Chapter 17 #2
I pull out my phone, reading over the text a few times with a frown.
I honestly thought he hadn’t enjoyed our date and that’s why I hadn’t heard from him since.
Until now that is. Jude is handsome, with ridiculously good hair.
Chivalrous? Hm, I guess he pulled a chair out for me on our first date.
But charismatic? Yeah, that one is obvious.
That man could talk his way out of a speeding ticket any day.
He also mentioned his family’s wealth, and not that I’m a gold digger or anything, but I can’t afford to pay my bills, help Mom out, and support someone else.
I think he also said something about working for his family’s company in the near future, so that’s a goal I guess.
At the very least it shows a lot of loyalty to his family.
Big check. I recall he mentioned traveling, so sure, that counts as a goal too.
He’s my age, and he could carry on a conversation.
Honestly on paper, Jude hits the marks. Fully?
Pretty much, but as Mom pointed out, who would get a hundred percent?
My eyes fall back on my open laptop to my looming application question.
This experiment was supposed to be clear cut and concise and frankly, over by now.
A swarm of hornets seem to move frantically in my chest at the idea of answering this question, “How have you tested your decision to become a doctor through your personal life?”.
A question that is due—hard deadline—in the very near future.
If other students are preparing for their semester then I have to as well.
I reply to Jude with new intention setting in.
Hey Jude, yeah that was fun! Sure, I’m tutoring until about 5:30pm tonight. Want to meet at that Italian place, Copertina, at 7?
That should give me enough time to get home, change, and get to the restaurant.
Our town is small enough that Copertina is virtually the only fine dining restaurant we have.
There is a sushi place, but it’s currently under investigation for a listeria poisoning outbreak.
I shudder at the thought. I really love sushi, but I also can’t reason driving to the next town over for a date. My phone pings with his response.
Jude “The Hair”
Great. I’ll pick you up at 6:30. Black Range Rover. The driver’s name is Eddie.
I frown at my phone hard enough that I may need Botox in the near future.
Okay, I guess that’s nice of him to pick me up.
I shake off the confusion and text him back my address, receiving a thumbs up emoji in response. I quickly swipe on some mascara and lip balm before grabbing my bag to meet my first student at the campus library.
* * *
By the time I get home from tutoring I’m a fair amount richer and my baby hangover has turned into a migraine. I don’t love tutoring, but it’s good money to help with bills and it keeps me on my game with theories and foundational information for my own classes.
I have a few outfit options thrown across my bed and some music playing in the background.
I have a stunning velvet black mock-neck mini dress as my first option, but it seems a little too fancy.
I’d rather save it for a special occasion.
Plus, it has long sleeves. I don’t feel like sweating my ass off tonight, so I navigate towards option B, holding it up in the mirror.
“That outfit is cute. Going out?” Mom asks from the door. I startle, not realizing she was there. I put down the pink mini dress and turn to her.
“Yeah, remember that guy I had a date with at the coffee shop? He actually asked me out for a second date earlier today,” I say, wondering what she’ll think of me putting myself out there, taking a chance, as she so eagerly wants me to do.
“Hm, well that’s nice, honey. Is this someone Dominic told you about?” she asks, arms crossed, hovering over the threshold of my door. I may be in my twenties but Mom is still a mom, momming away.
“Uh, yeah,” I say not meeting her eyes, digging around in my closet for some matching sandals.
“What does Dominic think of him?” There’s an underlying tone in her voice telling me she’s trying to pry something out of me, I’m just not sure what. I take a minute to answer, head buried in my closet. I pull out some white low wedges and turn to face her.
“I’m not sure, he said he’s got great hair, and honestly I agree,” I give her a small laugh and a shrug. “You know I went on a date with him already, I can judge his character myself.” There’s more annoyance in my voice than I meant to let slip, but I’m running late.
“I know, I know. Well, text me if you need an out and make sure your location is on,” she says before sauntering down the hall to her room.
I pause until I hear her Netflix dun-dum turn on, indicating she’ll be resting in bed for the remainder of the night.
Mom is a once I’m under the covers I’m not getting out kind of woman.
