “To any of it.” Enzo cleared his throat. “I should warn you, though, I might have a chip on my shoulder about my jobs and I don’t have a lot of free time because of them. And I’ll insist on splitting the cost of whatever we do.”

  Tony nodded, wishing he could look at Enzo but unwilling to take his focus off the road. “Of course. If you let me know when you’ll have an evening or on weekends, if it’s during the day, we can do something together.”

  “I still want to fuck you.”

  Tony’s entire body went hot with arousal. “I want that, too.” He just thought that he and Enzo both deserved…more. “Is Enzo short for Lorenzo?”

  “It is. Did you change the subject on purpose?” Enzo asked. “To avoid talking about sex?”

  “Actually, yes, I did, because I’ve come twice and my dick is trying its best to get hard again, all from you saying you want to fuck me.” Tony laughed and signaled to turn. “If we keep talking about that, I’ll have a wreck.”

  “Wouldn’t want that to happen,” Enzo murmured. “You know, you don’t have to take me on a date to get laid.”

  Tony’s gut clenched. He needed to step up to the plate or go home. As difficult as it would be, Enzo was worth moving out of his comfort zone. “That wouldn’t be why we go out. I want to talk to you, laugh with you, see if we can have more than sex, because I know, just from what happened between us tonight, that sex won’t be a problem for us.”

  The GPS app told him to turn in a quarter of a mile. Tony wished he’d turned the volume down. “I don’t know what I want, or what you want,” he continued once the phone was silent. “I’d like to see if we couldn’t find a little piece of happiness for us both, though. Whatever that might be—fucking, dating, both, neither.” Wait, not neither!

  “Okay. I…I’d like that,” Enzo said, his voice soft and hesitant. “I’d kind of figured I’d be alone until I get Nat through college, maybe longer. Raising a teenager isn’t cheap.”

  “No, I imagine it isn’t.” Who was there to raise and support you when you were Nat’s age? Tony didn’t ask. He was afraid he knew the answer and if Enzo wanted to confide in him, he would, hopefully.

  “She’s so smart, too. Not like me. She’s got those school-smarts that mean she can end up being a doctor or anything else she wants to do.” Enzo chuckled. “I scraped through school and was lucky to graduate. I’m not stupid, but I don’t learn the way most people do. I need to get involved and do what I’m trying to learn, not sit in a class and listen or read about it.”

  “There are different learning styles and it’s unfortunate that most schools only follow one method.” Tony had turned onto the road his GPS app had told him to and had to take a right a moment later. “I had a hard time in school until, when I was in third grade, my mom read about an actor being dyslexic. She thought it sounded like the same problems I had with reading and she found a place to test me for it. Turns out she was right. I’m dyslexic, and it’s only because of her that I got help and the schools were forced to make accommodations for me. The elementary school I went to was good about it, but junior high was hell and high school was only moderately better.”

  “I didn’t know you’re dyslexic. But then again, why would I?” Enzo asked. “We haven’t talked much.”

  “No, we haven’t, but I’d like to rectify that. I think you’re a very interesting, strong man, Enzo. I’m intrigued.” Tony also had a crush on him, which was both amusing and scary.

  “Heh. Don’t think anyone’s described me like that before. Thanks. It’s nice to be seen as someone, a person, rather than an object.” Enzo grunted. “You’d be surprised how some jackasses think any of the jobs I work mean I’m eager to fuck around. I’m not. I get horny, yeah. Who doesn’t? Sex is personal, though. I’m a little old-fashioned, despite having gone home with you tonight. If I hadn’t felt more than a physical attraction, I don’t think I’d have done it. My house is around the next corner, third one on the right. Er, don’t linger in this neighborhood.”

  Tony was flattered, and he wanted to ask Enzo what the ‘more’ was that he’d felt for him.

  “It’s not a good area,” Enzo was saying. “We’re okay here and you probably won’t get carjacked, but just be alert.”

  That snapped Tony out of his personal musings. “I probably won’t get carjack
ed?”

  Enzo snickered and tapped the window. “That place. That’s home, and I’m kidding. You looked like your head was in the clouds. Thought the carjacking thing might jolt you back to Earth. Seriously, though, be careful. We have some gang problems here, although I don’t think it’s any worse than the rest of the city.”

  Tony’s skin prickled with unease. He trusted Enzo, however, and pulled up to the curb in front of a small blue house. Even though it was dark, the porch light illuminated the darker blue trim and the plants on the porch. The place was well-maintained and he’d bet Enzo kept it clean inside.

