Ghost Of You (Michael Berzatto X Black!OC X Eventual Richie Jerimovich)

3. Cousin

2005-Chicago, Illinois

Michael was less than ecstatic about Angie working at The Beef, but he didn't let it show. She carpooled with him, which meant they had to get there at nine in the morning.

"Come on, sleepyhead." He said, getting out of the car.

"I'm coming." Angie yawned.

"Have you never been up this early before?"

"Of course I have. I was up all night looking for apartments."

"Already?"

"Just getting a head start."

He unlocked the doors and let her in first. Even though nothing was cooking, it seemed that the building had a permanent smell of sandwiches, spaghetti, and cigarettes.

"Coffee?" He turned on the machine.

"Please." She pulled one of the chairs off the top of the table and sat. "I thought you opened at eleven."

"We do. We gotta prep." He handed her the coffee and took a sip of his own.

"What should I do?"

"Uh...you can take all the chairs down. We wiped the tables last night, but you can do it again if you want."

"Okay." She nodded and set the chairs onto the ground.

"Oh, I almost forgot." He went into his office and came back with a shirt. He tossed it to her.

'The Original Beef Of Chicagoland' It read.

"This thing smells."

"I'll wash it later."

"Gross." She whispered as she walked into the bathroom to change. She came back out a few minutes later and stood in front of him. "Well?"

"Looks good on you."

"You're just saying that."

"No. Anything would look good on you."

Angie tried to hide her smile as she continued to work.

"Cousin!" They heard as the door opened.

"Hey, cousin!"

The two men hugged each other before Richie turned to her.

"Angie?" He went over to hug her.

"Hi, Richie." She smiled and embraced him.

"What're ya doing here, sweetheart?"

"She works here now." Mikey told him.

"Well fuck me. My god. How long's it been?"

"You saw me six months ago at Christmas."

"And you look even better now."

"Watch it." Mikey warned him.

"Hey, I'm just being friendly."

"Cousin, help me in the kitchen."

He followed Mikey into the kitchen and leaned against the wall. "What?"

"Don't 'what' me. You know what. She's not some random girl, she's Angie. And you don't look at her like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you wanna fuck her."

"Who said I wanna fuck her, huh? Did I say that?"

"You thought it."

"Can you blame me?"

He lifted his hand and hit his friend on the head. "Don't start."

"Fine. Jesus. Why do you care so much? You fucking her?"