True to his word, Manhattan dazzled above their heads. But it was Avi who had shown up, in a big way. All the rugelach in the world couldn’t repay him for his kindness.
And then, the rock star started singing “Starry, starry night” against the shell of her ear, changing up the lyrics with “your palette silver, blue and gold” to match their holiday.
“I’m not going to sing the whole song because it’s kind of a sad one,” he said, waltzing her back to where they had started. They still swayed close, long after the music stopped. “But I think I have something to add to your bucket list.”
“Oh?” she pulled back slightly, regarding this tuxedoed man with his wild elegance and rugged allure. He’d come a long way since the days of sandals with socks.
“We should go to MoMA. See it for real. That’s where the painting hangs,” he said. “I totally Googled it.”
She laughed into his jacket, feeling the rumble of his chuckle dwindle as he cradled her curls with a strong hand. “I’m serious, Letty. The trip doesn’t have to end.”
“Avi? Can we talk a minute?”
Leah turned at the sound of the soft, lilting voice, recognizing the woman instantly. From the floating photo gallery.
Avi found his voice. “Sylvie.” His tone was carefully neutral.
A photographer.Of course.She looked utterly at ease, Leah observed, like she belonged wherever she happened to be.
The earlier conversation in the gallery played in her mind.You look like you’re ready for anything.
Was she ready for this?
Was Avi?
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, grounding her. “It’s okay.”
She nodded. “I’ll grab a drink. Maybe wrangle Jonah to listen to my pitch.”
Avi searched her eyes for a moment. “I’ll find you before my set.”
Sylvie moved toward the railing, looking out at the dark water until Avi joined her.
“So I was thinking…the cover shot. It’s going to be the last photo I take of you for a while.” She didn’t turn his way. “That’s why I texted you Tuesday. To tell you before we boarded.”
He nodded. It made sense. And probably why a tiny part of him, watching those bus taillights drive away and strand him in Ohio, had felt a thrilling relief. The universe giving him the gift of time to delay the inevitable.
Boy, had the universe delivered so much more.
“I’m sorry I didn’t reply to your message. I got separated from my phone and…long story.”
There were some parts of the trip he was dying to tell her about. Other parts were just between him and Leah. And others – just for himself.
“She’s lovely.” Her voice was soft and small. “I met her earlier in my gallery. Don’t go in there, by the way. All your photos are gone.”
Avi wondered if they were thrown overboard, floating out in the Upper New York Bay, but she added, “Jay needed door prizes.”
He let out a quiet laugh, and the night held it for a beat.
“I was thinking the same,” he admitted. “About the song. Taking it out of rotation for a while.”
“You don’t have to stop playing it.”
Yeah, he kind of did. If they expected any hope of moving forward into a new phase that kept their friend group intact. And he told her just that.
“I was thinking we split the Jew Crew actually.” She raised her hand. “Dibs on Eli, Talia, and Jonah.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
