jantoni - two. (part one)
WHO :: @antonirenaldi x @jayceelynd WHAT :: jaycee invites antoni to dinner. WHEN :: evening of march thirty-first. WHERE :: jaycee’s place. WHAT :: tw - ending of a fictional pregnancy ; no character mentions.
JAYCEE. She felt huge and so unattractive right now, not even trying with make up. She went to her kitchen and started everything so it could slowly simmer. Jaycee loved leftover pasta, always best the second day. Why did you have to almost say never again. Finding the remote to her surround sound she hit play and smiled as she heard the music fill her house up with life. Her hair was getting in her way so she grabbed a clip from her kitchen drawer and went about her way in her kitchen as she tried to calm any anxiety. Her dogs barking told her he was near as she walked towards her door. Probably being heard with her stern command to not move. “Stay..” she snapped her fingers at Kota, her tail was going side to side so fast. She forgot to take her apron off that was cheeky and said “we’re cooking” with a baby over her belly with a spatula. Slowly she turned the alarm code off and then unlocked the door. Opening it her soft smile went wider, as nodded her head to the side. Her dogs not moving an inch and she was a proud mama at that. “Olive, greet.” She snapped her fingers as she was still training her. Olive went where Jay had pointed then Kota followed. “Kota, is just a big ball of fur. If she doesn’t sense your dangerous she’ll be rude and just walk away..” Kota sniffed him and it looked as if she smiled and walked away. The dogs walked into the living room and just laid in a big bed they share by the fireplace. “Please make yourself at home..” she offered to take his items as she lead him to the kitchen, barefoot.
ANTONI. If his GPS hadn't told him he was coming up on Jaycee's place, the barking dogs and her voice would have let him know he'd found his destination. He rapped his fingers on the door, hoping he didn't work the dogs into even more of a tizzy, although it definitely sounded as though she had things under control. As she swung open the door, Antoni returned her smile, taking in how casual she was playing the night, bare faced and barefooted. It made him feel better about wearing the same t-shirt and jeans as when they'd met at the store, which he'd been second-guessing on his way over, and the fact that he'd brought an opened, dented box of cereal as a hostess gift. "Hello ... ladies," he said, waiting patiently as Kota and Olive seemingly evaluated the interloper, surprisingly flattered when they granted him access. Following their owner into the house, he felt himself relax even more. He hesitated briefly in the entryway, unsure if her instructions were code to remove his shoes, ultimately deciding to toe them off. Knowing what he did of her, with the homemade ravioli right before her due date, she'd probably get on her hands and knees to scrub the floors if her tracked in anything from the New York sidewalk, and he didn't want that. "Wow, this place is fantastic ... smells fantastic ... sounds fantastic." If he was flirting, he might have added that it looked fantastic as well, but that's not what this was.
JAYCEE. Her girls were following him around, then sneak back to their bed. Kota would probably sit beside him at some point and beg for a hand shake. Her own way of begging for food. She noticed he took his shoes off and she smiled over at him. “Thank you, I love cooking and have made myself dishes I can just put in the oven or microwave after he’s born.” There was probably flour on her nose, as she turns the burners off for the pasta to let it rest. “So I separated them when I boil the Raviolis, there’s fresh ricotta and mushrooms, plain ricotta and then there’s beef. I just grab a few from each pan, enjoying the surprise of what I’m getting.” Waddling a bit to the fridge that was camouflaged with the same style as her cabinets. “Where are my manners.” She said with a thicker southern accent than she intended. Clearing her throat as her cheeks we’re definitely noticeably red by now. “I have different styles of beers, oh I have wine down in my basement.” She said as she pointed to the door that went to her dance studio for choreographing numbers for academy. Taking out some fresh garlic she went about dicing it, making them some sautéed onions and mushrooms. Something Jaycee loved more than her sauce at times. Grabbing a piece of bread she made, she dipped it in the sauce, holding her hand under the other as she brought it to him. “Be honest, I never stray from Nonna’s recipe. Faint memories of wooden spoons to the hand stops me.” She joked.
