Chapter 3

Casino Night in Jersey

Day 1

At breakfast Mel was snuggled up to Austin. Joe sat breakfast in front of them and tried not to barf. He so badly wanted to scream, "I've got another job I'm starting in a week!" He had tried to find the right time to talk to Mel, but with all the talk of the wedding…he kept getting migraines. He was eating Excedirns like tic-tacs.

His cell phone rang, and he recognized his mom's picture. Perfect timing.

"Hey Ma, what's up? Wait, what? What happened? Oh my God. No, I'm okay. Um, I'll get there as soon as I can."

"Joe?" Mel asked.

"My Grandma died."

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Joey lifted the tailgate and shoved his suitcase inside. He painstakingly hung his nicest suit, trying to keep it from wrinkling, when a pink and black zebra striped suitcase plopped on top on his jacket. He looked over, "What the hell, Burke? What are you doing?"

"I'm coming with you," she said just like they were going to Target.

"What? What about the kids?"

"They are going to stay here with Austin."

"Oh really? Well, in that case, we are not leaving. Ever."

"Relax. Look he's soon going to be their 'uncle' or 'whatever'. Time to see if he is ready for this ready-made family."

Bossy Mel ushered him over to the passenger side and opened the door for him. "Burke, you don't have to do this. And I can drive myself!" he protested.

This was a very bad idea. Three days with this woman he was crazy about…probably not good for his heart. In the last week he'd started putting up walls, silently getting ready to say goodbye to her forever. This would not be good for saying goodbye.

"Joe," she place and hand on his chest that stopped him cold. She looked directly into his eyes and spoke softly and sincerely, "I know. I know your Dad left, and it was just your Mom and your Grandma. She helped raise you as much as you helped raise Lennox and Ryder. I know what she meant to you. You are putting on this tough guy act, but…I know. I just, I just want to be there for you. Is that okay?"

Shit she could knock down walls fast. What the hell, it was just his heart. He blinked back tears. His throat was so thick he could barely mumble the words, "Okay."

"Good." Walking over to the driver's side, "Now, I am driving at least the first few hours. I think your phone is going to be blowing up, and you can just concentrate on your family. Okay?"

He looked at her over the top of the car, "You know how I feel about your driving through, right?" he teased.

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, I know. You can do everything better than me…blah blah blah." They both smiled, and as they got in and closed their doors.

They had nine hours together. They ate, listened to music, took turns driving and sleeping, but he never did find the right time to tell her he was quitting.

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The sun had just set when they pulled up to the modest little home where Joey had been raised. There were so many cars, they had to park two blocks down. Joey recognized most of the cars belonging to family and friends who were paying their respects. Joey stopped the car, put it in park, and then he reached down to take her hand. "I just want to say, thank you. This means, well, it means more than you know."

"Joe, you don't have to thank me. Friends are there for each other," she said giving his hand a squeeze. "Besides you've been my shoulder to lean on. Now it's time I return the favor." She smiled.

Joey knocked twice and opened the door. The house was full of family and friends offering a hand shake and a hug and 'I'm so sorry'. His mom came from the kitchen and gave a huge teary eyed to hug to Joey. "I love you, Son," she said with a little pat of his cheek. "I love you too, Ma."

Gloria hugged Mel next. "I'm so sorry for your loss." She returned the hug.

"Thank you, Melissa. Thank you for coming. Well, I hope you didn't eat, there are about 200 casseroles in there," she motioned for the kitchen.

"Yeah, that sounds good…"

"Oh, I forgot my manners let's get you unpacked first. Sorry with all of the family here, you are both are going to have to sleep in Joey's room. I hope that's okay. It's a big bed, a full. I bet you guys will manage. "

Great. Just fucking great. There was no way he was going to survive the next three days he thought as the followed Mel up to his room and tried not to stare at her ass.

…*…*…*…*

It was after 11:00 when they finally said goodnight, and headed up stairs. After raiding a few closets, Joey found an air mattress and was busying setting it up next to his bed. Mel, had already gotten in her PJs, and was sitting on his bed and watched him grind his teeth.

"God damn it! This thing is not holding air. It's got multiple holes. Perfect. Just perfect." He reversed the air pump and had it start sucking the air out. He stood up and started scanning his room. He said to himself more than to Mel, "I'll just make a pallet, need a pillow and…"

"Joey," Melissa interrupted, "You are not sleeping on the floor the night before your grandmother's funeral. I'm the one who invited herself, if anyone is sleeping on the floor, it's me."

"Well, you're not sleeping on the floor…"

"Yes I am," she interrupted and sat down on the uninflated blue mattress.

"Okay, so I guess you are alright with the rat that is in the house?"

She zoomed up to Joey's bed, "I'm not sleeping on that floor!" Joey laughed and stared to move toward the floor. She grabbed his forearm, "But Joey I don't want you to either. Look we are adults. We can sleep in the same bed without molesting each other." She got a small laugh out of him, but she hadn't convinced him yet. "And I'm engaged, and you don't even like me like that. If something were going to happen, it would have happened by now."

God if she only knew his real thoughts. He knew it was going to suck, but right now he was bone tired, and he really did just want a good night's sleep before the funeral tomorrow.

"Okay, fine," He turned off the light and then carefully lay down beside her. They were both on their sides so they could take up as little room as possible. As he laid his head on his pillow he could see her smiling that she'd won. "And it's not like it's the first time we've fallen asleep by each other. You fall asleep on my shoulder when we are watching movies."

"What? No I don't…"

"Yes you do!"

"Name one movie."

He held up his hand and started counting. "When Harry Met Sally, Say Anything, Last of the Mohicans…"

"…I don't remember how that one ended," she muttered.

"Because you fell asleep!" He continued, "Clueless, Games of Thrown, Downton Abbey…"

"That one is not my fault! It's so boring…"

They both laughed. And they were both tired. He watched her she closed her eyes. After a minute or so he said, "Hey Burke, I'm really glad you're here."

She stared at him. What was it she saw there? Vulnerability. Something Joey Longo rarely let himself feel or show.

"Me too. Joe, I'm really glad you let me come." And there it was, that ache down deep. She just shook it off, and went to sleep.

They may have fallen asleep with an invisible do not cross down the middle of the bed, but it was not how they woke up. Body against body and arms and legs a tangled mess…And doing what they did best; they complete avoided talking about it. Him because of how beautiful it felt waking up to her, and bitter sweet knowing that he'd be in a new state in a few days. Her because it was more powerful than any morning she'd shared with her fiance, and it scared the crap out of her.

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