  “Can I have your number?” Tony rushed out as he put the car in park. He picked up his phone and handed it to Enzo.

  Enzo took it and started tapping at the screen. “You can call me or text me whenever you want. I might not be able to answer right away, but I will when I get the chance.” He gave the phone back to Tony. “Call or text me so I have your number, too.”

  “I’ll text. I have an app that helps a lot with reading on my phone and sending texts.” Plus, he figured Enzo would want to get inside and talk to his sister. “Thanks for everything.”

  Enzo smiled and unbuckled. He leaned over and kissed Tony’s cheek. “Thank you. I’m sorry I have to split, but…I’m looking forward to seeing you again.”

  Tony’s grin was instantaneous. “Ditto. I mean, same, me, too. You know what I mean.”

  “I do.” Enzo caressed his cheek, then opened the door. “Be safe.”

  “You, too.” Tony waited and watched Enzo walk up to the house, saw the door open and a dark-haired girl peer past Enzo as he went inside.

  Tony waved at her then started the drive home, happy and anticipating seeing Enzo again.

  Chapter Eight

  “Who was that?” Nat asked before the door was even shut behind him. “Were you out with a guy? You should have told me. I could have stayed by myself.”

  Enzo opened his mouth to speak, but Nat kept talking.

  “God, I tell you to have a personal life, then you go out and, I mean.” She pointed to the clock on the wall. “It’s only ten-fifteen. Did he give you a ride home from work? No. No, you sounded sleepy when you answered the phone, and your lips are puffy.” She blushed and covered her mouth with one hand. “You were getting—”

  “Nat!” Enzo was going to die of embarrassment. “What I was doing isn’t something you need details of. How do you feel? What’s wrong?”

  She lowered her hand. “I don’t want details, ew. What sibling wants to hear about that kind of stuff? I just meant, I don’t know. Was it a date? Are you seeing him again? What’s his name? Where does he work? Is he cute? I couldn’t quite make out what he looked like, but I think he waved at me. Was that a BMW he was driving?”

  Enzo took note of Nat’s complexion. She looked paler than usual and there were dark shadows under her eyes. “Nat, don’t worry about him. What’s wrong? I’ve asked twice. Do I need to take you to urgent care? I can’t schedule you in with Dr. Santiago until Monday. I’ll call and leave a message for her—”

  “Enzo.” Nat came over and hugged him. “I don’t have leukemia again. I’m tired and there’s a stomach bug going around. I wasn’t the only one who left Judi’s house. Everyone who was supposed to stay over did. Judi’s parents had to split us up and drop us off. We all felt queasy and gross.”

  Enzo leaned back and pressed a hand to her brow. “You feel clammy.”

  “It’s south Texas. Everyone’s clammy because, you know. Humidity.” Nat smirked at him. “I think the only thing that’ll make me feel better is hearing all about the guy who dropped you off. And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry I called you. I just freaked out because I didn’t know where you were. Janet said you’d left work already and when the bus came and went, I was afraid something had happened to you.” She hugged him tighter. “You’re my favorite person, Enzo. I got scared. But I want you to have fun and if that includes a rich boyfriend, go for it. Just, maybe let me know if you’re going to be out? You’d ask the same of me.”

  “No, I’d ask you not to date until you’re thirty, but you wouldn’t listen to me,” Enzo groused.

  Nat laughed and stepped away from him. “I might. So far, I’ve been attracted to exactly zero people. I’m really beginning to think I’m Ace. If so, okay. I don’t need no man—or woman—to complete me.”

  Enzo knew better than to tell her not to worry about labels. They’d had that discussion long ago. Some people needed them. He supposed at times, he did, too. What he didn’t want was for his sister to feel limited, but she was smart and aware of herself in ways he’d never been. She also knew he’d support her no matter what.

  “I love you,” he said. There was no need to add anything to it. No conditions were attached to his love.

  “Enough to tell me about your man?” Nat waggled her eyebrows then blanched and burped. “Oh no!”

  She ran for the bathroom. Enzo hoped she made it, but if not, tonight wouldn’t be the first time he’d cleaned up after her stomach turned on her.

  He went into the kitchen and started the tea kettle. He preferred peppermint tea when he was queasy, but peppermint always made Nat sneeze. Brushing her teeth could be an adventure in mirror-cleaning if he bought the wrong kind of toothpaste.

  Enzo took down the box of licorice tea bags and repressed a shudder. He hated licorice. Even the scent of it offended him. For his sister, he’d deal with it.