ANTONI. “That’s smart. And there’s always delivery.” He’d been surviving on such for longer than he’d like to admit, so he didn’t. “I’m sure people will bring you food, too. When Luca was born, everyone was constantly coming over to feed us, but I think they just wanted an excuse to see the baby.” His trip to the grocery store had been somewhat of a bust. Meeting someone who seemed as though she could be a true friend a definite highlight, but he’d been so caught up in her that he’d left without buying anything of real sustenance, again. Her list of the fillings almost made his stomach rumble, although he cleared his throat to camouflage any sounds. He was extremely glad she’d extended if not insisted on the invitation. “That sounds incredible.” “I’ll take any beer.” He wasn’t about to send the woman down to the basement for a bottle of wine she couldn’t share with him. An image of the two of them sipping a Cabernet over a nice dinner she’d prepared for him flitted through his mind, but he willed himself back to present, watching her bounce from task to task. “I was told you were just reheating pasta,” Antoni teased. “I wouldn’t have agreed to this if I’d known you were still going to be slaving away. Can I help, or would I ruin things?” “You too, huh? I was always smacked for trying to swipe things before they were finished. ‘Pazienza, Tony, pazienza ...’” His voice trailed off as he took the bit of food into his mouth, eyes meeting hers as the intimacy of the moment washed over him. “OhmyGod,” he groaned around his mouthful. “That’s incredible.” She was incredi- “Listen, you’ve done enough. Go sit down, let me get your plate.”
JAYCEE. Jaycee grabbed a few different beers and sat them on the island, centered in her kitchen so he could choose. Turning all burners off she cut the bread and smiled as he spoke. “Well a true Italian woman warms food up on the stove right. Why dry it out or the flavor gets ruined. Not when you cook Nonnas sauce.” She joked but did sit down, giving him a soft smile while she tried to get the apron off. Trying really hard not to think of the way he sounded when he groaned over her sauce, and needed to take a time out. It had been way too long for this girl and words are now being twisted in her thoughts to sexual. “We can eat here, or I have the living room and theater room.” She leaned side to side, telling herself she needed better chairs that were comfortable. Her stomach tightening a bit as she breathed through a small Braxton. Everything was where he needed it to make the plates as her feet rested on the bar stool across from her. Her dad had gotten the place while he’s be here working at the record company or recording a new album. Watching him take over only pulled at her strings to pull her further in, and she couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking about. As she smelt the sunflowers she’d gotten the other day still going strong on her island for decorations. “I think sunflowers are just happy flowers, they’re so pretty and bright. My dad..” she chuckled. “He planted so many rows before leaving for tour, cause he had to leave on my birthday that year.”
ANTONI. Seeing her struggling with the ties of her apron, he moved behind her chair, gently tugging the ties at her neck and back until they slipped from their bows and he was able to take the apron from her, folding it easily before tossing it on her counter. “Cute,” he commented, referring to the little joke on the fabric. The hitch in her breath made him do a double-take, but he decided not to pester her, assuming she’d let him know if she just happened to be in active labor - probably, at least. Maybe she’d just keep cooking right up until it was time to push. He prepped two plates the way she mentioned she liked it, with a mix of all three ravioli, covering them in some extra sauce and tucking a couple pieces of bread alongside the edge of the plate. “You tell me, wherever you’re most comfortable. Where would I find a bottle opener?” Antoni’s eyes found the flowers she was referencing them, assuming they were the same bundle she’d pick up earlier. It was wild, to go from noticing her to eating what was shaping up to be an incredible dinner in her home. If not for her pregnancy, it would almost feel like a date. “That’s quite the birthday gift, an entire field of sunflowers. It sounds like he loved you very much.”
JAYCEE. His fingers brushed against her skin when untied the piece around her neck, licking her lips at the jolts of electricity she felt through her body. “Thank you.” Spoke as she wiggled off of the barstool, giggling at herself. “Mylanta, that’s getting harder to do.” She snorted as she grabbed the basket to line it with paper and put the extra bread in and some olive oil and garlic. It was nice to have someone make her a plate and help her, she’s so used to just doing it all. Taking a few deep breaths as she rubbed her belly, hoping it’d calm the baby. Smiling at his words, she titled her head to have him follow her into the lightly lit theater room. “He was an amazing dad, and I hope I’m making him proud” she shrugged not really knowing if he would be. She knew he’d be heart broken over the mess their family is. There was a floor pit where her couches and recliners sat, a cute little bar that had lots of candy in big glass jars. “This room besides my room is one of my favorite lounging areas.” She spoke softly, setting the bread down then grabbing a big tray that laid on the couch to sit it up where it’d be in front of them. Sitting with her legs crossed and watched him, wondering what he was thinking. “I haven’t been home in so long, it feels nice to sit in here. Thank you for coming over..” she looked over at him with a soft smile. “So, what shall we watch? I have a variety of movies or we can just see what’s on?” She grabs the control pad for the room and turns the lights down a bit more, but left enough to be able to see one another. “I’m open to anything.”
