With nothing else to do, our conversation over, I let my attention drift over the crowd, taking note of interesting faces until I stop at an older man who’s is undeniably watching Bennett. My eyes narrow as I wonder why he’s so interested in our friend. A rare fellow redhead, maybe? A shadow of how he looked before time took its toll?
His gaze shifts to me, instinct telling him he’s being watched now. Awareness narrows his eyes, and we hold the look, me trying to place him. He looks familiar. My body jolts as the train stops, glance cutting to the window to see the signs for West 4th Street. The doors open and I look back to find him walking out of a pair of doors further down the train.
“Huh,” I mutter, as I follow his path through our window.
Josh leans to get a look. “What?”
I point, “You see that old guy in the pea coat?” but the crowd swallows him.
“Which one?”
“Never mind. He’s gone.”
“What about him?”
Bennett looks up from his phone. “Mother Tuckers. Another merger I didn’t see coming, and I just dropped those options yesterday. Shit!” He checks the map for where we’ve stopped in order to gauge how far is left to go. “West 4th. What’re you guys doing tonight?”
“Mother Tuckers?” I chuckle.
“It’s Christina’s family’s thing. They say Tuck instead of—” He stops. “I already told you this.”
“Yes, but it’s adorable every time.”
“Dick.”
“Big one, too.”
Josh smiles and answers for us, “We’re gonna watch movies and chill out. You wanna bring Elliot and the dogs over?”
Bennett closes his eyes. “Forgot about the dogs.” Staring off into the problem, he frowns, “Maybe they can come.”
“You forgot about the dogs?” Josh demands. “All day today?! Don’t they need a walk?”
Bennett’s eyebrows rise, “Calm yourself. I have a dog walker. I meant for the rooftop party at Christina’s tonight. It’s an all ages thing so the boys are welcome. But we’re supposed to sneak up because nobody is allowed on the roof. My first one. You guys are coming.”
Josh and I look at each other. “Do we have a say?”
“Your say is yes! You’re not leaving me surrounded by her family without reinforcements. Elliot needs Will and Joe there, too, or he’ll be bored stiff.” Bennett’s gaze drifts off again as he problem-solves aloud. “I can’t book my dog walker on a Saturday night without notice. Tried that before. Didn’t work. I really want to go to this.” He sees my grin and demands, “What, Nax?!”
“You’re in love.”
He barks. “What else would get me to Brooklyn?!”
Zia
First one there, last to leave — that was me at all of Christina and Temptest’s rooftop parties.
But these days after walking for hours on unforgiving tile floors, my arches crave a long soak and early bedtime where I can read a book, let my mind travel to places I’m physically too tired to go.
I’d regret if I didn’t show up, though, so that’s not an option. All of the Tuck family who lives in New York comes to these. Friends of ours, too.
I’ll be down one friend there tonight, won’t I? Can’t believe I did what I did! Oh James. I’m so sorry.
What was I thinking?!!
A short nap and one protein shake later and I’m on the E Train heading deep into Brooklyn.
I don’t realize time has flown until my phone blows up with text messages, service returned after we’ve crossed the East River. Why so many texts? They probably want me to pick up more ice. Parties always need more. Digging my cell out I frown and swipe the screen open to read five texts from James:
Call.
Me.
Now.
Zia.
I mean it.
Sighing, I roll my eyes and shove it back into my jacket pocket. I already told him what we did was a bad idea. A mistake. What does he want from me? What else is there to say? A knot twists in my stomach as I stew in the feeling that James needs to accept my boundaries, not force me to talk when I don’t want to.
I don’t like pressure.
Who does?
Irritation is my unwanted companion during the hurried walk through graffiti-laden streets of a neighborhood not yet cool. Give it time, Christina and Tempest said when they moved here.
How about now?
Is now good?
There would be more people, more businesses open, and I’d feel safer.
With each hasty footstep my brain repeats their memorized security code like a mantra, eyes down. 8786. 8786. 8786 8786 8786. Not until the last second do I see a man standing in the shadows beside their steel front door.
My eyes widen and I gasp, heart racing. “What are you doing here?”
James steps into the light, phone in hand. He presses a button and my bag rings, shooting down any possibility of a lie that I had it turned off. “Why didn’t you call me?”
I get angry when I’m scared, that’s been my way since childhood. I was nervous to begin with, and now have no patience for his shit. Ice smooths my face from the inside, and I snap, “Because there’s nothing else to say! What are you doing here?”
His head tilts, confused. “I always come to these, Zia. Why not tonight?”
My lips part. He’s right, but his invitation has been from me for the past year and a half or so. We’ve been friends for two. I know I didn’t invite him to this one, so I blurt before thinking, “Who told you…” and my jaw clamps at the obvious answer.
“I’m guessing you didn’t tell Tempest we’re more than friends now.”
I lean back on my heel, away from him. “James, just because we Tucked once...”
“Fucked,” he snarls. “Just say the word and stop that stupid fucking game.”
Since before I was a baby my family has said our surname, Tuck, instead of the word ‘fuck’. It’s our thing. We love it. That he’s purposefully saying fuck means he’s out to push my buttons. I really Tucking hate it when my
