Jude shook his head and smiled, watching them leave the restaurant. “She’s playing hardball with the DA thing, Easton. She might wear you down.”

I looked over to see his reaction and noticed he seemed uneasy. I wasn’t sure if it was about Cindy, the DA thing or about his parents. “She’s been on me about it for weeks.” He lifted a shoulder then and gave me a look I was not entirely sure I understood. “We’ll see.”

When we’d talked about it weeks ago he didn’t seem very into the idea and the way he was still looking at Cindy made me think he still felt the same way. I wondered if he hadn’t talked more about it with me because he thought I’d be put off by it. If I was honest, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. Thankfully, before I could go down a rabbit hole of worry over something I had no control over, Nesto spoke up.

“P, did you talk to Ari today?” Nesto’s face had the concerned parent look he got anytime we discussed Ari.

I shook my head as I glanced around the room, trying to spot my mentee. “No, I left early for campus and didn’t see him.” I wasn’t going to say that I’d stayed at Easton’s for the fourth night in six days, and that I didn’t even make it to my place this morning.

“That’s cool, man,” Nesto said. “No big, he’s just staying with Jude and me this weekend. Last weekend at the Farmer’s Market for the season and he wants to be close to the kitchen since he’s in charge of the truck now.” Nesto always talked about Ari like a proud dad.

I nodded and looked at Easton, who still seemed a bit flustered from Cindy’s teasing. “Sounds good, man.”

Nesto angled his head in the direction of the kitchen. “I gotta go check on the food.” He turned to Jude then. “Baby, can you go take one last look around to see that everything’s set to go for the silent action?”

Jude nodded and pushed up to give Nesto a kiss on the mouth. “Sure.” Those two had been together for almost two years, and still could barely stand to go for a few minutes without touching. I turned to look at Easton and tried not to read too much into the wistful expression on his face.

“Thanks for coming, brother,” Nesto said, pulling me in for dap.

“Like you would let my ass stay home,” I grumbled.

He laughed as he clapped his palm against Easton’s. “True. Easton, you know you’re in your house, man.”

Jude waved at us too as he and his man walked off.