“No. I spend way too much time in California. I never get to do much when I’m in town.”
“Well, let’s change that,” he said as he speed dialed a number and a man I quickly learned was his father’s assistant came on the line. He instructed him to book a late lunch and an early Broadway show and we headed to the city. We talked about nothing serious as we drove. We exchanged stories of our childhood. I learned that his family owned half the city, which hadn’t been apparent from his common last name, Scott.
“Must be nice!” I said as he talked about some of his more exotic adventures.
“Yes, it is. I’d like to take you to some of those places one day. Maybe when you come back to town?” he said as he placed a hand on my thigh. At first, I didn’t realize what he was doing until he squeezed my leg.
“What are you doing?” I asked with a smile.
“Sorry, that was inappropriate. It’s just that I like you,” he said. He smiled and removed his hand.
I smiled and tried to wipe away what had happened as a lapse in his judgment.
“So, do you have a boyfriend?” he asked as the silence grew heavier and more uncomfortable.
“Not really,” I said. I wanted Tyler to be my boyfriend, but that was never going to happen.
“You’re such a nice girl. I’d do anything to make you my girlfriend.”
I was speechless for a few moments; his words had been unexpected. He must have realized I was uncomfortable with what he had said because he stammered and tried to cover up with more words.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. It’s just that you are so damn hot, like I told Tyler, and I’d….”
“Wait, you told Tyler I was hot?” I asked, my ears picking that part up.
“You are!”
“It’s weird to talk about me with my brother,” I said. It was probably not weird. I’m sure boys talked about their sisters between each other, but it just seemed weird that he was talking about wanting to be my boyfriend with a boy I was fucking almost round the clock.
“Not really.”
“So what did he say?”
“He said you weren’t interested in men?” The statement was really a question.
I started laughing. Tyler was probably so afraid other men would come on to me that he thought he had to chase them off with lies.
“Is that true?” he asked.
“Of course not,” I said, smiling.
Tyler was crazy, I thought, grinning, and in that instant, I missed him. I wanted my first experience at a Broadway show to be with him. We had been talking about doing it for years, and he’d be disappointed if he wasn’t the first one to accompany me to my first Broadway show. Suddenly, I wanted to be with him at that precise moment. Even if he was with Stacey, I knew he’d not hesitate to dump her for me. If I wanted him, I guess I had to show it.
“Can we take a turn here?” I pointed to a street in front of me. “I want some ice cream,” I said to Jason as we passed a familiar street.
“Sure,” Jason said, eager to please me. I felt bad for him. He had no clue I wanted to go to that ice cream shop because I was hoping Tyler would be there.
TYLER
She saw me before I saw her, and the position she saw me in was too compromising for me to even start explaining. Stacey had some particle in her eye, and she had leaned over and asked me to check. I was just about to do that when Jenn walked in. To an untrained eye, it looked like I was kissing and cuddling with Stacey, and no explanation would appease Jenn.
When she saw me, she turned around to speak to someone. I noticed that Jason was behind her. Had she come here with Jason? I didn’t need to ask when I saw her link her hand with Jason’s and place an order for her ice cream. Jason looked around and saw me. He touched her shoulder and pointed toward me. She had seen me prior to Jason noticing I was there, but the look on her face was angrier that I would have expected. She looked like she was foaming at the mouth, and if I didn’t have to entertain Stacey, I would have simply taken off just to avoid seeing her. But we were in a gridlock because Stacey also saw her, and before I could say a word, she waved at them, inviting them over to our table.
Everyone said hello and I turned to Jenn. “So how did you know where to find me?”
“Who said I wanted to find you?” she said with so much anger in her voice I had to do a double take.
“I was just flattering myself, I guess.”
“Jason and I were on our way to a Broadway show and I thought we’d stop for some frozen yogurt first.”
“Excuse us. I need to talk to my sister for a moment,” I said to Stacey and Jason, and I grabbed Jenn’s hand and walked to the side of the room.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she asked as I pulled her along.
“Trying to talk some sense into you. Listen, you can’t go out with Jason. He’s bad news,” I said.
“What?” She was fuming.