ANTONI. He understood the desire to do right by her father. He was rapidly hurtling towards a month of separation from his wife, and he hadn’t told his parents. They’d checked in on him after the move, of course, and he’d - lied. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d lied to his parents. The reminder gutted him a bit, and a guilty sensation twisted in his stomach. What was he doing, fucking escorts and having dinner in another woman’s house? He should be in Boston, with his son, fighting for his marriage. This was not the right thing to do. He tried to shake the feeling, tried to find amusement in her candy collection and the comfiness of her couch. She was sweet. And she was about to be a mother. And maybe this was too much for either of them right now, whatever this even was. He was relieved when she mentioned a movie, hoping it would give his brain something else to analyze. “Give me your favorite movie,” he answered with a small smile.
JAYCEE. She had to get back up and excused herself to the rest room really quick, and washed her hands. Coming out she took her oversized sweater off, leaving her in her spaghetti strap shirt that was cropped a bit showing just a tiny bit of her belly. “I can’t believe how over heated I get.” She snorted as she sat down and grabbed the remote again. Removing the clip out of her hair, her long blond hair fell down her back. “Okay, but don’t judge meeeee.” She smirked as she typed in on the pad. “I loved this movie and would always say I was Baby and do the dances.” Pulling up dirty dancing and pushed play. “It was this or anything scary.” She giggled, shrugging while she grabbed her plate and took a bite. Moaning softly “Deliziosa, grazie a dio per la nonna” doing a little dance as she grabbed some bread, dipping it in the sauce. Her dogs came in and she snapped her fingers and they laid at the foot of the couch. “They think they need pasta.” She smirked, before humming along to the music and constantly having to move when music was on. “I love this soundtrack so much.”
ANTONI. “Well, you are cooking,” he reminded her, quoting the double-meaning of her discarded apron. His eyes remained very purposefully focused on his plate, rather than the neckline of her tank. “I think ... I’ve seen this whole movie in the sense of watching bits and pieces and filling in the rest with just pop culture knowledge of what happens, but I don’t know that I’ve ever sit down and watched it from start to finish.” When she took her initial bite, Antoni followed suit. It really was incredible, and not just because it had been so long since he’d eaten real food. He watched the way her dogs obeyed her, reaffirming how competent Jaycee really was. “To be fair, think everyone needs this pasta.” He could see why the movie would endear itself to everyone who loved it so much. It was charmingly sexy, and the love story was - quirky? Was that the right word? He and Jaycee laughed at all the same moments, and whenever he felt a slight tug at his heart strings, she provided an audible reaction that confirmed she felt it too. It was until the botched abortion that Antoni felt himself get restless, shooting a glance in the direction of his dinner date. Gabby had always hated watching any harm come to pregnant women or babies ever since she’d found out she was carrying Luca, and Antoni subtly took up the remote, just in case they needed to skip anything.
JAYCEE. Catching his witty sense of humor, getting to see glimpse of that funny personality. Her jaw dramatically hung open at his confession, then smirked. “Then I guess it’s good I got your back.” She teased, before taking another bite. Putting the plate down after eating a few pieces to grab her bottle of water and drink almost half of it, sighing softly. “They get some pasta without sauce. I’ll add a little butter to it and they go to town. But I can’t all the time, spoiled babies.” Looking at her babies and shook her head giggling. “Ugh to have dance with Patrick.” She threw her hands up at the TV, smiled with a blush creeping on her cheeks. “I mean his mama did teach him.” She pointed out, yeah she’s watched this movie a few times you could say. “I always get so mad at Baby’s dad at this part. But you know, back then it wasn’t safe for women to do that. I think my dad and mom went to a school where a girl died from one of the under table abortions. She put her head down and realized she had dropped sauce between her boobs. “I guess I’m worse than a toddler.” of course she laughed at herself because honestly. It’s was so her to do something like that. “Mm..” she held her hands to her mouth to speak after popping a piece of bread in his mouth. “I have a lot of pasta and sauce so I hope you take some with. I’ll even throw in some your choice of wine from the basement.” Needing off her bum, she rolled to her hip facing him, but she was watching the tv as she ran her hand over her bump.
