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“You know what I would just love? A hot dog from my favorite corner vendor, and then to sit in Bryant Park.
I knew I loved this girl.
Oh, shit. Did I say love?
Settled onto a shady park bench only a few minutes later, we were armed with two dogs each, both loaded with the works—ketchup, mustard, sauerkraut, and grilled onions. Kealy the badass had even opted for hot peppers. I was impressed my girl could down two of New York’s favorite vendor treats, and eat them as spicy as they came, at that.
“Oh, my god, this is so good. Just what I needed,” she moaned as she balanced her food on the napkins barely covering her lap.
“So what are you going to do about your apartment?” I asked.
Something dark passed over her face, and I regretted bringing it up.
But hey, I wanted to offer my support, not pretend like it never happened.
“Are you gonna stay at Cross’s for awhile?”
“He invited me. But I don’t want to impose. I mean, he has Joey and all…it could get crowded.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Are you serious? I’ve seen his place. It’s freaking huge.”
“I know, I know,” she said, nodding. “I guess what I mean is that I don’t want him to feel crowded, in spite of the extra space he has.”
“Darlin’, he wouldn’t invite you if he didn’t want you. But if you’re not down with staying at his place, you could always stay at mine.” I didn’t mean to cock block my buddy, especially since we were into sharing, but wasn’t it just common courtesy to offer our girl options?
Eh. I was an asshole.
“Look, Kealy. We want to help you in any way we can. Your happiness is ours.”
She looked a little flustered at the word ours. It was cool, though. To be expected, and all that.
I continued before she could protest. “The guys and I have been talking.”
She frowned. “Huh? What about? Why?”
I reached for her soft cheek and smoothed my hand over it. “We want you to know you don’t need to go back to that apartment, ever, if you don’t want to. Stay with us. Any of us.”
She sat back hard on the park bench, biting her lower lip. “I can’t do that. I mean, thank you, Rand. I’m very grateful. To all of you. But I have to make it on my own. And…”
Why did she trail off?
“Yes? What’s on your mind, baby?”
“I can’t date multiple men. I want to be with one person. One person who wants to be with me.”
My heart fell for a second, but it was all good. Most people wanted to be with one other, and her preference would come as no surprise to any of us.
“I respect that. We all do. And we’ll support any decision you make.” It kind of killed me to say that, but supporting her, however much disappointment might come along with it, was the right thing to do.
“I appreciate that. It’s hard. I mean, well…I’ve become attached to all of you. You’re so different from each other but also so amazing. And the fact that you’re friends…”
“I guess that makes it harder, and easier, all at the same time,” I said.
She looked at me, and damn if she didn’t have tears in her eyes. It kind of broke my heart. She asked for so little and deserved so much. And we guys wanted to give her all we could. Make up for her shitty past.
I turned to face her straight on. “Why don’t we all get together tonight? All five of us? Well, Cross might need to bring Joey, but he doesn’t eat much.”
That got a chuckle out of her.
“We could do that,” she said slowly. “Yeah, that might be a good idea. I’d love to cook for you all. But I guess I can’t do that now with my busted up apartment.”
I wondered for a moment if I could talk her out of going back to her office and into coming home with me to spend the afternoon in my bed.
But there would be time for that sort of thing later. At least, I hoped so.
