Biting her lip, she felt confused. The three were almost inseparable, so she couldn’t imagine why Nero and Vincent would want to leave when Amo didn’t.
“How come Nero and Vincent don’t like their jobs?”
Again, the wheels seemed to turn in Sal’s head as he tried to figure out the best way to place his words. “Nero and Vincent don’t like the view from the basement, but Amo doesn’t seem to mind.”
Hmm … must be too gloomy for them. “I can see that. Amo isn’t picky and is much easier to please over Nero and especially Vincent. Those two always have to get their way when we pick where to eat.”
“Yeah … Like I said, you should really ask Lucca about this stuff. I probably told you too much.”
“I don’t think Lucca would mind.” Or, she didn’t see why he would. She knew he would tell her if she was brave enough to ask.
“Well, if you tell him what we talked about, be sure to tell him that I told you Amo loves his job.” He winked. “Lucca’s the one who placed them there and would like to know at least one of them likes it.”
“I-I will.” By the way Sal was acting, something told her she might want to hold off asking Lucca about his job anytime soon.
“So, are you ready to start your calculus assignment, or is there something else you’re too afraid to ask Lucca?”
Chloe couldn’t believe it. Her fear of him had dissipated almost immediately when they had started talking. Sal seemed like the complete opposite of Lucca—so warm and inviting, and unlike what his deep black to blue eyes had told her.
Shaking off any remaining fear of him, she couldn’t believe she had thought Sal reminded her of …
Chloe opened her laptop, unable to even put Sal’s name in the same thought as a complete monster.
“Is something wrong, darlin’?” Lucca set his spoon down, watching her twirl hers in the homemade vegetable soup. “I can make you something else if you don’t like it.”
Chloe looked up from her soup, realizing she had traveled deep in her thoughts. “No, s-sorry. It’s really good. I was just thinking, is all.”
He watched her take a bite of her food with a fallen look on her face. “Did being with Sal still bother you after I left?”
“No, I liked him. He was nice.”
She liked how Lucca only questioned her misplaced feelings of Sal in the beginning and not the fact that Sal might have upset her or done something to her. It showed her how much Lucca trusted him and that she could trust Sal, too. The strong bond between the two was obvious. Just like Elle and I… Seeing Lucca and Sal together made her want to be with her best friend.
“Then tell me what’s wrong, darlin’. Is there something I can do for you?”
“I just miss Elle. We used to talk every day, and I feel like I haven’t talked to her in forever. I don’t even have a girl to talk to here, and I think it’s just making me miss her more and more.”
A deep, thoughtful breath came from his chest. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Really? “Really?”
“I can’t promise you anything, but I’ll see what I can do to make you more comfortable.”
It was strange to think he would do that, considering he was holding her captive. She was slowly starting to learn that he wanted her happy for some reason. She was grateful for whatever reason it was.
Smiling, she told him, “Thank you.”
After that, Chloe was able to fully enjoy the delicious meal. Dang, he’s really a good cook. She hadn’t had one bad meal since being here, and already she could see herself weirdly missing the food when she was finally set free.
“So, you liked Sal, huh?” he asked, grinning.
“Yes, he was really nice to me and patient while teaching me how to solve the problems.”
“Good.”
Looking over at him, she saw that Lucca didn’t seem surprised by her answer.
“You knew I would like him, didn’t you?”
“Yes, everyone likes Sal. I haven’t met a person who doesn’t like him, from the worst to the best types of people.”
Chloe didn’t doubt it. “He’s like a genius, isn’t he?”
Looking up from his food, he stared directly at her. “He’s not like a genius, darlin’; he is one.”
By the serious expression on his face, it was clear that Sal was even smarter than she believed to be possible. She just couldn’t believe the polar opposites took to one another.
She wasn’t sure if he would answer, but she was too curious not to ask, “Why did your father take him in?”
The question didn’t seem to bother him in the least. “Sal had lived on and off the streets with his mother since he was a baby, but by the time he was ten, his mother had OD’d. She had been dead a while before my father picked Sal up, and after that, he became family.”
“That was nice of your father.”
He nodded. “Yes, my father took to Sal. He liked him better than he ever liked me. Sal is definitely the son he always wanted.”
Sadness washed over her at his statement. She felt bad for the young boy who thought he wasn’t the son his father wanted.
“I’m sorry you felt that way.”
“Don’t be sorry, darlin’. It never bothered me. I was never much for feeling anything, especially toward my father. I was glad Sal was able to have a relationship with a father figure, even if it was mine. He deserved it more than me.”