Chapter 8
chapter eight
jude
It was eight p.m. and so far I’d avoided dealing with the drink invitation from Nesto by sitting on Carmen’s couch, obsessively going over my proposal for the board.
I knew Misty said what she said at the market because she was pissed I’d been at Nesto’s stand, and not buying her son’s disgusting food.
But I also knew she was petty enough to actually mess with my project out of spite.
Critically acclaimed.
She was delusional; those sandwiches were barely edible. The only reason she could even keep the stand at the market was because she went around intimidating people using her husband’s name. She’d also totally ruined the moment with Nesto.
Of course she had, because her superpower was killing fun.
Nesto looked so good, too, sweaty and delicious in his red tank top. I honestly didn’t know what happened to my body when I was around him. I felt completely out of control. I wanted to kiss him, run around, just everything. And god, that night at Ophelia’s.
I hadn’t had anyone turn me on like that, ever.
Those hands, so big and rough. When I pressed against him and felt that hard cock, my brain almost short circuited.
Even through my clothes his heat was overwhelming.
I wanted to melt into the sidewalk, or worse, beg him to fuck me right then and there.
This was the reason I’d avoided running into him after that night.
Because I knew that as soon as I saw him again, it would be hard to resist him.
Nesto made me want too many things I didn’t trust myself with.
I knew if I was alone with him again I was going to want more, and the possibility was giving me pause, which meant a drink with him would probably end in disaster.
Dating was always such a mindfuck for me.
Things had ended disastrously in my last relationship.
Since then, any time I got close to anyone I felt like a pawn in some game.
Like it was just a matter of time before I’d get dropped for something or someone who mattered more.
Nesto had already gotten so deeply under my skin, I knew pursuing something with him would only lead to heartache.
“Jude!”
Carmen’s terse voice startled me out of my fretting, making me jump up and almost drop my laptop. “Carmen, why do you need to yell like that? I’m five feet away from you.”
She was standing by the couch, holding a plastic container of the braised short ribs and polenta she made for dinner, and tapping her foot like she was about to lose her patience with me.
“Here’s some food you can take with you to Nesto’s. Now get your skinny ass off my couch, and over to his house before this gets cold and he can’t appreciate my mastery of the short rib,” she said, thrusting the tub at me.
I backed up without taking it. “First of all, I haven’t even decided if I’m going to do this drink. Second, I am not showing up there with a tub full of meat.”
She shook her head at me, widening her eyes more and more with each swivel.
“Don’t start with me, Jude. You’re taking this food, going over to his place for a drink, and hopefully some sex.
I don’t even know why you need to make this so difficult.
Take him the food! Who doesn’t want free short ribs? ”
I squinted at her, trying to convey just how over-the-top she was being at this particular moment. “Someone who makes and sells food for a living? He probably has tons of stuff to eat at home already.”
“Wrong.” If possible, her eyes got even wider. “You’ve seen Chef’s Table, people who cook for a living have no food at home. He probably only has condiments in his fridge. You’d be doing him a huge favor. Also, who’s not into a beautiful man bringing him a late-night snack?”
I pursed my lips before answering. “That sounds really seedy.”
She just waggled her eyebrows at me.
I don’t even know why I argued with her.
“Exactly. Besides, what are you even doing right now? Sitting on my couch, working. Please tell me you didn’t let Misty freak you out. Don’t let her intimidate you.”
I took advantage of a potential distraction and changed the subject.
“Speaking of Misty, she was in rare form at the market today. I ran into her while getting some lunch at Nesto’s stand and she was so rude to him.
” Just thinking about how she was looking down at Nesto got me heated all over again.
“She’s so ridiculous about her son and that stupid food truck.
She thinks she’s in a war to the death with everyone in town trying to make a living selling food.
Her son’s business is failing because his sandwiches suck,” I said, exasperated.
Carmen was looking at me with a scowl on her face. “That woman is too fucking much. I bet you she was seething because Nesto’s stand was busy. I hope he didn’t let her get to him.”
