I nodded, dying inside. “Of course it is,” I said as I pulled him into the house.
We almost ran into Carmen. She was getting her shoes on; her purse already perched on her shoulder.
She smiled at me and glared at Nesto. “I’m taking off, hon, Ted is trying to make dinner, and I need to hurry over there before he hurts himself or sets the house on fire. You’d think a man with three Ivy League degrees could manage making spaghetti.” She shook her head, an amused smile on her lips despite the death stare she was sending in Nesto’s direction. “But you’d be wrong.”
“You know you love it. Now you get to go home, open a jar of sauce, and boil some noodles and have him worship at your feet.”
“You know me too well, friend.” She looked at Nesto as she got to the door. “I hope you worked on an apology on your way here.”
Nesto looked mortified and I rushed to try to rein in the situation. “Carmen!”
She ignored my horrified tone and held up her phone. “Text me if you need anything. I’ll see you in the morning.”
She walked out, leaving us standing in the living room in tense silence. For a moment I didn’t know where to start, but Nesto spoke before I could.
“I’m so sorry.”
What?
“You don’t have to apologize to me. I was late and you were stressed.”
He shook his head and came closer. He looked like he wasn’t sure if his touch was welcome.
“Today was hard, but there is no excuse for the way I talked to you. You didn’t make me late. You didn’t do anything. You came to support me this weekend and when shit got stressful I took it out on you.” He ran his hands over his face and he looked so tired, but his eyes were determined. “That chance with Sheridan is gone and I’ll have to figure out something else, but I want to know what’s going on with you, babe. You weren’t yourself all day, and I know it was probably more than just me being an asshole to you.”
I exhaled and moved closer to him. I knew I should hold myself back more or play hard to get, but I couldn’t. It was such a relief to have him here.
“I did have a tough morning and thank you for apologizing. You didn’t have to do that.” Nesto’s face fell and I took his hand.
“I did though, my behavior was at peak fuckboy today.” I laughed at that; I couldn’t help it. “I’m only grateful that you’re ten times the better person than me, because I don’t know if would’ve let my trifling ass in tonight.”
It was useless trying to resist him, I pushed up and kissed him. We stood there for a few minutes, me holding on to him for dear life while he kissed my hair and face and ran his arms up and down my back, apologizing and soothing me. Not demanding anything, just giving me the comfort and quiet I needed. Finally, I pushed away from him and walked over to the kitchen, pulling him along with me.
“I know I need to tell you what happened, but I don’t even know where to start.”
That was my big fear; that I would open myself up to someone and once they heard about all my baggage, they’d realize I wasn’t worth the trouble. After all, my own flesh and blood chose their beliefs over me.
I exhaled, not sure what to say, but feeling like if I didn’t have him close, I’d completely fall apart. As soon as I leaned against him, he embraced me in his strong arms, and immediately the day’s stress seemed less daunting.
He felt so solid against me, and I was so weary.
When we pulled apart Nesto leaned against the counter, his shoulders still tense. I could tell he was trying very hard not to ask questions. Suddenly he started moving to the fridge as he talked.
“Did you eat? You want me to make you something?”
Hearing that was what finally took the edge off my nerves. Nesto coming by at the end of the day and making dinner seemed so normal.
So like us.
My stomach grumbled as I watched him pull out bread and cheese, a reminder that I hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
“I haven’t actually, but you don’t have to do that. You’re always feeding me.”
He peered over his shoulder as he got busy shredding cheese.
“I want to, please, babe. Today sucked, and the only things that make sense right now are making food and you.”
How could I say no to that? “Okay, thank you.”
