“Really?” Cole watched as I leaned down to openmy bike lock. “What changed your mind?”
“I asked Hannah and she said yes. So I figure the four of us can go together, and she’s friends with Courtney so it won’t be weird.”
“Wait — you asked Hannah?”
Cole was squinting in the sunlight, his brow furrowed. I shielded my eyes to study his face.
“Yeah, is that a problem?”
Cole sighed. “I mean, Courtney is one thing, but Hannah —”
“What about her?” I asked.
“Youlikeher.”
“Cole—” I glanced over my shoulder, then reached out to squeeze his hand. His fingers were ice cold. “I likeyou.”
“Are you sure?” Cole’s voice was oddly small.
“Of course I’m — I mean, every afternoon we —” I stared at the puzzle pieces in front of me, willing them to click into place. “Wait, are youjealous?”
Cole blinked hard and tossed his head.
“Ohfuck, I wish we weren’t —” I pulled my bike away from the rack and swung one leg over the seat. “Look, you remember that thing you did for me yesterday? I was thinking today it’s my turn to do it for you.”
A slow smile broke across Cole’s face. “Really?”
“If you race me to the bottom of the hill, you’ll find out!”
I took off, pedaling as hard as I could, and I could head Cole cursing behind me as he rushed to catch up. I couldn’t imagine how someone likehimcould ever be jealous because of somethingIdid, but I knew we would be able to straighten things out.
***
July 2025
“No, you can’t — that’s not — come on, that’s not fair — just give me a chance to — motherfucker!”
I toss my controller onto the couch beside me as my orc character on the TV screen explodes into a geyser of blood.
Seth chuckles, placing his own controller on the coffee table. “You know I’ve pored over pretty much every line of code in this game — considering I fucking designed it and all.”
I huff, crossing my arms over my chest. “I don’t know why I bother to play with you.”
“Because you’re a glutton for punishment, little bro.” Seth pushes himself up off the couch and stretches luxuriously before starting down the hall toward the bathroom. “You know, we should probably think about getting going. Bree wants me there while the guests are still around to show me off and stuff.”
We’re in a two-bedroom apartment in a ritzy luxury building on 57th Street — Sabrina’s dad’s pied-à-terre for whenever he’s in New York on business for any length of time. It’s not lost on me that I’m working my ass off for a tiny studio in Brooklyn while this dude has a place on one of the most exclusive streets in the world, and he’s barely ever here. When Seth comes back into the room, I rub the teal velvet couch cushion beneath me with the palm of my hand.
“You know, I bet this thing costs as much as I get to teach an intro class for the whole semester.”
“More, probably,” Seth agrees. “It’s crazy, right? You and I grew up the way we did, and meanwhile Bree flew out to LA last month, and her dad took her to dinner withTom Hanks. I have to keep pinching myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.”
“You are one lucky son of a bitch.”
We make our way out of the apartment and take the elevator downstairs to the parking garage, where Seth’s sensible SUV is deeply outclassed by the sea of luxury cars stretching out in every direction. I climb into the passenger seat and reach for my seatbelt.
“I’m surprised that they’re still letting you drive this thing,” I remark as Seth starts the car. “Do you think they’ll make you replace it after the wedding?”
“Why, what do you think I should be driving?” Seth asks.
