Chapter Five
“You’re looking hot.”
Press smoothed the tuxedo jacket over his chest and preened a little. “It was a present from Nate. His mother’s in town, and we’re going to the opera, then dinner at Per Se. Thanks for the help in getting the reservation.”
“Anything for you, babe.” I tweaked his bow tie. “I have an in.” I couldn’t keep the smile off my face, and Press rolled his eyes.
“You mean you’ve been in someone who can do you a favor.”
“Can’t fool you, can I?”
Press smirked and patted my cheek. “Don’t even try.” He slipped his phone into his pocket. “Tell me. Have you started the new review tour? Any good places? You’re still alive, so I’m assuming your body hasn’t gone into shock from eating cheese that wasn’t aged a hundred years by seventeen monks who took a vow of silence.”
“Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.” I checked my phone and frowned. Edward was haranguing me about the review for Mangia. He’d saved the space and needed it for that weekend. But it had only been a week since my dinner there, and I couldn’t risk reviewing the meal I’d eaten. Not after what happened with Torre, even though I had zero regrets. “Listen, I need a favor.”
“Sure. What’s up?” We walked out of the brownstone and into the early evening twilight. I had a night off, and I’d hoped Press would come with me as my plus-one to dinner that night, but now that he had plans, I had to change course.
“What’re you up to tomorrow night? Can I steal you from Nate for dinner?”
His eyes twinkled. “Am I going on a review with you?”
“If you can.”
Before Press met Nate, he was my go-to guy to accompany me for a review dinner. I could go alone, but having another person enabled me to order a variety of dishes to get a better handle on the restaurant’s strengths and weaknesses. The two dishes I had at Mangia (god-awfulname) were stellar, but I wanted to try more.
His eyes lit up. “Oh, yeah. Nate can order in. I haven’t been out with you in forever. I miss it.”
“I do too.” I bit my tongue.Shit.I hadn’t meant to say it out loud. Press must’ve heard something in my voice and put a hand on my arm.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been neglecting you, haven’t I? I swore when Nate and I got together that I wouldn’t be the kind of person who forgets his friends because of a relationship. Not again.”
Irritated at my slipup, I yanked away from him. “I’m not a puppy you need to tend to. I have plenty to keep me busy.”
“You know, it’s okay to admit you might be lonely. It’s not going to kill you. We’ve all been there.”
“You have an opera to go to. Don’t want to keep Nate waiting.” A car rolled to a stop in front of the brownstone, and I sighed with relief. “Here you are. Give Nate my love.”
But Presley hesitated, searching my eyes and frowning. “I only want you to be happy; you know that, right?”
“Yeah, yeah of course. I am happy. I have everything I want. And if I don’t, I know how to find it. Now go.” I kissed his cheek. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow around seven.”
Unconvinced, Press walked to his car, shooting me several troubled looks over his shoulder. I waited until the car disappeared, then pulled out my phone and sent Edward a message that I was going to Mangia tomorrow night. Anticipation pooled in the pit of my stomach at seeing Torre again, tempered only by the fact that I would be in disguise and he wouldn’t know it was me. Unless….
Waking up the morning after to find myself not only still in his bed, but wrapped around the man,cuddlinghim, sent me running out the door before he woke up and wanted to get domestic and cozy. And…I landed straight into his mother’s crosshairs. After introducing herself, Maureen Rossi, though lovely, pinned me down with questions about my presence at her darling son’s apartment so early in the morning. Except for Presley’s, I had little experience with mothers, especially one who actually cared about her child.
The most terrifying thing about that night? I couldn’t forget it. I couldn’t forget Torre, how he tasted and felt in my arms.
Angry with myself for daydreaming about him again, I went to a bar on Columbus Avenue and slid onto a barstool. I ordered a Negroni and sipped it while watching the scene. Like any other bar on a pleasant Friday spring evening in New York City, it was crowded with leftovers from the nine-to-five crew, plus fresh meat on the hunt for an evening of fun and games. The bartender put a bowl of salty wasabi peas and other crunch by my drink, but before I could try it, the bowl was yanked away.
“If you want them, you’ll have to ask me nicely.”
Glittering dark eyes met mine, and a white smile lit up a deeply tanned face. I couldn’t tell if he’d achieved that mahogany skin through too many tanning bed sessions or time spent lying in the sun. Either way, it wasn’t a pretty look.
I allowed him a thin smile and tossed two twenties on the bar. “Have at it.” The guy’s smile faded, eyes turning stony.
I edged my way through the crowd to the exit. Every person looked too young, their laughter a bit too shrill and loud, tinged with a note of desperation, and suddenly all I wanted was to be in my bed.
I walked out into the night, wondering what Torre the waiter was doing.
