Kyle then pats his friend on the shoulder. “And this is Adam.”
I sit up with a bit more enthusiasm myself as I take in a man with brown hair, friendly brown eyes and one dimple. He isn’t as tall as I’d like, but I can get past that.
Hello, Adam.
“Nice to meet you,” I say.
“Likewise.” He extends his hand and I reach out to grasp it. He has a nice grip, confident and warm.
Kyle leans down to whisper in Maggie’s ear, effectively making Adam and me the third and fourth wheels.
“So, do you live around here?” he asks.
“I do,” I answer. “I’m in Tudor City on 41st Street.”
“Oh, nice. That’s near the water, right? I love that block.”
A smile spreads across my face. “Me, too.”
I’m gearing up to keep our conversation going when Kyle pats Adam on the shoulder once again. We say goodbye and Maggie and I watch the boys walk away until they’re out of view.
“And who, pray tell, was that?” I ask, turning to Maggie.
She shrugs with a smirk. “I met Kyle last week at my cousin’s birthday.”
“I daresay he is very handsome. Got a good feeling about this one?”
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself but it’s fair to assume that he’s my future husband and the father of my unborn children.”
“Fantastic. Does he know that yet?”
“No, but he will after we go out for happy hour this week.”
“Because half-priced drinks are notoriously conducive to enduring love.”
“That’s what I always say.”
I shake my head with a grin as our waitress appears and introduces herself. We tell her what we’d like and are told that select cocktails are included with our brunch special.
“Excellent!” Maggie beams. “My friend and I will each get a Bellini. We’re actually here celebrating our engagements.”
I almost choke on my water at Maggie’s words. The waitress congratulates us and walks off to get our drinks.
“Are you high?” I ask through a laugh.
“What? I honestly think marriage proposals are on the horizon for us. Kyle and Ryan are very lucky men.”
“I wouldn’t count on it,” I say.
“Oh, well. Gotta fake it till you make it.”
7
“So I send you a freak-out text, and you show up thirty minutes later withpandebonoand coffee? I’ve made my decision. I’m marrying you instead of Jason.”
“We’re going to be a beautiful couple.”
I step inside as Cristina pushes her door back farther, dressed in a faded NYU T-shirt, soft lounging pants and fuzzy slippers. We plop down onto her couch moments later and I edge my sneakers off before curling my feet into the blue velvet cushions.
