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“Nothing to worry about.” Nate takes my chin in his hand and kisses me quickly. He grabs up his boxers and jeans from the floor and then heads to the living room for his shirt. I ditch the sheet and grab my robe from the closet.
“I’m so sorry, Cherice,” Nate says, kissing me again. “I wish…I really want to stay with you.”
“You could come back,” I suggest.
“I don’t know how long this will take.” His eyes darken. “I don’t want to make you a promise I can’t keep. I will call you in the morning though, okay?”
“Okay.” My throat tightens up a bit.
I’ll call you in the morning. What a cliché phrase. I
swallow hard, trying not to read anything into it as I watch Nate rush down the steps and out of the building.
*****
He doesn’t call in the morning.
I try to ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach as I pace around the apartment. I’m not even sure what has me so tense—his lack of a phone call or the fact that we had unprotected sex. I don’t think I have to worry about pregnancy. The timing doesn’t match up, but I know there is always a possibility.
“Nothing I can do about that now,” I mutter to myself.
I water Vee, take out the garbage, and scrub the bathroom. I do a load of laundry, clean out my refrigerator, and make a shopping list. Still nothing.
I jump when I hear a knock at my door and rush over to it. However, instead of Nate, I’m looking at Jessie’s eyes.
“I saw you at the festival yesterday!” Jessie swoops in with a large mason jar. “I was in the wagon behind you, and I just couldn’t manage to catch up, but I did see you there with that handsome Mr. Orso! I brought you some soup. It’s supposed to be cold tomorrow, and this should keep you nice and warm! It’s my own version of minestrone. I wouldn’t share it with your man, though. He’s a proper Italian and probably wouldn’t appreciate my changes. I see you threw caution to the wind, didn’t you, hunny?”
“What?”
“You’re seeing him,” Jessie says, very matter-of-factly. “When I first saw him here, I admit I was a little concerned. Then again, maybe it is for the best. I mean, as long as it’s all okay with you, who am I to judge?”
“As long as what’s okay?” I shake my head, not understanding what she means at all. “What were you concerned about?”
Jessie mashes her lips together, uncharacteristically silent as she fiddles with the lid on the jar.
“Jessie?”
“I don’t like to gossip.” She holds the jar up, examining it carefully. “I think you better keep this in the fridge. I don’t think it sealed right for freezing.”
“Thank you very much for the soup,” I say, taking the jar from her and putting it in the refrigerator. “Now please tell me what on earth you’re talking about! Why were you concerned about me dating Nate?”
“Oh, hunny.” Jessie sits heavily in the kitchen chair. She fans her face, though it’s not hot in here. “I always worry about you young girls. He’s a bit older than you, isn’t he?”
“No, he isn’t. We’re the same age.”
“I suppose it doesn’t matter.” She sighs. “It’s not like you aren’t consenting adults and all that, but things are different these days. When I was a girl in this town, no one even dreamed of such a thing.”
“You’re being very vague, Jessie. I have no idea what you’re talking about. You said I should be careful with Nate, but I have no idea why.”
“Why? Well, the jealousy, of course! I saw how those other women were looking at you when you were standing with him. I can’t imagine what they must be saying!”
My mouth drops open, and my eyes probably look like they’re trying to jump from their sockets. Jealous? Of me and Nate?
“I…I hadn’t really thought about it.”
“Not thought about it!” Jessie laughs heartily. “Girl, those ladies are absolutely beside themselves. With you on his arm, Nate Orso is officially off the market for the first time in history! Before, there was always a chance, and now they know there isn’t.”
I shake my head. I have no idea how I’m supposed to respond to this information.
