Zaccaro

short time, but awake no less.
The DirecTV time is 2:42 a.m. I tap the remote against my leg. To call Jamie on a weekend night… or not to call…
He is my longest, most loyal friend so I grab my cell phone and dial his number. The phone rings and rings. I dial again. Third time’s a charm. The call is answered, instead of his wrath, the phone seems to be clanking on something, probably the bedside table. Hushed cussing, and then Jamie whispers into the phone, “Bitch, you owe me, my silk wrap nail is broken.”
“Hi, Jamie,” I say cheerfully as I hear the sound of his footsteps in the background.
“Oh crap, you’re extra happy. Which could either mean, you’re so damn sleepy, that you’re halfway delirious, brain tapped out. Now I’ve had to leave the comfort of my International, to step into the living room of his suite. What’s up?”
I cringe. Damn, his international lover is from Tokyo and hardly pays a visit. “I’m sorry, Jamie. Come over, I can’t sleep.”
“Negative. We’re not at our favorite boutique hotel off of Rodeo this weekend. Chu chose a winery resort in Temecula, babe.” He pauses. The irritation from not being allowed his beauty sleep is left at the wayside as he inquires, “Is this because of Milo?”
“Yeah…”
“Alright,” his tone is heavy, “I’ll wake up Chu and tell him that I’ve gotta go.”
“Oh no,” I sigh. “You’re over two hours away, babe. And if I’d known the International,” I smile, since Jamie always brags about his wealthiest conquests, “was in town, I wouldn’t have even considered—”
“Girl, don’t even,” Jamie cuts me off, he sounds much more awake than before. “You are closer than blood, Reese’s Pieces. What’s wrong?”
“Jamie, my mom married into a cop family.” Just uttering the words make my shoulders slump. I gave into a night of weakness with Evan, and honestly it didn’t start off with us jumping into the shack, but Lolita has taken the cake.
“Wait, what did you just say?” Jamie asks, after I repeat myself, he’s shouting my words verbatim in my ear, and I have to pull the phone away. “I can’t stand that damn woman, what the fuck is she trying to do? Reese, I’m going to wake up Chu, and let him know it’s an emergency.”
At the sound of his footsteps again, I try once more, “Jamie, don’t. Don’t do it. I woke you up from a dead sleep, and already incurred your wrath. Just stay up with me.”
“No, I will be there soon. After I comfort you, we’re going to slap some sense into your mother. She is… oh my God, your mom. I am done biting my tongue, Reese, I’m going to tell Lolita about herself.”
“No, no, don’t come.”
“Stop holding her hand, stop allowing her to ruin your life. After her husband’s family finds out who Milo is,” Jamie stresses, his warning ending ominously.
“We’ll figure that out later. But I… honestly it’s not the cop family thing I’m angry about.” I’m angry because I can’t bang the other Zaccaro just one more time! These are things that I can’t tell Jamie, he’d slap me silly since I’m being as brainless as my mother—nix the ring. “I’m not really angry about the cop dynamic.”
“You’re not? Listen, Reese,” Jamie seems to be pacing around in circles, “Your mother spends cash like water. When we were kids, she took us to Disneyland! She took the entire projects to Disneyland because you befriended me. And that’s the extent to her generosity. She has spent millions of dollars on herself, and I don’t mean hubby number-so-and-so’s money! Blood money, Reese, blood money.”
“As far as I know, mom doesn’t have any more of Milo’s money.” If she had, she’d help me with Flour Shoppe. Or is this wishful thinking?
“Let me paint this picture for you, Reese’s Pieces.”
I take a deep breath, there’s no stopping him. “Right now, Reese, you’re bat-shit worried out of your mind. You’re dressed in your Captain America pajamas as opposed to any of your other Avengers PJs because he’s your favorite and subconsciously he has always kept your safe.”
I grumble. Since I was resistant to therapy while growing up, Jamie took Introduction to Psychology in high school. He forced himself upon me as a therapist, with quasi-effective methods.
“I said am I right? Are you wearing the Captain PJs?”
“Yes, Mr. Narcissist,” I respond through gritted teeth.
“Mhmmm, precisely. Now, I had no problem coming over, to rub your hair and hold you like a mommy would—”
“Jamie, must you be a condescending asshole?”
“I’m not. Trust me, boo, I’ve spent years filling the mommy role. Back to the cop. What if they think you used some of the money the DA didn’t find for your bakery? She’s putting Flour in jeopardy. She’s bought the newest shoes, clothes, purses of the season every damn season. That woman has thrown away millions, but you’ve invested…”
“Besides the uh… the uh… statute of limitations,” I pause, wondering if that’s the right term, “Jamie, I have proof that Flour Shoppe has a proper paper trail of investments.” Even if I’m wrong about this, good luck to the cops for seizing my bakery before the bank gets their hands on it.
It took a while for me to calm Jamie down. Finally, I settle on logic, “By the time you arrive, it will be light outside anyway. I’ll manage.”
“Okay,” he hesitates for a moment.
“I love you, Jamie, get some rest.” I smile. As sure as I know, there’d have been no Evan and I if Jamie decided to go out with Sandra and I the other day. We can be with a group of people, and I already know just who I’m sleeping with that night. Jamie too.
“Alright, my love.” Jamie pauses reluctantly, “Have a dreamless sleep, my favorite Reese’s Pieces.”
We hang up, and I sigh heavily. Damn, I do not want to fall asleep. Every instance my eyelashes touch my cheeks, Tony’s voice slither’s through my ears.
“C'mere, doll,” Tony had said earlier this