Page 36 of Pining for You

“Great question,” Izaac says, and looks around at each of us. “Hopes? Dreams?”

“Don’t look at me. I can officially report to Jolene that my horizons have been expanded—that’s enough to call the day a success,” I say, holding up my mug. That’s true in a way, but also, the whole adventure is enough about my stuff already. I’m not about to ask for anything else.

“In that case,” Cash says, “I would like to formally propose lunch.”

“Yes, babe.” Izaac rubs Cash’s back. “I promise, we’ll feed you.”

Izaac is such a caretaker. It breaks my heart that his family is always arguing. Which reminds me…

“What about you, fearless leader?” I ask him. “Should we try to see your sister?”

“Oh, yes, Audra!” Cash says, clapping his hands. “Let’s go see her! I miss her so much.”

I study Izaac’s face. Is he nervous? Anxious? I know he and Audra haven’t spoken in a while and this might be a little awkward, but come on—a surprise visit at Christmas? That’s the making of an unforgettable sibling reunion! A necessary addition to my shot list for the day.

“I mean, I don’t want to take us off course, but she does live pretty close to here,” Izaac says, then he looks at Diya, like he’s asking her for permission—one logical human to another.

“I love Audra,” Diya says. “And I trust the Evans siblings can keep us reasonably on time and on task.”

Izaac looks at his watch. “Well, I guess we can say hello quick,” he says. “But what about you, Diya? Any hopes and dreams? I hear there’s a Brooklyn Botanic Garden.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” Diya says. “But no. I’m here to help Bennie get the girl, make sure you maniacs don’t find trouble and we end up fired for missing work tomorrow, and then get home,” she says, then shoots down the rest of her Mother Earth. “Full stop.”

“Aren’t you the most selfless friend ever?” Cash cocks his head at Diya.

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m into lunch, too,” she adds, shrugging.

I eye her closely.

“Bosley, what’re you looking at me like that for?”

“Oh, nothing,” I say, and smile.

Maybe she’s being honest and she’s just here for the rest of us. But also? Maybe… just maybe… she’s coming around. I will do everything in my power to make sure she leaves here today totally certain that she belongs in Brooklyn with us too.

“Anyway,” Izaac says, ignoring us. “Audra lives above a famous pizza place. They even have some vegan stuff, so maybe that can be motivating for everyone.”

“Magnif!” Cash claps.

“Okay then—questions, comments, concerns?” Izaac asks. “The floor is open.”

“Motion passed,” I pronounce when there are none, and off we go.

10

It’s no wonder Cash has always wanted to live in New York. The city seems to have a costume change for every season. When we daytripped to the West Village for Pride in June, it was in its summer best—brownstones with flower boxes bursting with lilacs, city dwellers strolling with iced coffees, rooftop fairy lights visible from street level. And now, even though pumpkins linger on a few stoops, it’s obvious that Brooklyn is solidly in its Christmas era. There are bows on wrought iron railings and lawn ornaments even where there are no actual lawns (Naomi would approve). Strings of bulbs on the trees line the streets, and though they aren’t turned on yet, a vision of how this will look all lit up later dances in my head.

There are no humans to film right now, but the whole scene is thrumming with heart and holiday spirit, not the trappings themselves but the little personal touches that went into creating this Yuletide vignette just like back home.

There’s something unique about this feeling—this place being totally new, yet a touch familiar. Like Christmas helps you find a little bit of home anywhere.

There’s a life-sized animatronic Grinch in someone’s window. I must point this out to Cash, but when I turn to grab his arm, he’s busy having a sort of party of his own, bouncing around sideways.

“Dude, what’s happening south of your knees?” Diya asks, clocking it at the same time.

Cash looks like he’s just been caught swiping the last seasonal Oreo. He starts violently making a slashing gesture to the two of us behind his boyfriend’s back, but it’s too late.

“Oh, babe, you didn’t. How did I not see this before?” Izaac says, pressing his fingers to his temples and shaking his head as his eyes dart between Cash’s feet and his face. Diya and I trade perplexed glances. “You seriously wore a brand-new pair of boots into the city?”