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A light tap interrupted Eddie’s thoughts. He frowned.
“Yeah.”
Marco peered around the door.
“You wanted to see me, Eddie?”
Eddie waved Marco in. “Sit down.”
Marco sat in one of the chairs in front of Eddie’s desk, folded his hands across his waist, and waited for Eddie to finish what he was working on.
When he was finished, Eddie looked up.
“We gotta’ talk, Marco.”
Marco flipped his hands open and shut. “Okay.”
“I need you around here,” Eddie said, leaning back. “Can’t wait for you while you’re at your other job.”
Marco frowned as he glanced sideways at Eddie. “I don’t know, Eddie. I need that money.”
“How much?”
“What?”
“How much you makin’—at that garage?”
Marco shrugged and twisted his mouth. “It’s embarrassin’, but I make about thirty-eight K.”
Eddie leaned his elbows on the desk. “That’s it?”
Marco nodded.
Eddie scratched his head, thinking. “I’ll pay you double what you’re making, plus bonuses. Cash.”
Marco’s eyes popped. He leaned forward as a grin crossed his face. “What? Are you kiddin’ me?”
Eddie shook his head. “I don’t kid about money. I’m serious.” He threw the pen on his desk. “This is bullshit. I need you when I need you. I can’t wait around for my rides.”
Marco looked up at the ceiling for a second. “Wow. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say ‘yes.’”
“Kate—”
“Kate’s gonna’ love this. It’s good fuckin’ money. I pay on time and in cash. Go tell her. I’ll let you lovebirds talk it over. Let me know what she says tomorrow. We can start this thing fulltime as soon as you ditch the other job.”
Marco stood and reached over the desk to shake Eddie’s hand. “Thanks. This is great, really. I’ll talk to Kate and let you know tomorrow, alright?”
“You do that. And tell Kate I said hello, will ya’?”
Marco nodded and turned to leave.
“Saw her earlier today. Kate. She was lookin’-fa’ you.”
Marco turned back to Eddie. “Oh, right, yeah. She had some stuff to talk to me about.”
“Renzo. Soccer stuff.”
Marco nodded again, shifting his feet.
“How long they play that here—Soccer? I mean, winter’s comin’.”
“They’ll finish up soon,” Marco said. “Sometime in October, I think. Playoffs and stuff.”
Eddie smiled.
Marco reached out his hand. “Hey, maybe you could come to one of his games. He’s really good.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“I’d like that,” Eddie said. “Gives me a chance to get to know him, right?”
“Right. I’ll let you know when the next game is.”
“Good.”
“Thanks again, Eddie.”
“Ya’ welcome. It’ll be good.”
“Oh, and hey,” Marco added. “Kate mentioned having you over for dinner sometime.”
“That’d be great,” Eddie said. “Let me know when and I’ll be there.”
“Yeah, I will.”
Marco left and Eddie again spent more time thinking about Kate. Kate and her nice little family.
