He answered. “What happened?”

“I’m so stupid.” The tears were immediate.

“Why? Are you crying? Oh sweetie, what’s the matter?”

Somehow, through all the sniffing and whimpering she managed to tell him about what Oscar told her and the night before. She especially felt stupid about how she’d actually thought she felt a vibe from Sal. Then she told Joey about the Barbie doll that visited Sal today and how she’d spent nearly a half hour in the restroom crying like an idiot over this man who clearly is interested in bettering his restaurant; so of course he’s going to be nice to her if he thinks she’ll make a difference in the kitchen. “And then to top it all off, Frank, that man I told you my mom wants me to hang out with so that Ruben can get a job already, picks me up right at the door with roses.”

“Did Sal see?”

“Yes! And he asked me if Frank was g*y too. I was so embarrassed.”

“You see? Why would he ask something like that if he wasn’t interested in you?”

“I don’t know, Joey. But based on the women I’ve seen him with I’m definitely not his type. He’s going on a date with her this weekend. I can’t get caught up on a guy like this, but I’m afraid I already am. How do I stop this?”

She heard Joey exhale. “You don’t.”

“I have to!”

There was a knock on the door then her mom peeked in. “What’s wrong with you?”

Grace wiped her eyes. “Nothing, I just had a long day at work. Can you give me a minute? I’m on the phone.”

Her mom smiled. “I just wanted to tell you. Ruben starts working next week.”

Grace gave her a thumbs up but couldn’t manage much of a smile. “Good, ‘cause I’m done going out with him anymore.”

“We’ll talk later.”

Her expression said it all. Grace might be done but her mother wasn’t. She had more up her sleeve. Her mom closed the door and Grace apologized to Joey for the interruption.

“Okay lets think about this. You get one ride from a co-worker and that warrants a warning right off? He’s already questioned who me and Taylor were. He took you to be a part of something so intimate with his family and now he’s asking about the guy with the roses?”

Grace shook her head. “I can’t Joey. I have to stop reading so much into nothing. I’m being delusional and look what it’s doing to me. I’m a mess.”

“Why don’t you do this? Wait and see if he has anything more to say or ask about Frank tomorrow. Then casually ask him about the blonde bimbo and see if he gets the connection. If he’s so smart he should pick up on it.”

Grace threw the tissue in the small wastebasket by her bed. “The problem is he probably will ask about him but not for the reasons I’m thinking and I have to stop making more of it. It does me no good.”

“Then maybe hones and straight forward is the best way to go—enough of the wondering. If he asks you ask him why he wants to know and while you’re at it, ask him why he told your co-worker you’re off limits.”

Grace thought about it. Maybe Joey was right. What’s the worst thing that could happen? “You don’t think he’ll think I’m full of myself or worse think it’s laughable?”

“No and I’ll tell you this. I’m going to be dying to know what his reasoning is for saying you’re off limits. You’re a sexy mama, and you don’t give yourself enough credit, Grace. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to hear he is interested in something more with you.”

Grace blew her nose and wiped away the rest of her stupid tears. “Okay but if I do this and there are perfectly logical answers to my questions meaning he’s not interested you have to stop saying stuff like that. Promise me, because it’s already hard enough and I really, really have to get over this. I can’t afford to quit but if I have to, I will. ”

“You are not quitting, Grace. At least not until you have enough experience and you can a job somewhere better.”

Grace couldn’t even imagine working somewhere better than where she got to see Sal everyday.

She took a deep breath and gathered her thoughts. She really needed to get it together. Because there were other bigger things she had to focus on. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—let her feelings for Sal get in the way of her dream. The dream she’d originally set her sights on when she applied at Moreno’s in the first place.

~*~

Sal stopped at his parents on his way home to talk to his dad about the conference call he’d had that day but mostly because he needed the distraction. He couldn’t stop thinking about Grace and the date she was probably still on.

To his surprise, Alex was there. His mom had a whole dinner set up for him.

“Hey, how’s the family?”

Alex nodded as he took a bite of a king size burrito. Once done chewing he responded, “They were all sound asleep when I left. I needed to get some sleep myself. I just woke up, but I’m going back as soon as I’m done eating. The docs say they should be ready to come home in a couple of days.”

Sal had gone back the morning after they were born and was able to go in and see them up close. His nieces were absolutely beautiful.

“Salvador, I’m making you a burrito.”

“Mom, I’m good.”

“You’ll be better with a burrito.”