Page 18 of Hold the Pickle
“I figured you would be. Are all your shifts twenty hours or more?”
“Not always.”
We obviously don’t have a spatula, because a fork and a butter knife sit inside the dish to serve the lasagna. I cut off a hefty piece. “Sometimes I do twelve on, twelve off. It’s only my third week, so it’s not clear to me yet how it will work.”
She nods. “My schedule is mostly set. Tuesday through Friday, eight a.m. to four, and alternating Saturday or Sunday. But sometimes I cover for my cousin and work more.”
I’ve inhaled three bites while she said that, but I swallow to ask, “You work with your cousin?”
“For him. Sort of. He owns the deli. I’m helping while he has so much on his plate with a baby coming. They found out they’re having a girl.”
I swallow again, finally slowing down enough to actually taste it. It’s good, creamy and tangy, with layers of pasta on a pillow of ricotta. “That’s nice. And this is delicious.”
“Thanks. I have a few things I can cook.”
“And I guess you’re a master at sandwiches.”
She laughs. “Not what I expected to be doing at this point, but I’m not sure what my next step is.”
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” I try to slow how fast I’m eating. It’s good.
She tries to shove her book away with her elbow, but I catch her.
“Watcha reading?”
Her cheeks pink up, and I wonder what else on her body might have a similar vasodilation. Breasts? Thighs?
There I go again.
“Nothing,” she says.
I slide the fork through my lasagna. “You’re embarrassed by it?”
“No!” But she picks up the book and spins off the stool before I can see it.
“You are!”
“It’s … private.”
“I like a good erotic novel myself.”
She halts on her way to the dresser. “It’s not erotic!” Then she hesitates. “I mean, depending on what you consider erotic. It has … scenes in it.”
“Erotic scenes?”
“Oh, you!”
I swivel on the stool to face her. “Let me see it!”
“Fine.” She tosses the book to me. It thuds into my stomach, but I catch it.
I turn it over and read the title aloud. “First Base to Love.” I flip through the pages until I spot the word “cock.” I pause, reading a few lines, then snap it closed. This will not help cool my jets.
Nadia lunges for the book. “What did you find?” She flips through it, like she could locate what I saw.
“Just something about athrobbing cock. That doesn’t sound likefirstbase.”
Her face flames so red I wonder if she should lie down and elevate her legs. “It’s a baseball romance.”
