Chapter 11
chapter eleven
jude
“Hey! How did you get in here?” I asked, startled.
I must have missed the knock because I looked up and Martha Jackson, our executive director, was standing in front of my desk.
I lit up when I saw her, despite my day not going great so far.
I’d been in an email back and forth with Misty since I’d gotten into the office.
It was almost five o’clock and she was still asking me questions.
She was nitpicking every single line of the budget for the mobile library, with the excuse of needing to answer questions for the board.
I knew they were deciding on the project next week, so I was trying to go with it.
“I knocked. But you were very focused on whatever you were doing.” She had such an easy manner and was generally a great boss, so I tried not to let her see my irritation.
“No worries, come on in. What’s going on?
” Martha was one of the most impressive people I had ever worked with.
She was originally from New York City and had relocated to Ithaca over twenty years ago.
She started as a professor at Ithaca College, but after a few years decided to leave academia to work in the community.
I respected and valued her opinion of my work very much.
She rarely popped into my office at the end of the day for a chat though.
So whatever she wanted to tell me was probably important. I just hoped it wasn’t bad news.
“So don’t freak out okay.” She looked so serious, that all I could do was freak out.
“You’re kidding, right?”
She did smile then and sank down on the chair in front of my desk.
“What is it?” I knew I sounded like a wreck, but after a day of dealing with Misty, I was a bit on edge.
She sighed and dropped her head backward. She looked weary and pissed, which did nothing to calm my nerves.
“I want you to pitch the project to the board next week.”
I must have been hearing things, because she could not be telling me to stand in front of the board and do a presentation with a week’s notice.
“Pardon?”
She put her hands up at what I knew must be the horrified look on my face. “I know that public speaking is not your favorite thing.”
I balked at her major understatement. “Not my favorite thing?” Wow. My voice could go really high. “Martha—”
“I’m not sure what’s going on with Misty, but she’s dead set against this project.
” I tried very hard not to look murderous.
Of course this had to be some bullshit she started.
“You know I want this to happen, Jude, but it’s not up to me.
The board decides on new projects of this size.
” She leaned in and looked straight at me.
“They need to hear from you. I trust they won’t be able to say no once they see your passion and all the work you’ve put into this. ”
I was trying to keep my cool. Because this all came down to Misty interfering with my project for sport. She didn’t give a shit about the budget. This was just more of the same harassment she seemed to live for.
I took a deep breath before I answered. I was not letting Misty’s scheming take this chance from me. If it took standing in front of the board and pleading my case, I would do it.
“Of course I’ll do it, Martha. You know I’m willing to do anything to make this happen.”
The relief on her face made me smile despite my nerves.
“Great. Thanks. I think it will make a difference. I don’t know if it’ll actually get us the votes we need, but it can’t hurt.
” She waved a finger at me. “Tom White is the one to convince because he can sway the others. He also has the ability to come up with funds.”
I nodded, remembering Tom was a high-up executive in one of the local banks. “Okay, I’ll keep that in mind.”
She shook her head again. “I honestly wonder sometimes if Misty is worth the aggravation. She’s a good grant writer and has amazing connections in town, but I feel like I spend a third of my time dealing with her issues with people.”
I didn’t say a word, but she could see my face, and my scowl had to be epic.
“I’m not going to put you on the spot, but if she’s giving you trouble, please tell me, Jude. I value you and the work you do here.”
“Thank you for saying that.” I was so tempted to rat her out. Tell Martha that Misty had been harassing Nesto for weeks. That she showed up at his truck almost on a daily basis to bother him, but I didn’t because he’d asked me not to. “Everything’s fine. I’ll be ready for the board next week.”
She didn’t look too convinced about my “Everything’s fine” but she stood up. “Okay, excellent. I’m sorry for dropping this on you without warning, but I want the mobile library operating next school year, and if anyone can talk the board into it, that’s you.”
I gave her a real smile then. Martha’s confidence in me meant a lot.
“I’ll give it my best shot.”
She got to the door and turned around before walking out. “I’m certain you will. Go home. I don’t want you pulling all-nighters over this. You could do this pitch in your sleep.”
“I’m glad you think so, and that I have a week to prepare.”
