“You got it, pardner.” I exaggerated my accent, knowing James would give me one of his famous eye rolls. “C’mon, everyone. Let’s go.”
Everyone traipsed out after me, and we all stood on the sidewalk, looking up at the building. Last night the installers came and finished putting up the new sign. I had them cover it, and this morning I took my lasso and attached it to the front of the tarp.
“I have to thank everyone who was with me from the first: Austin, Frankie, and James. Without your help and love, I don’t think I woulda ever made it through the first year.”
I waited for the clapping to die down, then faced Harlan. “And to Harlan, who taught me to stand up for myself and to make myself no less important than everyone else in my life, I love you. Watching you work through your struggles every day gave me the courage to stand up for myself and realize that putting myself first didn’t mean I wasn’t a good person. Sometimes it’s okay to put yourself first.”
Harlan kissed me on the cheek. “You’re first with me, and that’s what counts.”
“Humbleness becomes you, Harlan.” James folded his arms and smirked.
“What’s everyone doing out here? Don’t tell me I missed the party?”
The laughter died down, and we all faced Malcolm, who waited behind us. I darted a glance at James, whose face tightened with anger. Damned if I didn’t want to find out what there was between the two men that made sparks fly every time they came face-to-face.
“Glad you could join us, Malcolm.” I stared in surprise as Harlan stepped to his side to greet him and shake his hand.
When he rejoined me, I whispered in his ear, “Why did you invite him?”
“Because if he didn’t offer his car that night to bring you to me on the bridge and to take me upstate, I might not be here today.”
I couldn’t dispute that fact, but my loyalty belonged to James. “I don’t know what’s goin’ on between them two, but I ain’t never seen two people who hate each other more.”
A gleam entered Harlan’s eyes. “Yeah? I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”
“I’m sure. Look. Rhoades even has to stand between them so they don’t come to blows.”
“Come on, Cort,” Frankie yelled. “Let’s do it.” He began to clap. “Do it! Do it!”
“Simmer down, Frankie.” I took the rope and held it. “Okay, everyone. It took me a while to figure out what to call the store, ’cause I wanted it to have some meaning.” I yanked the rope to reveal the sign. After a moment’s silence, the group burst into laughter.
With pride, I faced my friends, pointing upward. “Welcome to ‘Read ’Em, Cowboy.’” The red sign with bold, black letters featured a cowboy swinging a lasso toward a pile of books.
Harlan’s eyes danced. “This is classic. I love it.”
“I wanted something of myself in the title.” I leaned over and murmured in his ear. “But also something to remind me of you. And since I like it when you ride me…” Harlan’s eyes blazed, and I felt the answering tug of lust curl around my spine. “It’s the best of both worlds.”
“I think so too.”
The excited voices of our friends rose behind us, but Harlan and I couldn’t stop smiling into each other’s eyes. It was as if we were the only two people there, out on Second Avenue on a sunny Sunday morning.
“How about we go back inside, and we can see all the improvements you’ve made.” James opened the door.
“Thanks, Jamie.” Malcolm breezed by him, and James opened his mouth, but Rhoades leaned in and whispered something in his ear that calmed him down. Everyone walked back inside. Aaron found the section on home improvement and gardening and sat down to read. Rhoades picked up theSunday Timesand began to do the crossword. The rest of the group gathered around the desk to get something to eat.
Malcolm picked up a bagel and slathered on some cream cheese. “Nice place you’ve got here. It doesn’t look like any other bookstore I’ve ever been in. You’ve made it more like a living room. I like it.”
“I didn’t think you knew how to read.” James’s lips thinned with his sneer.
“You know, Jamie, you can surround yourself with your pretty boys and hide in that office of yours. But one day?” He popped a bite of bagel in his mouth and patted James on the cheek. “You’re going to have to come out on your own again and join the rest of us who know how to enjoy life.” His fingers trailed down James’s cheek. “And when you do…”
As if awoken from a trance, James jerked away from Malcolm. “Get your dirty hands off me. God only knows where they’ve been.” Red-faced and breathing hard, James fled to the empty seat next to Rhoades while shooting daggers across the room at Malcolm who, unperturbed, chatted with Hector and José.
“Whaddyou think that’s all about?” I nudged Harlan, who’d watched their exchange with interest.
“I told you. There’s something there between them.”
“Yeah. Intense hatred and disgust.”
“Forget about them.” He looped his arms around my neck.
“Yeah?” I pulled him closer. “What should I be thinkin’ about? You? Me? Us?”
“All of the above. Us. Riding off into the sunset.”
THE END
