“I bet that was interesting, growing up in a different country?”
“It was different for sure. I was so young though I didn’t really miss New York, not until I started visiting in my teens.”
“What brings you back to New York now?”
“I actually came back to America four years ago when I was eighteen. I got offered a scholarship programme to play basketball at Stanford University and I justgraduated.”
“Stanford as in, California?” Ashley queried.
“That’s the one.”
“And that would make you…” Ashley totted up the years in her head, “…twenty-two?”
“Correct. Just turned last month. How old are you?”
“Twenty-five.” Ashley considered the information just divulged. “So, you’re from New York, you moved to England, then to California, and now you’re in NewYork again?”
Megan chuckled. “You gotit in one.”
“How long are you staying in New York?”
Sounding less than enthusiastic, Megan responded. “That I don’t know. It all depends on whether I get signed. It’s complicated and stressful.” Megan sighed. “I am just here to enjoy myself for now.”
Ashley wanted to know where she might go if she didn’t stay. Would she go back to England? Not wanting to pry, she moved swiftly offthe subject.
“Where are you staying whilst you’re here?”
“On the Upper West Side. My aunt has lived here most of her adult life, so I’m staying with her.”
Ashley’s prediction had been correct.
“You look like an Upper West Side kind of girl,” Ashley joked.
“What does that mean?” Megan laughed nervously.
“Nothing. Does your aunt live in a condo overlooking Central Park with marble floors and a doorman that greets you by name?” Ashley teased, hoping her sarcasm would be well received.
“Actually, the doorman doesn’t know my name yet, but I have only been there a week, so I will give him the benefit ofthe doubt.”
“Just a week? How is the Big Apple treating you? Have you been back often since youmoved away?”
The questions came out in a flurry, the conversation unforced.
“I have been back at least once a year since we left. It still feels like home, even though I remember little about being here when I was younger. My family is here though, so it’s nice to come back.” Megan paused. There was a conversation going on in the background that she had a brief input in before returning to her explanation. “It’s been years since I went up the Empire State Building, so I did that on Wednesday last week. I met up with friends and family, did a bit of shopping, nothing out of the ordinary. The food in New York is what I miss the most, so I have been indulging at every opportunity.”
“Where have you been eating? I could recommend a few spots. I like to think of myself as a food connoisseur.”
Speaking of food, Ashley headed to the kitchen to see what was available. They hadn’t bought any groceries in over a week, so the options were slim. An out of date carton of eggs and two day old left over lasagne didn’t appeal. Thankfully, the food truck directly outside their apartment served the best cinnamon pastries. Ashley, now on a first-name basis with Howard (the food truck owner), would often receive a discount for her loyal service. At the end of the day, if Howard had any leftover pastries, he would ring up to their apartment to see if they wanted some—that was an easy decision everysingle time.
“A food connoisseur is a big title to acquire. I hope you can live up to that kind of expectation,” Megan laughed. “My friends know all the good spots. We went to a little place called Joe’s Pizza on the corner of 21stand 8thin Chelsea. Have you been?”
“I have, quite a lot actually, it’s not too far from me. The pizza is out of this world. The question is, what’s your flavour?”
“Pepperoni every time. Howabout you?”
“I think you and I will get along just fine.” Ashley’s go-to pizza was pepperoni. It irritated her beyond belief that Emily and Madison both hated it. On the plus side, there was always enough leftover pizza for breakfast.
“Well, that’s good to know. So, do you always go to Midtown 101?”
