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“I knew it.” Chris moved his feet away. “But it worked, I’m feeling better.” Although most likely because of the double Advil. He moved to sit and waited for the room to stop spinning.
“Is Jay also coming?” Ethan asked and went to peek inside the big basket.
“Yes, but he said that meeting before noon on a weekend was an act of war.”
Then he shouldn’t fucking come, Chris stopped himself from saying. Still dizzy, he got up and carefully made his way to take a shower.
*
Spring had truly arrived, but Chris had been so busy balancing work, family, and forced prostitution, that he hadn’t noticed the changing season.
They sat in Central Park, a nearby tree providing them with shade. Families and tourists walked around, and no one seemed to be nursing a hangover. Chris lay on the grass, his head on a small pillow they had brought from Ethan’s apartment. Ethan lay with his head on Anthony’s stomach, the two of them talking about Anthony’s latest gig, and how he desperately needed to hire more people because work was piling up. Chris remembered a time when Anthony’s business was barely surviving, so hearing that he was struggling with the growing load was good news.
“Jay, over here!” Anthony called.
Chris raised his head, easily spotting Jay among the crowd because of his dark clothes and long dark hair. It looked like he was heading to a bikers’ party rather than a picnic.
Chris sighed quietly and lowered his head back on the pillow. Jay’s presence made him edgy, and he could tell that Ethan noticed.You’re too sharp for your own good, buddy.
“Do you also have a hangover?” Anthony asked as Jay sat next to them.
“I haven’t had a hangover since I was fourteen.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good thing. Are you hungry?”
“You bet I am. Is this a picnic basket or a small apartment?”
Ethan laughed. “Wait till you hear how many things he brought.”
“Not that many.” Anthony peeked inside his basket. “Bread, cheese, jams, grapes, antipasti, mini quiche, wine, and some chocolate.”
Jay clucked his tongue. “How ‘bout putting in some effort next time?”
“Funny.”
Anthony slid the basket to Jay, who took out a mini quiche. “Cheers, boys.”
Chris remained quiet while the other three talked about Jay’s new apartment and what still needed to be done to turn it into a bachelor’s paradise. He used the time to doze off in the cool breeze until a hand on his shoulder woke him up. Jay lay next to him, his head resting on his elbow, and his big sunglasses covering his eyes.
“How’s the head?” he asked. Close by, Ethan and Anthony were deep in conversation.
“Fine. Advil.”
“Good thing Ethan was willing to handle your tragic mess.”
“Did I throw up on you?”
“If you had, you’d be dead.” Jay lowered his voice. “Any word from Mickey?”
“Not yet. I’m guessing he’ll speak with me during work. He’s a face-to-face sort of asshole.”
Jay tucked a stray of hair behind his ear. “It bugs me knowing he’s planning something.”
“Nothing we can do about it now. Let’s wait and see.” He checked that the other two weren’t listening. “I need to know on which days you want me at the apartment next week.” That was how they talked about their arrangement.The apartment.
“Don’t know yet.” Jay moved to lie on his back and linked his hands behind his head. “Maybe we don’t need to do that next week. Let’s focus on getting that Mickey shit sorted out.”
Chris stared at him. Jay had been insisting on having him at the apartment twice a week.
