“Want to go in?I’ll pay.”
“Maybe we really should.Do you want to check first?”Hehesitates, but I continue.“If you’re being this arsey, it can only mean one thing.”
“I’m not arsey,” he replies, in a pretty arsey way.
I just raise a speaking eyebrow.Colin snorts disdainfully, but pulls out his phone and opens the blood-sugar app.
“Ha!”I exclaim in triumph, glancing at the screen.“OK, in we go, Fantino.”
“It’s too early,” he says.“They don’t open till noon.”
“Oh.”Bummer.
“To be honest, I hate the place,” he admits.
“Oh, so that’s why you called me after it?”
“Totally.”
“Thought as much,” I say.
“That’s not actually true,” he starts.
I sigh.“God, Colin, stop being so cheesy.”
He has to smile.“Can’t help it.”
“Go on, hurl insults at me.I know how to deal with that.”
“Is that one of your kinks?”
“Apparently,” I say.“Come on, pick a place where we can get something to eat before you bloody well pass out.”
“Oh, please.”
“Yes, please do.”I glare at him.
“Fine.There’s a great breakfast place around the corner.Might not be such a bad idea after all the excitement.”
Colin
We spend most of the day exploring New York.I show Olive around Central Park and take her to my favorite burger joint, and then we just stroll around seeing the sights.
Late in the afternoon, the lack of sleep and jet lag take their revenge.Olive falls asleep in her seat on the subway back home.Her head slumps onto my shoulder, awakening an overwhelming desire in me to lie in bed with her, shut out the world, and do nothing more than kiss her, fall asleep, and...well, maybe try some other things after that.
When we get back to the apartment, I think at first we’re alone.But then Cleo appears, her eyes red with crying, and my stomach cramps again.“Where are Mom and Dad?”I ask coolly, taking off my jacket.
“Work.”She sniffs.I hate her because I know this isn’t fake.I can’t stand seeing her cry.Especially not because of me.“Colin, I...I’m so sorry.”
I glance at Olive, who’s stopped a few steps behind me.She still looks totally exhausted.“I think I’ll have a bit of a lie-down,” she says.
“OK.”That will give me a chance to talk to Cleo.I pull Olive to me and give her a kiss.She says nothing, but her hand glides gently over my cheek, then she pulls away and vanishes into the guest room.
And then I’m alone with Cleo.“Colin,” she says, her voice pleading.
“Yeah, what?”I turn away and walk into the kitchen, not thatI need anything.But I won’t be able to stand firm if I look at her.“Why did you do it?”I ask.
Cleo doesn’t reply.
