“Shh, no,” Gabby coos, rubbing circles into my back. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. I’m sorry.”
Gabby pulls away and looks around as the crowd begins to get up and leave, the performers having taken their bow, signaling that the show is properly over. “I don’t know what I was thinking, planning this. I think I just wanted an excuse, any excuse, to get you away from your ex and somewhere where I could remind you of how much fun the three of us are together.”
V stretches across to try to reach both of us in her grasp. “We could have done that at home with a handle of whiskey.”
My voice is a wobbly chuckle, accepting V’s inappropriate interlude. Even Gabby relaxes, her face still sullen, unable to weep because of her incorporeality, but still shedding something like happy tears at the idea.
At some point, I realize it’s just us in the bleachers, the park attendants eyeing us to clear out so they can clean up before the next show. I gesture for us to get up. The threeof us trudge toward the exit, not happy, but with a new, more profound appreciation for each other.
“It wasn’t all bad,” I finally manage to say. “I’d never been to an amusement park before. At least not a modern one, not on purpose.”
This manages to return Gabby’s smile. “So you are having fun?”
“Uh, fun might be a stretch, but I’m hanging out with you two, so, actually, yeah.”
Gabby lights up, almost floating off before V literally pulls her back down to Earth. Then V eyes our surroundings, trying to make heads or tails of the signs. “So, should we get out of here? Pack up and head back to your apartment?”
“No!” I blurt out the word so suddenly that I’m not sure it didn’t come from the park speaker. As V and Gabby interrogate my sudden outburst, I scramble to think up an excuse better than having a date tonight. “I mean, we are already here, and I am having fun. Really! Let’s finish out the trip.”
V eyes me suspiciously, but Gabby is already unfolding the park map, scanning for the next thing she marked. “Yes! There are a lot of good themed rides and shows nearby.”
My eyes sweep the map, and immediately note one big red flag. “Anything but there,” I say as I stab my finger at the Tower of Terror.
Chapter six
Bar Talk
Vand Gabby follow me around all night, the three of us in a blissful mix of longing, reminiscing, and sisterly camaraderie. But the entire time, as much as I enjoyed the drinking and the banter, and telling every group of guys that hit on us to kick rocks, Manny was always there, his deep brown eyes glancing at me from the back of my mind. By the time we did get back to the motel, I couldn’t believe I was itching to actually ditch my friends over a guy I barely knew, whose only standout attributes were being a wounded writer with the finest Manhattan recipe in Orlando. I kept reminding myself not to get attached, not to fall too hard, too fast, like I always did, and yet there he was, his soft smile greeting me every time I closed my eyes.
“Y’all wanna keep the party going or what?” V asked as I pulled up to the motel much later than intended.
I gripped my pants with a nervousness I’d never felt before. Not the tightness or pain of the other nights, but with a mischief I had all to myself. Now was my time to set that mischief in motion. “Actually, believe it or not, I was thinking I could go for a walk.”
“No, come on!” Gabby protested from the passenger’s seat. “We wanna spend time with you.”
“Yeah, you have been. I just figured you two might want to spend some time together.” I give V a knowing look in the rear-view mirror. “Alone.”
V takes the bait like a shark on a baby seal. “If Franky wants to go for a walk, who are we to stop her?”
Gabby, seeing directly through V’s misplaced support, narrows her eyes at her girlfriend. “I am happy to let Franky go. But, ONLY, if that’s whatFrankywants.”
“It is,” I say in an embarrassingly eager tone, the trap now closing to make it seem like this was all V’s idea.
“Fine,” Gabby relents. “Just don’t think you aren’t welcome back whenever.”
“Oh, I know.” I smile as I get out of the car. I wish I could say I was disappointed at how quickly V and Gabby melt into each other, how fast I vanish from their mind as they head toward the room. At the same time, I don’t think I was the only one reconciling today, so I can’t blame them for wanting a little privacy if I’m the one offering.
The moment the door shuts, I go from a lazy stroll to a stiff speed walk, my heart fluttering as I check the time. It’sso late, so much later than any of the other times I stopped in. Surely he’d still be there, I mean, it’s his job, he works there. It’s not like he would leave before the end of his shift.
I barge into theShot Glasslike I’m storming a saloon out of a western, my eyes scanning behind the counter. I see a young lady wiping glasses and a tall, broad-shouldered man pouring a drink, half obscured by one of the bar pillars. I grin at the opportunity to sneak up on Manny, to surprise him with the fact that I didn’t stand him up. I creep up to the bar, a caricature out of a monster flick, and as I swing my head out from behind the pillar, I tease him with a “Miss me?”
“Sorry, what was that?”
The man looking back at me is tall, taller than Manny, and hairier too. What little color I have drains from my face as I realize that this must be his uncle. Tightness tears at my chest. No, no no no! Did he actually leave? Did he never show? Was I actually too late?
The man looks me over, a spark of something like recognition in his eyes. “Oh, you must be here for Arman.”
He nods in the direction of a booth in the far corner. “You sure know how to keep a kid waiting.”
