Josh:
Briar:I’m screaming
Radhya:What time did she leave?
Josh:40 minutes ago.
Briar:Did you make her matzo brei for breakfast??
Radhya:Wait, she spent the NIGHT?
Josh:Your shock is very flattering, thank you.
Radhya:Don’t do anything.
Don’t text, don’t call.
Wait for her to initiate contact.
Briar:I dunno…
3:25ish is a GREAT time for a “sup?”
Very casual.
Radhya:No.
GIVE HER SPACE.
She might call me in the meantime.
Briar:Good strategy. Triangulate!
Gtg team. Peloton is starting.
ARI HURRIES AROUNDthe corner to the Bleecker Street station, hugging her peacoat closed. It’s hard to believe she was sweating a few minutes ago. She sifts through her unanswered texts with the charging cord still attached to her phone, slapping against her inside-out tights as she runs down the stairs.
Fumbling in her bag for her MetroCard with one last fare, Ari pushes through the turnstile with the slightest sense of relief that there’s at least one physical barrier between current Ari and the Ari of ten minutes ago. It’ll feel even better to get out of this neighborhood. There’s no arrival time on the LED displays—just a random pattern of red pixels.
She checks her phone. There’s an angry red dot with the number 104 over themessagesicon. She’s sure that number was in the 80s yesterday.
Sun, Jan 15, 5:31p.m.
salt & pepper man + blond hotwife:Still on for 6:15?
The place on 20th.
6:21p.m.
We’re here.
6:42p.m.
We’re in the dining area in back. Ordered some tapas.
7:05p.m.
What’s your ETA?
