“Because you guys are obsessed with the wings at Grizzly’s.”
“Yeah, because who wouldn’t be? I’m not a monster, Iris.”
“Fair. But this place does the best coffee in America.”
“I will try not to scoff. I’ve learned my lesson after having pizza in this town.” Jack seems obsessed with the décor and keeps pointing out little details that have gone overmyhead. I’m used to the huge pine tree decals on the windows and the life-sized cardboard cutouts of Robert Pattinson and friends. But I’ve never noticed the graduation cap artwork behind thecounter that Jack assures me is from the Cullens’ house in the movie.
“Wait, no, it couldn’t be—” He sees something on the counter and reaches for it. It’s the cup sleeves that have caught his attention. They’re covered in printed sheet music.
“What is it?”
“I’m not very good at reading music, but I think this is ‘Clair du Lune.’ You know, the music Edward plays for Bella when she goes to visit his family?”
I pause and regard him, slightly concerned. “Jack Alden, you’re just a big geek, aren’t you?”
He blushes and puts a finger over his lips. “Shhh, don’t tell anyone.”
I laugh. He’s such a fish out of water here in Star Falls. I wish I could be a fly on the wall in his life in New York. I bet he has a butler and a driver and has tailors coming to his house to fit him for expensive suits. Here I am taking him to our local pizza restaurant and making him pose in front of Marvin the Moose.
“Where do you get your coffee in Manhattan?” I ask.
“There’s a little Italian deli at the end of my block.”
I laugh again. “You make it sound very humble. I bet it supplies the White House or something.”
He shrugs. “Maybe. In New York, anything’s possible.”
We order our coffees to go and head out. Our tour of Star Falls isn’t going to take long. But we might as well take in the falls next.
“Okay,” Jack says. “I can’t believe I’ve never actually been to the place that gives Star Falls its name.”
“You spend too much time in your gilded cage, Jack. You’re about to find out that the real world can be even better.” We slide into Jack’s SUV and begin the drive out of town to the falls.
“I’ve never heard New York referred to as a gilded cage,” he says.
“Really?” I shift around in the passenger seat so I’m facing him. His profile is lit up by the sun and his features look like they’re carved from marble. “I’m sure it isn’t for most people, but for some people, most of life is a gilded cage, isn’t it? For others it’s the exact opposite.”
“I never really thought about it like that. What I like about New York is that there’s so much diversity. From the arts, to the food, to the people. Every day is different.”
“Potentially,” I say.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, life is potentially different. But I bet most days look similar to most people. Even you, I imagine.”
He stares straight ahead, taking the turns of the roads slowly, like someone who hasn’t lived here his entire life. “You’re right. I guess I haven’t looked at it like that.”
“I’m not saying that’s a bad thing,” I say. “It’s the same for most people. You can tell that at the farm, most days follow a routine. Obviously things change depending on the season, but the core remains the same.”
“That’s true of my life in New York, too. I guess I just haven’t seen it. In New York, I’m surrounded by the possibility of things being different, but they rarely are.” He pulls his eyebrows together, like he’s thinking really hard. “You’re right. It’s just perception.”
I reach out and push my hand through the hair at the back of his neck. “Did I just destroy your vibe?”
He smiles and shoots me a look. “It’s rare that anyone ever challenges me to look at things in a new way.” He hums, like thoughts are racing around his head and he’s trying to sort them into some kind of order. “But you always manage it.”
“Here we are,” I say. “Just turn in here.”
We pull up in the parking area for the falls. There’s just one other car here.
