Milo rolled his eyes and looked at us like we were idiots. “Please stop trying to play yourself, Nesto, because you’re not playing us,” he said, pointing at his own chest. “There’s nothing neighborly about the way you were just eye-fucking him. Andwhatever, Patrice, just because your idea of dating is meeting some trick once a month for sex doesn’t mean others can’t be into the people they’re seeing.”
I stepped in between them before they got into something. “Okay, let’s not get into an argument in front of Jude, so chill the fuck out.” Patrice and Milo were arguing constantly, and yet they were the closest of all of us. Patrice even went to live with Milo and his mom while things cooled off at his place after he came out to his mom. They were tight, more than brothers, but fuck could they argue.
I lifted a shoulder as I kept my eye on Jude, who was getting closer. “What’s the difference if I’m into him? Doesn’t change things. I’m here for business, not a relationship.”
If looks could kill, I’d be bleeding out on the floor from the one Camilo shot me. “Why can’t you ever fucking relax, Nesto? You like him. He likes you. You see each other all the time. You’re fucking?—”
I balked at that. Camilo threw his hand up, and spoke in a low voice, his eyes trained on Jude. “Okay technically not fucking, but together all the time and by the looks of it, you both enjoy each other. Why not let yourself have this?”
Both Patrice and Camilo stared at me expectantly, but I was not getting into this now. I sighed, looking around for Juanpa, who’d disappeared a while ago. “Where’s J? Please tell me he’s not walking around hitting on people.” They both shook their heads at me like they knew exactly what I was doing. “Fine. I’ll try to relax more, now shut up because he’s going to hear us gabbing about him like we’re middle graders.”
I was trying some deep breathing when Jude came up to the tent and gave us a little wave. “Hey, sorry I’m late. Traffic was bumper to bumper getting here. Unusual, but definitely a good sign.”
I straightened from where I’d been working with Patrice and leaned over the counter. I was going to do a shoulder slap, then thought better of it and gave him a kiss.
He seemed a bit startled, but after a second he leaned in and pressed our lips together. He sighed as I stole my tongue into his mouth. I leaned back to take a good look at him, and the blush on his cheeks made my pulse race.
“Hey, you’re looking good. If I ever want to sell OuNYe merch you’re going to be the t-shirt model.” That blush crept down his neck and I had to go in for another kiss. I pulled back and saw Patrice and Milo staring at us with funny looks. I was about to say something when Juanpa “Mr. Extra” himself, walked up to the stand hollering.
“Damn, Nes, are you showing off so we all know you got a man? I mean thatisyour man right?”
He was dressed in his version of “Upstate Fresh.” It involved a lot of white linen and Gucci slides, because he was just that fucking tacky.
“J, please tell me you have other shoes and the OuNYe shirt in the car; you’re going to lose a toe in that tent wearing those things on your feet,” I said, pointing at the black, green, and red slides. “And you’re talking to me about showing off, son? You look like a jacked-up Henny ad.”
I heard Milo and Patrice busting up behind me, but Juanpa just flipped me off and kept walking to the car. Over his shoulder he waved and yelled, “Nice to meet you, Jude.”
Patrice was looking at Juanpa and grinning like he was fucking hilarious. Milo just rolled his eyes and walked up to us.
“Hey, Jude, it’s nice to finally meet you. I haven’t gotten nearly enough information about you since Nesto can’t send texts longer than two words.”
I sighed and Jude laughed as he shook hands with my friend. “I’m lucky I have him in person then, because I’ve heard a lotabout you guys. It’s nice to finally meet you, Camilo. I like your hat; that’s a great organization.” He pointed at Milo’s hat which had the logo of a place that worked with human trafficking survivors. I knew about it from all the years Milo volunteered for them. I saw my friend’s nod and knew Jude had just earned some serious points.
One down, two to go.
Then Jude turned to Patrice. “You must be Patrice.” P offered his hand to Jude.
“It’s nice to meet you,” he said, winking at me. “Did Nesto force you to come work for free all weekend, too?”
Jude laughed and bumped my shoulder. “Oh no, I offered! This event is a big deal, and he’ll need lots of help. Especially after all the stress from yesterday. I’m so glad that got resolved.”
The guys had gotten an update when they’d arrived. Thankfully, by the time they drove in, the crisis was over, but they all thought I shouldn’t let it go and file a complaint about Misty. I told them I was going to keep working.
Just as Milo was about to respond with what I was sure would be cussing and threats for Misty, I heard my mom’s voice behind us, “Jude, you’re here. I’m so happy you came!”
She walked up with Minerva, who was on her phone, like always. I was seriously worried we would have to have the damn thing surgically removed.
When he saw Mamí, Jude’s back straightened and his eyes got a panicked look to them. I could see Milo and Patrice trying not to laugh.
“¿Como está, Señora Maldonado? Hi, Minerva.” I smiled when he said my mom’s name. He’d remembered she had a different last name than mine. He also pronounced my sister’s name perfectly. That was one of the things I loved about him, he was never careless with the little things.
“It’s good to see you,” he said while offering my mom his hand. She slapped it away playfully and went in for the hug and kiss combo.
“¿Qué es eso, muchacho? Handshakes are for gringos, we’re Dominican. We hug and kiss when we see each other!” Jude grinned and then blushed as my mom went in for a second kiss on the cheek. She looked over at me. “Nesto, his Spanish is so good, we need to take him with us to Santo Domingo when we go in December.”
Then she turned around and took my sister’s phone. “Minerva niña, dejá ese teléfono. Come say hi to Jude!”
I rolled my eyes at her, because really? We’d barely known each other for a month and she already had us going on a family trip to DR.
