Mikey died. Carmy needed chefs. Richie needed Mikey. You needed a job.

He didn't ask for more than that - just something to keep you busy and his brain quiet. Something that didn't involve you going back to community college or explaining to your dad why you dropped out again. Something that wasn't sitting in his bedroom, lights off, listening to Fall Out Boy and wondering if anyone would care if you just disappeared for a while.

Richie called you one night - or yelled at you really, because that's how Richie said "I love you" without saying it. Said Carmy needed help in the kitchen. Said The Beef was becoming The Bear, it was a real place now, not just a crumbling monument to Mikey's memory. Said it was time for you to get off your ass and do something.

Richie knew you needed this more than he did, but he didn't want you to fuck up the place. He had Carmy make you trail Marcus.