  Doesn’t mean I have to drink that tea. He took out a matcha green tea bag and a hibiscus one to make his combo tea favorite. The hibiscus was tart and would make his mouth pucker if he didn’t add some honey to the mix, which was why he always kept some stocked.

  “That was utterly disgusting.” Nat huffed as she entered the kitchen. “I think whoever starts a virus, whoever gets it first, needs to do all the puking.”

  Enzo pulled out a chair for her. “Sit. That’d be harsh for the poor person who got it first then, wouldn’t it? I mean, it’s not like that guy or gal deliberately infected themselves.”

  Nat flapped a hand at him and leaned against the wall after she sat down. “Don’t be logical. I’m miserable with puke-cooties and need unhindered sympathy.”

  “You need what?” He held up her tea bag. “This nasty crap?”

  “You know it’s awesome.” Nat sighed. “Tell me about your man.”

  “He’s not mine,” Enzo protested, turning away. “I don’t know him very well. Met him a couple of times before tonight. He’s a friend of Hector’s and, in fact, Tony’s the reason Hector agreed to do the calendar.”

  “Oh, a friend of the guy who’s Mr. August? Is he hot, too?” Nat asked.

  “Yes. Very.” Enzo put her bag in her favorite cup, a fanciful piece of china he’d picked up for her sixteenth birthday. “His name is Tony and he’s got a daughter, Ina. She’s four, I think, and she just finished her cancer treatment.”

  “Oh, gosh. Four? Poor baby girl. Is she going to be okay?”

  That instant concern for someone she didn’t even know was one of the reasons he loved his sister so much. “She’s in remission, so I hope she will be. Strange that you and she both had cancer.”

  “Not really, when you consider what you just told me—that Hector did the calendar because of Tony. So you met him because of that.”

  Enzo glanced back at her. “That’s true. Still.”

  “Does he know about me?” Nat asked.

  “That you had leukemia, yeah.” Enzo turned his attention to the kettle as it began to whistle.

  “Are you going to tell him the rest?”

  He should have known she wouldn’t let it drop. “There’s no reason to right now.”

  “Only that it’d probably make him fall in love with you, if he’s any decent kind of man at all,” Nat asserted.

  Enzo sputtered and spun around to face her. “What—why would you think he’d do that?”

  Nat looked at him as though he’d lost his marbles. “Enzo, come o
n! You’re the total package, and I’m not even talking about the way you look. You’ve got the biggest heart in the world, and if he doesn’t catch on to that fact after a couple of dates, he must not be too bright.”

  “I’m not special,” Enzo muttered. He pivoted back to the kettle then picked it up to pour the boiling water out. “Just a guy who did what any decent person would do.”

  “No, not any decent person would take care of a kid that wasn’t even blood-related,” Nat corrected. “You fought for me and didn’t let the state put me in foster care. Every day in the news, there are stories about kids being hurt and—”

  “Okay, Nat, I…I can’t handle hearing about that.” It broke his heart to hear or read news stories about abused children. “I don’t think loving you makes me anything special. Anyone who meets you loves you.”

  “That explains my dad, right?”

  The sarcastic question hit its mark. Enzo winced, rubbing his chest, working away the dull ache there. “Your dad and my mom are addicts. If he hadn’t lost his job, maybe things would be different.”

  “He didn’t love me enough to not use drugs and get hooked on them,” Nat argued. “And your mom… Enzo, we have—had—crappy parents.”

  “Addiction is an illness. I believe that in most cases, anyways.” He fixed his tea, then carried both cups to the table. “Here’s your nasty brew.”

  Nat wrinkled her nose at him. “Please. That hibiscus-matcha mix is what’s vile. There’s not enough honey in the world to make it palatable.”

  “Cheers.” Enzo raised his cup to her.

  Nat did the same.

  After he took a drink, he set his mug down. “Mom had told me she’d been addicted to heroin when she’d been a teenager. She got off the stuff when she found out she was pregnant with me.”

  “I didn’t know she was an addict before then. Before Dad,” Nat clarified. “You said you don’t know who your real father is.”

  “Mom was high most of the time before she got pregnant, and probably for a while after,” Enzo conceded. “I’m lucky not to have been affected by her drug use. She figured that was due to me being a shifter. Whoever my dad was, he’s a wolf shifter like she and I are. I asked her once if she had any idea, even a list of names. I wasn’t judging, but she looked miserable and said she’d been with whoever would give her money or a roof over her head. I didn’t ask her again.”