“He looked pissed, but he was polite to her. I left him with her standing there fuming, but he seemed to have things under control.”
Carmen shook her head in disgust. “She’s something else, and I would love to bitch about her more, but I know what you’re doing,” she said, pointing a finger at me. “I’m not letting you distract me. We were talking about you taking this food to your future boyfriend.”
I should have known she wouldn’t be deterred for long. She handed me the container and then went over to the couch to stuff my laptop in my bag, because the word “boundaries” wasn’t even a concept for her.
“Let me know how it goes. And don’t worry too much. He’ll love the food! Dominicans are suckers for a man who can cook!”
I threw my hands up as she zipped up my bag. “I didn’t make this though, and I’m not sure about the drink, Carmen,” I said, standing there like an idiot until she almost physically pushed me out the door.
“He’ll appreciate you have friends who cook, and you’re making too big of a deal out of this, Jude. It’s just a drink, hon.” She looked at me like she had no clue what to do with me.
It wasn’t unfair though, because I was making way too big of a deal out of this. Why couldn’t I have a drink with someone I liked?
I deflated and turned to open her door. “Fine. I’ll go.”
She immediately perked up, “Finally! I was starting to think I was going to have to take matters into my own hands and go to his truck tomorrow for a chat.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Ha.”
I let her have the last word, because goading her was not going to help, so I walked to my car, trying to text Nesto one-handed. I was going to do this. I wanted to see him and that was the end of it.
Jude: Hey, so I’m just leaving Carmen’s if you’re still up for that drink.
I got a response almost immediately.
Nesto: Yes! You know where I am. My place is the first door on the left.
Jude: Great, I’ll see you in twenty minutes. Warning: Carmen made me take some leftovers to bring you.
Nesto: That’s perfect. I’ve been trying out new sauces for the truck and haven’t made any dinner yet. *smiley face with tongue sticking out*
I typed a See you soon and got in my car.
I was still not sure if this was a great idea. I had too many feelings already. Regardless I powered up the car and drove toward Trumansburg.
I walked up to Nesto’s apartment clutching the container of ribs and polenta for dear life. When I got up to the landing I saw him standing by the door in only basketball shorts, grinning like he knew exactly the effect his naked torso would have on me.
I scoffed. “You’re evil.”
He laughed, then touched the tip of his tongue to his upper lip. Every time he did that my stomach dropped down somewhere by my feet and the urge to kiss him was practically unbearable.
He stepped aside as I passed by, eyeing me up and down as I walked in.
“Glad you made it. You look good, Jude.”
“You’ve said that.”
“It bears repeating.”
For fuck’s sake.
His sublet was a pretty spacious loft, the side facing the street was one big glass window.
I could see my house just down the street and the woods I ran in just beyond.
There was a small couch, a desk area, and what looked like a sleeping space behind some curtains in the left corner.
The person who lived here must like photography because there were beautiful scenes from local parks all over the walls.
“This place is great,” I said, handing him the container from Carmen.
“It is, I lucked out, and the rent is less than half of what I paid for my place in the city.” We stood in silence for a moment and then Nesto nodded toward the kitchen area. “I have wine and beer, both local,” he said with a grin.
“Wow, embracing the ‘Eat and Drink Local’ movement already.”
He shrugged. “I adapt quickly.”
“A valuable life skill. I’ll have a glass of white if you have it. If not, a beer.”
“I have a chilled rosé.”
“That sounds great.”
With a nod, Nesto went to the fridge to get our drinks. After a minute he handed me my glass and sat on the couch with the container. He immediately dug in, taking a big bite of the ribs. He chewed a couple of times and then put his head back, sighing contentedly.
“This is great. Thanks so much.” He gave me a little smile and stabbed another bite of meat. “Tell Carmen I may have to steal this recipe for the truck. I was too tired to stop at the store on the way home, so I figured I’d order something, but nothing delivers after seven p.m.”