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When the kids were dismissed at the end of the day, I called Angela. She answered on the first ring.
“Hey girl,” Angela said. “What's going on?”
“I was thinking about going out for a happy hour or something,” I said. I gnawed my lip. Bars – especially bars in New York City – weren't really my thing, but after the week I'd had, I like I deserved a drink...or three.
“Sounds good. If you can get to Brooklyn before five, we should go to Tio's,” Angela said, her voice rushed with excitement. “They have a deal – a slice of pizza and two beers for five bucks.”
“Oh wow, definitely there,” I said. “I'll be there as soon as I can, meet you?”
“Sounds good,” Angela said. “See you soon, girl.”
As luck would have it, I ran into Angela while we were walking up from
the subway. The grimy smell of the streets mixed with the garbage and fast food stalls. I'd always loved New York, but it was only just starting to feel like home. I'd grown up in New Jersey, and sometimes the idea of living in such a big city was still frightening...but with Angela, I was starting to really find my way around.
“Tio's is right down here,” Angela said, pointing towards the crowded street. We quickened our pace, darting along the sidewalk as if we were running from something. By the time we got to the crowded bar, I was out of breath.
'This is a nice area,” I said. I glanced around, seeing expensive hotels and restaurants. “I haven't ever been here before.”
Angela nodded. “Yeah, I don't come this way very often myself,” she said. “But a bunch of guys from work told me about this place and it's off the chain.”
I wrinkled my nose and peered inside. “It's really crowded. Should we try somewhere else?”
Just as Angela was about to reply, I turned to the street and gasped. There, in a hotel bar right across the street from Tio's, was Thomas March. He was seated in front of a laptop with a pint of beer next to him. My heart skipped a beat and my breath was shaky for a moment as I watched his toned, hairy arms typing furiously away at the small computer.
“That's Thomas,” I said, grabbing Angela's arm and pointing towards the bar. Angela cried out, dropping her hand.
“Oh my god, June, don't be so obvious!” Angela stared, licking her lips. “Wow, you weren't kidding. He's really gorgeous.”
I nodded, blushing furiously. I couldn't believe that I'd just shrieked and pointed at Thomas, like he was an exhibit in some kind of human zoo.
“We should go say hi,” Angela said. She raised her eyebrow and smirked. “You know, just introduce ourselves.”
“Oh, Ang, I can't,” I whined. “Come on, that's embarrassing!”
But Angela was already crossing the street, her long legs making purposeful strides towards the hotel bar. Before I could catch up, she was darting into the hotel lobby and into the bar.
My heart sank. I knew this was a bad idea – besides, what the hell would I tell Thomas. Oh, we just saw you from outside and wanted to say hi?
I groaned. This couldn't be good.
By the time I got inside, I was crestfallen to see Angela standing at the bar, flirting with Thomas. When she saw me, she gave a jerk of her head to the side.
“Hey, June, over here!”
Thomas turned around. When he saw me, he narrowed his eyes. I felt like melting into a puddle of June on the expensive hotel carpeting. After a few seconds, he smiled – but warily, almost the way you'd smile at a dog you suspected might bite you.
“Hello, June,” Thomas said politely. I cringed. He couldn't have made it any more obvious if he'd tried.
“Hi,” I said shyly.
“Will you and your friend join me for a drink?”
Angela made a wide-eyed face behind Thomas's back and I blushed.
“This is my roommate, Angela,” I said nervously.
“Hi, Angela. Very nice to meet you.”
