Mateo had been nodding along as Lino spoke, shoving spoonfuls of stew into his mouth while he listened. At the first few things his cousin had said, he had found himself frowning. Worried about being fired? Extra cleaning? His mind immediately jumped to some new guy coming in and using Lino as cheap labor, forcing him into doing menial tasks and pushing him around. The last owner of El Torro had been a right asshole in Mateo’s book, paying Lino way less than he deserved and keeping him in that shit position because he knew the man didn’t have any other options.
Lino was a good guy, smarter than a lot of people gave him credit for and a hard enough worker that looking at him made Mateo feel exhausted. That was what bothered him the most about having Lino out here with him. While Nearside was a bit better than where Lino had been before, it pissed Mateo off to no end that his cousin was stuck working at that restaurant for chump change. He didn’t bother going on his usual rant about the place though because Lino was still talking, getting more excited as he continued. Then he finally got to was making him so damn chipper.
“What?” A grin broke across Mateo’s face, mouth almost dropping open. Laughing, he reached across the small table and cuffed Lino hard on the shoulder. “It’s about damn time! Finally some pulls their head out of their ass and gives you a raise. You’re getting paid more, right?” He was genuinely happy for his cousin, happier than he would have been if he was the one getting a raise. Lino needed not only the money and the better job, but he also needed a job that had a least some more dignity. Some people might not think of being a waiter as much but it sure as hell was better than a dishwasher. “What kind of benefits is this new guy giving you?”