By the time I got home, I was running on fumes. I dropped my keys to the floor, stripped off my clothes, and turned the shower knob all the way to the left, letting the small bathroom fill with steam. I stepped into the tub, standing still with my eyes squeezed tightly shut.
Eddie was right. This was a world where no mistake was inconsequential. I felt unprepared for such a weighty reality.
I toweled off and realized I hadn’t eaten anything all day. I found my phone and hit the reorder button on my Seamless app without looking at what I’d last ordered.
My eye landed on the open bottle of red across the room.
The first summer that I spent in New York away from Ben, I’d romanticized lonely Friday nights like these. Alone, no responsibility to anyone but myself. Whatever takeout I was in the mood for. All the rom-coms my heart desired. Wine on my couch.
I turned on the movie adaptation of Emily Giffin’sSomething Borrowedto drown out the quiet. Twenty minutes later, the buzzer sounded, and I felt around for my slippers.
“Come on up,” I automated as I pressed the button and reached for a clean wine glass.
Minutes later, there was a light knock as the door handle jiggled.
“Just a sec ...” I said as I peered through the peephole and saw Connor’s face.
I cracked the door so he wouldn’t get the full view of my depressing Friday night.
“Jesus. I thought you were the Seamless guy, but they usually don’t try to open the door themselves,” I said with a nervous chuckle.
“Since I’m not the Seamless guy, can I come in?”
I kicked my slippers off behind the door. “Sure.”
Connor took off his shoes outside and settled onto a kitchen stool. “Seamless and wine, is it? And you didn’t think to invite me? You know we’re only young once.”
I rolled my eyes. “What’sup? You don’t live close enough for a casual pop in.”
“No Friday night plans? In the greatest city in the world?”
“It was a long day.”
“They’re all long, Sam. They’ll be long for the rest of our lives. What won’t last forever are wild Friday nights.”
“Maybe we have different versions of wild.”
“Anyway, Gillian’s out of town, but ‘the French’ are in town, and I’m heading to meet them at Art Bar around the corner. And clearly saving you from a sad Friday night.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know ‘the French’ but I’m about to drink a glass of wine and go to bed.”
Connor sighed. “I’m not loving this for you, Sam. You need to meet people. Interesting people. Some sophisticated Frenchies. Just come out for one drink. If you’re not having a blast after an hour, you’re only five minutes from home. It’d be a mistake not to eventryhaving fun.”
The Word of the Day hung in the air.
“Everyone makes mistakes,” I said dryly.
“C’mon. I need a wingwoman. My ex is going to be there.”
“Which one?”
“Get dressed, and I’ll give you the skinny on the way.”
“I’m not in a social mood. And I just ordered food.”
He looked unconvinced. “Is Caroline at home? She can bring it in for you. There’s food at Art Bar.”
“She’s in Iowa,” I said.