Once Martha left, I felt a trickle of panic starting to run up my spine when the screen of my phone flashed with a notification. I picked it up, and I saw it was a message from Nesto.
Up for a neighborly dinner tonight?
Just seeing his name on the screen made my stupid heart flutter.
We’d been doing this “neighbors with benefits” thing since that night at the bowling alley.
Nesto would show up with groceries or text me, asking if I wanted dinner, and we’d hang out, make out.
Spend time together, without ever saying what exactly we were doing.
Every time we saw each I seemed to end up renegotiating some physical or emotional boundary with myself, which only months ago was unchartered territory.
At some point I would probably need to figure this out, but today, with this board thing pending, my nerves were fraught and the thought of seeing him felt like everything I needed.
I was about to respond with a yes, when I noticed the date.
I frowned, since it was a Thursday and he usually had dinner service at the B&B.
Aren’t you at Ergos tonight?
I saw the three dots pop up and then disappear four times before a text finally appeared.
Can I call you?
The unusual request and the message made my stomach sink. Something was wrong and I just knew it had to do with Misty.
Nesto
“What’s going on?”
I’d been on pins and needles for hours but three words from Jude and it was like someone undid all the knots I’d had tightened around my chest all day.
“Ergos called this morning to tell me they didn’t need me to do dinner service this week.
” I sighed, trying not to get worked up again.
“So, I’m free tonight. If you’re up for a neighbor’s dinner.
” I cringed at my naked desperation, because we both knew, “neighbor’s dinner” was just code for him taking pity on me and letting my thirsty ass come over.
When Jude spoke, I could hear the worry in his voice. “Did something happen?”
I shook my head like he could see me. “I don’t know, and I’m trying to not read into things.
They just said they wanted to try different trucks, and they’d call me in a couple of weeks.
Things were going well in the few weeks I’ve been there.
I could barely keep up with the demand.” I breathed through my nose and closed my eyes.
Cringing at what I was about to say and how humiliated I felt.
“When I drove by tonight on my way back from the bank I saw the gourmet grilled cheese truck setting up.”
I could hear Jude exhale, and I knew we were both thinking the same thing.
Misty.
“Maybe they just want to give other businesses a chance, you said they were trying out different places. They’ll call you again, no one is serving better food than you in this town.”
Eventually, I would have to face the fact that whatever Jude and I had going on was a hell of a lot more than neighbors being friendly.
Today I’d talked to my mother, to the guys who called to check in, I even talked to Pri, they all tried to cheer me up and got nowhere.
A minute of talking to Jude and I was feeling like a different person.
“Thanks for saying that, but tell me about your day. We always talk about me. Are you up for dinner?”
This time he was the one to sigh. “Sure. I’m still at my office though. My boss just told me I need to pitch my project to the board, because she’s not sure if she can convince them to approve it on her own.”
I almost scoffed at that. “No fucking way. If they pass on your book truck they’re fools.”
He laughed, making me feel ten feet tall. “If only I could get you a vote on that board. She thinks Misty’s been convincing people the project is too expensive. I hate public speaking, but I don’t have a choice.” That fucking woman again.
“Fuck, why is she like this? I don’t want to even think she had anything to do with me getting dropped from Ergos, but that’s a hell of a coincidence. She won’t be able to keep getting away with this shit. People will eventually catch on. Besides, you’ll blow them away, babe. Don’t worry.”
I heard a gasp over the phone and bit back a curse. I’d kept the endearments to a minimum, but occasionally I slipped up. We were okay like this for now. Just friendly neighbors.
If I told myself that enough times, maybe I’d actually believe it.
“When do you want to come over?” The need in Jude’s voice set off every nerve in my body.
“I’ll stop to pick up some stuff to make dinner. Is an hour okay?”
I could already taste his mouth, my hands tingling from wanting to touch him.
“One hour.”
When we ended the call, the tension in our voices was palpable.
I needed to think about what was happening with Jude, but this Misty woman seemed hell-bent on running me out of town.
I was feeling lost and scared for my business, and tonight I wanted some comfort.
The only thing that’d made sense this entire day was the thought of driving to Jude’s little house and sinking into those blue eyes for a while.