“You don’t usually do casual.”
“So? I’m trying something new.”
“I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Thanks. But I’m a grown-ass man. I’ll be okay. And besides…”
“Besides what?”
Farzan cracked a wicked grin. “The dick is good.”
Arya’s smile came back so strong, Farzan thought the sun had come out.
“Well, good, then. So. Monday?”
“What exactly are you asking me to do?”
“Nothing unseemly,” Arya said, clutching imaginary pearls. “I got some tickets to the opening of the Nelson’s new exhibit. You know we did that gala for them last month?”
Farzan nodded.
“Well, I got VIP passes as a thank-you gift. Want to come with?”
“Sure.”
“Great. I’ll text you the ticket.” Arya’s phone went off, a calendar alert instead of another Grindr bleep. “Fuck, I’ve got a client meeting. See you soon. Love you, dude.”
Arya pulled Farzan into a hug, then bolted out the door, hunching against the rain. But then he ran back inside to grab the thermos he’d left on the table.
“Need this,” he muttered. “And hey. I’ve got your back.”
“Thanks.”
The word was barely out before Arya was back in the rain, ducking into his car and pulling away.
Farzan shook his head. Arya was ridiculous, but he wasn’t wrong. Farzan hadn’t done casual before. But he could learn. This was a temporary situation, and once David moved away—and Farzan was more firmly settled at the restaurant—he’d get back out there and date for real. Find a partner.
Show his family who he really was.
nineteen
David
David
Where are you???
David paced outside the Nelson-Atkins gift shop, footsteps echoing off the slick gray concrete. The lobby was long and narrow, connecting the parking garage below to the Bloch Building at the far end. A set of marble stairs, which used to open onto the eastern lawn, now led up into the Nelson-Atkins building itself. David had only the vaguest memories of visiting the museum as a child, before the addition. Mostly he remembered the giant shuttlecocks outside.
David’s phone buzzed. Finally. He swiped past the group chat—a few friends (and a dozen not-really-friends) from the Chicago restaurant scene he kept on mute because he legitimately only cared about two of the people in it—and pulled up Kyra’s message.
Kyra
I’m so so sorry
Family emergency
My mom broke her tailbone!!
