Page 91

“Pip”—Ben bumped her shoulder—“lovin’ the appetizers. Thanks, babe.”

Piper inhaled deeply with a smile as Casey returned, eating a samosa. “My pleasure! So, how was the planetarium?”

Ben’s eyes lit up. “It was brilliant! We went to Grand Central Station after to see the constellations on the ceiling. Stunning. I miss seeing stars—it’s almost impossible with the skyscrapers lit all night.” He smiled up at the twinkly lights. “Riley was determined I’d see some, even if they were strung across this room.”

“If you want stars, try Broadway, baby!” Casey joked. “Speaking of, gone on any auditions?”

“Ah…no.” Ben scratched the stubble shadowing his chin. “The diner’s been insane and on days off, I’m doing the courier thing.” He sipped his beer. “I keep getting lost. I punctured two tires and almost got punched by a cabbie, but apart from that, I’m a natural!” He smiled.

“How can you be a bike courier?” asked Casey. “Doesn’t your visa—”

“I get paid cash,” Ben mumbled quickly behind his bottle. He swung the conversation in a different direction. “So, hey, did you lot see Maggie’s cake? It’s a triple-decker!”

“The icing’s sliding off.” Erika fanned her face.

“I hope she’s okay.” Ben’s forehead creased. “Riley said treatment left her exhausted this week.”

“How many more to go?” asked Cicely.

“One or two more, not sure.” Piper shuffled aside to allow Scott, arms full with a box of bottles, to access the counter.

“Ah, boozy reinforcements.” Riley rejoined her friends, the vapers banished to the fire escape.

Ben looped an arm around her bare shoulder, his damp dress shirt—the same one he’d worn to the Salute the month before—cooling her hot skin. His hand slipped forward and for a brief moment, his fingers caressed her arm. This is a first. A jolt of heat sizzled up her spine. “Come on, your cake’s turning into a chocolate puddle.” She grinned. “Want to blow out your candles?”

“Sure!” He squeezed her shoulder and let go.

They eased past their friends to the counter where Riley lit two candles and led the room in an exuberant “Happy Birthday” followed by hollers of “Speech, speech!”

Ben beamed. “I never thought I’d celebrate my first New York birthday with all you lot…” He raised his beer. “Cheers, guys. Thanks to Maggie for this awesome homemade cake”—he locked eyes with Riley and took a deep breath—“and Riles, the girl who took me under her wing when God knows she had every reason not to. To quote those magnificent old biddies from The Golden Girls, thank you for being a friend. I don’t know what I’d have done without you.”

“Aw!” Cicely clapped.

“Make a wish!” Piper and Casey shouted.

“Or two!” said Erika. “Why stop at one?”

Riley bit her lip. Two wishes, that’s easy…wait, you idiot—you can’t wish on someone else’s birthday candles!

Ben closed his eyes and, with a quick puff, blew out the small flicker of flame. The partygoers cheered and fell back into conversation. Riley set a handful of forks and a knife on top of a stack of dollar-store paper plates.

“I meant what I said,” Ben whispered in her ear.

She smiled up at him like no one else was in the room. I don’t know what I’d do without you, either.

• • •

The crowd at the shabby eighties club was wasted and sweaty, and one by one, Ben’s birthday posse peeled away into the early hours of Sunday morning, spare the last holdouts: Riley, Piper, Cicely, and Casey. Taking a break, Casey went to the men’s room while Piper and Cicely finished their drinks.

“Aw, look at them.” Cicely clutched a weaving Piper, keeping her upright as they watched Ben and Riley twirling and laughing to “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)”. “They can’t be drunk—all that spinning makes me barfy just watching them.”

“I wish she’d stick her tongue in his mouth or grab his ass or SOMETHING.” Feeling no pain, Piper gulped the rest of her cocktail. “This SONG, it’s—hic—Riley. She’s a freaking record, repeating on a—hic—loop: ‘We’re friends, we’re friends.’ FUCK FRIENDS. She should FUCK BEN!”

“Shh!” Cicely giggled. “They might hear you! But yeah, I agree. I think he’s into her big time. She’s all he talked about. Why haven’t they hooked up?”

“Pfffft!” Piper blew out her lips. “I’m tired of being a spectacle, a spect—hater…spectator.” She weaved forward. “You watch—I’m gonna make magic happen. It’s time to—”

Casey’s head leaned in. “To what?”