Ever have feelings for a friend who didn’t love you back? Were you so convinced that there was something that you looked for hidden romantic signals in every little interaction? Now, imagine that person was married with a young kid. What kind of emotional complications would arise? Esquire contributor Rosael Torres-Davis spoke to a man who was convinced that his secret love had the same feelings for him—even as her family experienced heartrending circumstances. Check out the story below. —Chris Hatler, deputy editor
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Is it all in my head, or does she have feelings for me too?
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These days, I catch myself checking the mirror before I head over to their house. I make sure my hair is sitting just right. I pull out my better shirts, the ones that fit a little closer to the chest that she always compliments. It’s an involuntary vanity, a quiet preparation for the moment.
I arrive to find Elena wrestling dinner while her husband, Mark, rests upstairs. I’ll slide right into the routine, spooning mashed potatoes and peas into their three-year-old son’s mouth, wiping avocado off his chin, and trading quiet, exhausted nods with Elena over the high chair. Every time we’re in that room together, passing a cutting board or reaching for the same bottle of wine, I feel a spark in the space between us.
Maybe it is all in my head. Maybe this is just the ceiling of a profoundly deep male-female friendship between two people who know better than to burn their lives to the ground. But to explain these moments in that kitchen, I have to rewind a few years.
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- Can you wear shorts to the office? If you’re going to do it—and only you know if you should—make sure you have the right pair. Gaby Keiderling rounds up the best ones. >>
- Black is, arguably, the soul of fashion—the ultimate neutral. Nick Sullivan, our creative director has replaced the shade with navy in his wardrobe. He blame the Italians. >>
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Just over a decade ago, when Dior created Sauvage, the world of men’s fragrance was far simpler. Usually, an eau de toilette would do the trick. Things have changed—rather drastically. Scents have become more concentrated, notes more varied. No one knows this better than Francis Kurkdjian, perfume creation director for Dior and one of the industry’s most revered noses.
This year, Kurkdjian was tasked with pushing Sauvage—a modern classic, and one of the most popular fragrances on the market—to its limits. The results is Dior Sauvage Extrait ($205), a new expression that utilizes oud for the very first time and steers the scent into unexpected, sexy (dare I say kinky?) territory.
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Gin is one of the most flavorful spirits you can buy. In every bottle you can find a harmonious symphony of complementary botanicals, led by juniper, the spirit’s main ingredient. Here’s a quick lesson on how to infuse the botanical flavors into gin: You either macerate them in the spirit or enclose them in what is essentially a large tea bag and suspend them above the spirit to infuse the gin with vapors. Now, consider your ideal ice-cold, expertly proportioned gin martini. The cocktail can completely change character based on whichever gin you choose to showcase.
Under the umbrella of “gin” are three main categories: distilled gin, which is produced from a mash of grains in the same way that whiskey might be; redistilled gin, a neutral grain spirit that has been distilled a second time; and compound gin, a neutral grain spirit that’s been infused with flavors. As expected, there are numerous brands of each. To ease the search for your next favorite, we’ve highlighted the best gin brands out there.
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