Something flitted across Grace’s expression. “So you’re officially going?”
“Well, you got into grad school. Why does that bother you?” Tati asked wryly.
“It doesn’t. We don’t even play the same instrument. What do I care?”
“Seems like you care a little. Not sure why, though. You’re the one who turned him down.”
“I didn’t exactly turn him down.”
“He bought you an eleven-hundred-dollar bow, Grace.”
“So?”
I scowled at Tati. “She’s going to grad school. That’s why she’s not going to Europe with Pornsake.”
“No, she’s waiting around for you, Matt. For when you come back to New York.”
“Tatiana!” Brandon scolded her.
“What? It’s true.”
“I’m going to grad school because I want an advanced degree. You can gallivant all over Europe with Pornsake for the next year and a half. I don’t care.”
Grace turned and stormed off toward the chess tables.
I turned to Tati, furious that she had ruined Grace’s big announcement and our afternoon. “I didn’t pressure Grace to stay, if that’s what you think.”
“You guys can’t be away from each other for a whole year, even though this traveling orchestra would be an insane opportunity and experience for her.”
I looked at Brandon and then back to Tati. “You think you two can be away from each other for that long?”
“We’re solid, Matt. Brandon and I can spend five minutes away from each other and not go crazy, unlike you guys.”
“If you guys are so solid, why don’t you marry him then?”
“Oh, grow up, Matt. What are you, five?”
“I’d marry Grace in a heartbeat. That’s how solid we are.” I looked back to see Grace halfway across the park, playing chess with a short, gray-haired man.
Tati smirked and then stuck her hand out. “I smell a challenge.”
“What are you talking about, Tati?” Brandon said, suddenly shaking loose from his high.
“Oh, shut it, Brandon.” She looked back at me. “You don’t think we’d do it?”
I laughed. “I don’t know, Tati, Brandon doesn’t seem all that keen on the idea.”
She turned back to Brandon, who stood wide-eyed behind her. “You’d marry me, wouldn’t you? I mean, the things we’ve done...” She arched her eyebrows in a knowing way.
“I . . . I guess.”
Turning back around, she said, “See, Matt. You’re the one who’s all talk.”
I stuck my hand out. “I bet we do it before you guys do.”
“It’s on.” She glared at me.
“What are we even betting on?”
