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Adriano: I want 2 talk. Miss u.
Noah: I miss you too. I was an asshole, and I hope you forgive me. Bubbe’s closes at four, but I think I might lock up at noon. I want time with you before sunset. Meet me?
Adriano: I cook u dinner. C U then xoxo
Noah: xoxo
Adriano laid back on the pillow, his heart beating hard enough to almost worry him. Jude had jumped off the bed, so Adriano turned onto his side and stared at the message thread.Noahapologized.Noahthought he was being an asshole, and maybe freezing Adriano out was kind of a dick move, but Adriano couldn’t blame him for it.
He knew what Eric was capable of. He knew he was good at creating chaos when he wanted to. Noah was still fragile, was still figuring things out. Having done the market was huge for him, and to have that tainted and destroyed by Eric’s vindictive plans…
Noah wasn’t the one who needed to apologize.
Fatigue consumed him suddenly, and Adriano found himself drifting, his phone clutched to his chest. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he warned himself not to let go, but the relief was too strong, and it stole a couple of hours.
Adriano woke near ten, bolting upright, and he swayed on his feet as he tried to stand. Gripping the wall, he regained his equilibrium, then stumbled to the shower, taking less time than he ever had in his life. He started to worry about his looks, but he realized that nothing about his appearance mattered to Noah.
Maybe at first. Maybe it was the way he looked, the way he moved, the way he fucked. But Noah wanted him, not Sylent, not some public figure.
He put a little product in his hair, finger-combed it backward, then moved to the kitchen to start a cup of coffee. It was less than ten minutes before he was out the door, caffeinated and with a granola bar sitting heavy in his gut. He sat in his driveway, then pulled up Oscar’s number on his phone.
Adriano: Can I pay u 4 dog sit pls?
Oscar: You found Noah?
Adriano: Yes. Know you barely know me, so sorry 2 ask.
Oscar: Bring him by. If I’m not around, Liam will do it. I’m glad you found him.
Adriano: TY
* * *
He had justenough time to drop Jude off and get to the store before Noah was expecting him. Oscar was out front when Adriano pulled up to Oscar’s snack shack, and he gathered the dog and his things into his arms.
Oscar offered a sympathetic smile as he took over the leash and hooked Jude’s bag over his arm, then lifted his hand. ‘You okay?’
Adriano shrugged. “Long night. Noah and I have to talk it out. Thanks for helping.”
Oscar waved him off, so Adriano climbed back into the car and headed into town. The parking lot of the only supermarket was mostly empty, and he breathed a sigh of relief as he grabbed a basket and stepped into the cool air. The afternoon was getting warm, and the pressing humidity of the oncoming storm was making him sweat. He swiped a hand over his brow, then moved to the pasta aisle and went for easy.
A box of dried lasagna noodles, a couple jars of sauce from a passable brand. He strolled toward the cheeses and loaded up on the freshest mozzarella he could find, then a chunk of cut parm. He was in the meat section, perusing the selection of ground beef when a hand touched his arm, and he glanced up to see Talia raising a brow at him.
“Cooking?” Talia asked, a word easy enough for Adriano to understand.
“Noah texted. I’m spending tonight with him, so I thought I’d make lasagna.” He started to put the ground beef into his cart, but Talia caught him by the wrist and shook her head. Adriano frowned, but set it back, and when he looked at Talia, she was holding out her phone.
Meat+Cheese=Not kosher
Adriano’s cheeks burned. He didn’t know nearly enough and understood only a fraction of what he had looked up online. He didn’t want to fuck this up, but he didn’t know if he’d ever be good enough to get it right.
Adam and I aren’t observant, but we do our best to be careful with Noah. No bacon, no shellfish, no meat mixed with dairy. He’ll bend on kosher certified foods, but he prefers not to.
Pursing his lips, Adriano nodded, then signed his thanks. He could do it with vegetables just as well. He had learned a few things standing at his mother’s knee in the kitchen. But more than anything, he wanted Noah to know that regardless of whether or not the food was good enough to write home about, it was for him. It was all about him.
Talia didn’t try to say anything else, but she strolled with him to the vegetable section. They pantomimed a couple of things almost like small talk. He wasn’t sure Talia would ever really put in the effort to learn his language, but he had to admit the company was nice. After the night before, Adriano was still reeling a little.
He’d spent half the night questioning whether or not he really should be there. If Noah had wanted to end things, it’s not like Adriano had any ties to Savannah. But Talia being there with him felt like some sort of connection or maybe an olive branch. It felt like other people were making an effort to help him feel at home, and that mattered.
