“Can you come at five, so I can use you for my books again?”
“Of course.”
“Night.”
“Adiós, pequeña azul.”
“Good night, Arturo.” I skip over to the door and open it. “What are you doing here?”
“I swung by your apartment. Clem said you were working late. Thought I’d come get you and see if you wanted to hang out at the shop? Beer and pizza?”
“Oh my gosh, that sounds like heaven.”
“You ready?”
“Yep.” I turn and wave to Arturo. He’s up out of his seat now, and close to the door. “See you tomorrow.”
“Who is that?” Gabe says, tilting his chin toward my boss.
“Oh, Arturo, this is Gabe. Gabe, meet my boss, Arturo.”
“Hey man, good to meet you.”
“Buenas noches.”
“This is a pretty cool place you have here.”
“Thank you, it is my bebé.” His smile is tight, as if forced. I’ve never seen Arturo force anything. I’ve seen him screaming in Spanish at the sous chef in the middle of a packed restaurant, but I’ve never seen him force a smile before. “Lo tells me you’re expecting. You will have to bring your senorita in when she’s close to delivery. Spices are good for labor.”
Gabe’s brow creases and he looks at me. “Thanks. Will do. You ready, Lo?”
“Yeah.” I give my boss an awkward wave. “Bye, Arturo.”
“Adiós, amigos.”
We step out onto the quiet street and Gabe asks, “You told your boss about me?”
“Oh, I ... sort of. Sorry, I know no one’s supposed to know about the baby yet, but Judah asked, and Art was there.”
“So, do you always sit and drink with your boss alone after work and talk about your lov—about your social life?”
“No. That was a first.”
He nods and jams his hands in the pockets of his jeans. We walk in silence, the cool coastal breeze shifting around us as we walk.
“He wants to fuck you.”
I laugh. “No. he doesn’t. I’m his employee.”
“Oh, he wants to fuck you, alright. Employee or not.”
“Whatever, not everyone needs to sleep with any vagina that comes along like you and your horn-dog friends.”
“Hey, I haven’t slept with any vagina that comes along. I’ve been with Annie and I didn’t sleep with anyone after that.”
“Yeah, and now you’ll have forever with her.”
Gabe grimaces and glances at the footpath ahead. “I guess I hadn’t thought of it that way.”