I hurry through curling my hair and brushing it out, giving it a soft wavy look.
Just as I finish swiping on some liner and lipstick I think I hear an SUV roll up in front of the house.
It’s confirmed when I hear Pongo barking away.
He must have been outside as the car pulled up.
I hurry down the stairs, wedges and purse in hand, to get into the SUV before the neighbourhood is disturbed from the excessive barking.
“Bye Mom! Love you!” I call out before heading out the door and locking it behind me. I hope she brought enough food up there for herself for the night.
I pause on the porch wondering if I should run up a bag of pretzels or something for her to munch on, but Pongo’s barking pulls me from the thought and I throw on my sandals and rush towards the SUV. A driver stands by the back door, hands crossed and held in front of him in a professional manner.
“Hello,” I say wearily, offering the driver a small smile as I get closer.
“Good evening, Ms. Pinkfordt,” he says by way of greeting, pulling the backseat door open for me. I step forward to see an empty backseat. I pause before getting in.
“Hi, um, Eddie, right?” I ask and he nods in confirmation. “This may sound odd, but Jude isn’t in the car.” I point to the empty space as I trail off, feeling uneasy about getting into a random car even if this driver knows my name.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Pinkfordt. I was under the assumption you knew Mr. Havenston was meeting you at the restaurant.
He is currently at a business meeting with his father and will be dropped off by his father’s driver after the meeting’s completion,” Eddie says in finality, a hand gesturing for me to hop in, as if this was a normal every day kind of thing.
Maybe in Jude’s world it is a normal thing.
I nod and give him a tight smile before shuffling inside, pulling my phone out as soon as Eddie closes the door behind me.
Hey - The Hair sent a car to pick me up. Text me till I get to the restaurant?
Lane
Of course Pinky. Safety first.
So the man has money, that’s a plus.
Yeah, clearly. Range Rover money. Range Rover + chauffeur money.
Get that bag girl! Your wedding would be huge. Morocco or Italy?!
I roll my eyes and quietly laugh at Delaney’s antics.
We text about my fictitious Kardashian level wedding for the whole car ride to the restaurant.
We pull up to Copertina, and Eddie comes around to open my door for me.
I say a quick thank you and head towards the door, happy to be in wedges instead of heels on the cobblestone again.
“Hello, Celeste,” a deep, gravely voice looms over me. I smile.
“Oh hi, Andre. I didn’t know you’d be here tonight,” I say.
“Every evening,” he says. A man of many words.
“Did you catch Les Mis at the theatre in the city? I think they just started a few weeks ago.”
Andre cracks what I’m sure is a very rare smile. “I had opening day orchestra tickets.” His happiness is so genuine it makes my smile grow.
What a big softy.
I nod in acknowledgment and move to step inside the dimly lit foyer when a big hand lands my shoulder. I turn to see Andre, smile gone, already replaced with a menacing grimace.
“Remember, Cynar,” he grunts, then immediately turns back towards the parking lot standing sentry as if we never had a conversation at all.
I follow a hostess to the table, yet again, in front of the kitchen.
I thank her and tentatively glance toward the glass.
Chef Angelo has his arms crossed, staring me down already.
I quickly turn and pray that Jude isn’t vegan.
Now that I think about it…I look around and realize he’s not here yet.
Oh, well. No big deal, I can wait a little bit.
“Hello, my name is Lorenzo. I’ll be your server for this evening. Are we dining alone or waiting on someone?” a very charismatic middle-aged man with a bald head and thick black rimmed glasses asks, glancing over the empty chair across from me.
“Hi! Yes, I’m waiting on my date. He should be here any minute.
” I give Lorenzo a reassuring smile. He nods and pulls out two menus, passing one to me and one to the empty chair before excusing himself.
I discreetly pull out my phone and send Jude a text to let him know I’m here.
He responds immediately saying he’ll be here soon and to go ahead and order a drink for myself while I wait.
I grimace, I don’t love waiting alone. I feel people’s eyes on me, wondering if I’m going to be stood up. I shake it off, push back my shoulders and act so unbothered as if I dine alone frequently. Lorenzo comes by to collect my drink order: a small glass of red wine that I will nurse all night.