This time, I was going to be brave.
A month later, three days before Christmas Eve.
“The postman just brought it,” Matías said over the phone. Pulse racing, I adjusted my earbud. The traffic was roaring past and I could hardly hear.
“You mean the…?”
“Yep, the response from the ABT.”
“Did you open it?” I asked.
“Of course not. You should.”
“Why can’t they just send an email like everyone else in the world?” I whined.
“I don’t know, I like all that ceremony: official letterhead, fancy signatures. It makes the whole thing look cooler.”
“Dickhead!” I flipped the bird at a bicyclist zooming down the sidewalk.
“Excuse me,” Matías said. “Did you just insult me?”
“No, it was this jerk that almost ran me over.” I turned the corner and went on zigzagging through the crowd. “I’m just so nervous, Matías.”
“What about me? I can’t stop thinking about it, so move your ass and get home so we can open that damned bottle of champagne I’ve been saving since the dinosaurs roamed the earth.”
“Your Moët? You’d really open it for me?”
“Only for you, Maya. You’re my best friend.”
I stopped in front of a crosswalk and stared at the little red man in the light telling me to wait.
“I’m almost at the bus stop.”
“Well, hurry! I’m jumping out of my skin,” he shouted.
“New York! Can you imagine?”
His excitement was adding to mine, and when the light changed, I hurried into the street.
I saw him coming, but I thought he’d stop.
And he didn’t.
I heard shouts. The squealing of brakes. Felt the blow.
My body flew through the air.
After that, nothing.
32
I got up early on Saturday. I’d been thinking of taking the bus to Naples and looking for a specialty shop where I could get the shoes and clothing I’d need to start giving classes the following Monday. That would also give me an excuse to get to know a new place.
I showered, put on a long white skirt and matching top, pulled my hair back in a ponytail and put on some makeup. Nothing fancy, just eyeliner, foundation, and a strawberry-flavored lip gloss.
Walking out, I ran into Lucas.
His eyes were two slits just barely showing his blue irises, and his hair was sticking out in all directions. I tried not to notice that he was naked except for his underwear. He blinked as he saw me, still half-asleep.
