I crossed the road, paying attention to my surroundings instead of his face, because otherwise it was likely I’d get hit by a bus - or a passer-by. Several of them already tutted at me for not looking where I was going.
“So...?”
I glanced back down at the screen. Jupiter’s phone had been propped up in his kitchen and he was wandering around making a protein shake.
“So?”
“Look, Em, you’re my sister and I love you. But have you lost your mind? Drew Crawley is…”
“I’ll stop you right there,” I interrupted, “because I know you’re not about to lecture me on Drew’s reputation since you’re not a hypocrite, are you Jupe?”
He stared straight into the phone. “Emerson, you know nothing about him.”
“I know everything about him. And this is really fucking rich coming from someone who can’t keep their dick in their pants.”
He rolled his eyes. “Emerson! We aren’t talking about me, and even if we were, I’m not trying to date anyone, and I’m one hundred percent upfront with everyone I have sex with. They know what they’re getting into.”
I dodged out of the way just as I almost collided with a streetlamp. I really could not walk and video chat at the same time. “Jupe, what are you actually talking about?”
“I’m talking about you and Drew Crawley. How long has this been going on?”
“Fifteen months.”
The protein shake he was drinking sprayed everywhere, which turned into a severe cough, his eyes watering as he tried to get his breath back. I took the opportunity to keep walking without needing to see his face. I crossed the giant sidewalk in the Meatpacking District and headed up toward Midtown.
“What the fuck, Emerson?! Fifteen months? Are you serious? Is this a joke?”
I rolled my eyes again. He was such a drama queen.
“We met last summer and then lost contact. We reconnected a few months ago.”
He wiped protein shake off his face before replying. “Emerson, seriously, you’ve just got rid of one sleazebag dickhead, why have you gone straight to another?”
“Oh fuck off, Jupe. Drew isn’t a sleazebag. In fact, have you even seen him in the press in the last year? Have you?”
“No, you know I don’t read that shit.”
“Well if you did, then you’d be able to tell me that no, you haven’t, because since we met there hasn’t been anyone else. And yes, I know all about Drew’s reputation because he told me. In fact, he’s been nothing but honest with me about everything.”
I looked at my screen. He was still staring. Or maybe he’d frozen.
Either way, I didn’t care.
“Look, I appreciate you watching out for me, but you really don’t need to. Drew treats me with nothing but kindness and respect, he’s sweet and funny and…”
His mouth dropped open in horror. “Oh fuck no. Emerson, are you going to tell me you’re in love with him? Please say no.”
I checked myself, thinking, rolling the thought around my tongue a little to see how it felt.
Good. It felt good. And right.
I was in love with Drew Crawley.
“Yes. I am actually.”
I used Jupiter’s silence to carry on walking without getting myself killed.
“And what about that dick nugget, Richard?”
