“The fact that Hector and Oscar think I’m a cold-blooded killer?”
“No,” Jude said, shaking his head furiously. “The, uh… you know…” Jude was adorable when he ran out of words like this.
“That kiss when I put my tongue in your mouth?” I offered helpfully.
Jude turned pink. “Yeah. That.” He sent me another sidelong glance as he turned down Main Street, toward Koi.
“Why? Does it ruin your plans with your living, breathing thing?” I asked.
Jude turned magenta. “No,” he said. “I just think. We should probably talk about it.”
“No, we shouldn’t,” I said, staring at my fingernail. “Oscar told me you’re off-limits.”
“He… what?” Jude actually took his eyes off the road and stared at me. His hands even dropped to eight and four.
“The road, Mr. Safety First!” I cried, as Jude was slowly veering into the oncoming lane of traffic. Jude righted the car.
“Why did he say that?”
“He said you were coming out of a serious relationship and you were fragile, like a little baby, and I’m a horrible monster who chews men up and spits them out.”
“Oh,” Jude said. “I don’t think you’re a horrible monster.”
“Tell Oscar that.” I frowned. “He thinks I’ll never settle down.”
“I think you will,” Jude said. “You just haven’t found the right person yet.”
I scoffed. “Just because you’rein lovewith your living, breathing thing or whatever, doesn’t mean everyone gets that. Maybe I never want to settle down.”
I was ready to use the same arguments I’d had when Tammy came at me.
“You don’t have to get married,” Jude said. “Finding your person isn’t about getting a piece of paper or a legal arrangement.”
“Is that what your mystery woman thinks?”
Jude pulled into the driveway of Koi. I groaned as I saw Mateo’s green Pinto still parked on the street in front of Koi. Ugh. That meant he hadn’t left yet.
I did not have the energy for this.
“That’s Spider-Man’s car,” I said and groaned as I nodded toward my Airstream. “Will you come with me in case he’s still there?”
“Why?” Jude asked, alarmed.
“I’m not inviting you into a throuple, don’t worry. I might need backup if he hasn’t moved on. His car is still here. I told him to leave earlier, but clearly he didn’t listen.”
Jude stared at me.
“I helped you with Kenzie,” I pointed out.
Jude laughed a little. “Are you that afraid of a serious emotional discussion?” Jude asked me.
“More than mushrooms,” I admitted.
I knocked on my own Airstream door just in case Mateo was lounging around naked wearing only his Spidey mask, becausethat’s 100 percent something he’d do. The lights were on, but the curtains were drawn, so I just saw a yellow glow from the windows.
“Hello, Mateo?” I asked the closed door.
“Yes, hello?” Jude echoed. “I’m Ella’s breakup wingman.”
