✔️The Greaser and the Skirtchaser [18+]

45. A Shovel Talk

After that morning, Blake figured he should try paying the Romanos back in whatever way he could. He had his plan, and he'd run it past Vance before it got to all the zios and zias that ran the shop, but Blake was still sweating bullets in the days leading up. Maybe it was that much more nerve-wracking when about fifty Romanos were crowding around him as he was making the call.

"Mr. Coleman, we cannot lower our prices before the end of the contract period without incurring some severe legal penalties for it. I apologize, but we're already as low as we can go." Blake could practically see the sales rep checking his nails.

Blake rolled his eyes. He already spoke with Dick's cousin that also did business with the same company that the Romanos did, and they had a much better price than the Romanos did. It gave Blake a good idea of how to play his cards during this call, so he played up the humble business owner. "Look, you've gotta cut us some slack, Mr. Beck. We won't be able to break even at this point."

"I regret to inform you that's not possible."

What a hard-ass. Blake let out a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry, sir, then we won't renew our contract this year. We prioritize loyalty, but this gentleman from Brinkman and Lee came to us and offered us a deal we can't refuse."

"Brinkman and—!" The guy had to collect himself at the mention of their competitor's name. "Sir, you don't have to be so hasty. You've expressed satisfaction this far with US Auto, right?"

"Very much, but we could keep the lights on with these prices." Blake spouted off a forty percent reduction. He would pay to see the idiot's face as he blubbered about that ridiculous price, but Blake pushed, "We've already worked out that thirty lets us at least keep our heads above water."

"Then twenty-five percent?" It took a few minutes more of pushing and pulling until the guy burst, "Alright, thirty! I'll... I'll see what I can do about thirty percent."

He made this big fuss about what a great man Mr. Beck was for bending over backwards for them, and Blake penned down the exact details of when Mr. Beck would come down in person to write up the new contract. Blake hadn't expected the guy to actually agree to thirty. He was fine with settling for the quarter after letting the guy stew for a bit, but he really cracked.

Once he hung up the landline, he got swarmed with Romanos. They wouldn't let him go and kept patting him on the back with their ridiculous strength, and zietta got him in this boa constrictor hug before Francisco got a hold of him talking about how Blake might as well be a Romano, too, at this point. It all felt very awkward to Blake, but everyone else was pretty merry about it. Vance even snapped a picture of all of it.

By the time Blake squeezed out of the office, the Romanos had all spilled out to get to celebrating with the big spread all the women put together. These Italians really loved to eat; no wonder all of them were so big.

Blake was off in the corner next to Vance trying to focus on the really great fettucine someone cooked up, but Vance was glancing at him, and Blake's stomach was getting all fluttery. Finally, Vance leaned over and whispered, "You look real handsome."

He choked and turned to cough into his elbow. Once he finished the bite of food he was in the middle of, Blake whirled on him. "What was that? I was eating."

Vance was blushing pretty hard and smiling kinda crooked as he looked away.

"Why are you the one getting embarrassed?" Blake chuckled as he tried to make his face cool down. "Still so cute."

Vance rubbed his cheek and confessed, "I'm trying to say what's on my mind more."

Blake's face heated up all over again. He wanted to kiss him, but Blake didn't trust himself whatsoever, so he left with some excuse that he was gonna try some of the cake Rita made. He asked for a piece, but the cake was kinda wet as if someone poured milk on it, so Blake felt a bit apprehensive.