away. “Not a coffee drinker?”
“Not unless I have to work late,” she says, running her hands along her thighs, like she’s cold. She’s in long sleeves, a sweater that’s gray and nearly see-through, and jeans that hug her every curve. “Can you believe how cold it is? It’s June. We’re supposed to be melting, and I can’t stop shivering.”
Yesterday was hot. Today is cold. This month can’t decide what it wants to do, and I can sympathize with that.
“We can move inside,” I offer.
“No, I’ll be fine once my tea gets here.” Her teeth chatter, and she wraps her arms around her sides.
“Don’t be a martyr. Come on.” I stand, taking my coffee cup in one hand and offering my other hand to Aidy.
She hesitates at first, and then she slips hers in mine. For a second, I can’t breathe. It’s like I’d completely forgotten how good it feels to touch someone. To hold their hand. To revel in that brief, heart-stopping “what if.”
I lead her inside and we take up residence at a small table for two in the corner, away from the door.
“Thank you,” she says when we sit down.
There’s a flickering candle between us and a single pink carnation in a white vase. It’s almost romantic in here.
“There you are.” Our server returns, balancing Aidy’s tea and a side of milk and sugar on a small tray.
“Can you believe this weather we’re having?” Aidy says to the two of us. “Hope it’s not going to be like this all weekend.”
“I think it’s supposed to warm up.” Our server slips the tray beneath her arm. “Can I get you anything else?”
“We’re good, thanks.” Aidy smiles.
“Why? What are you doing this weekend?” I ask.
“It’s the Fourth of July,” she says.
It had completely slipped my mind. Living a life with no set schedule, the days and weeks tend to blur together, and with no family around, holidays are like every other endless fucking day.
“That’s right,” I say. “Got any plans?”
Aidy mixes her tea, pouring little drips of milk on top and stirring until it turns a creamy shade of caramel. Adding just a sprinkle of sugar, she stirs it again and takes a sip. The whole concept of milk and tea together has never sat right with me, but it looks good the way she’s mixing it.
“Normally Wren and Enzo and I sit on the roof of our building and watch the fireworks from there. But this year, Enzo’s going to his dad’s and Wren’s going to Chauncey’s building and watching them with Chauncey’s parents.” She palms the white tea cup, blowing across the steamy liquid. “She invited me, but I don’t want to be the third wheel, you know? This is going to be her new family. They need time to bond and all that.”
“Who’s Chauncey?”
“Wren’s fiancé. They’re getting married in six months,” she says. “He owns that pizza place, Finnegan’s.”
“No shit? That’s one of my favorites. Their corned beef and cabbage pizza is-”
“Disgusting,” she interrupts. “Love Chauncey, but some of that stuff on his menu isn’t meant for human consumption. Cabbage roll pizza? Lamb stew on pizza? Who thinks of this stuff?”
“What do you eat there?”
“Cheese, usually. Sometimes pepperoni. He lets me order off the kids’ menu.”
Aidy takes another drink, glancing around the small café. It’s beginning to fill up the closer we get to dinnertime.
“So what are you doing this weekend?” I ask. “Since Wren and Enzo are going to be gone?”
She sits up straight, staring down and to the side. “I don’t know. Guess I hadn’t thought about it. Working maybe?”
“I’m going to my lake house,” I say, and before I can talk myself out of it, I invite her. “You should come.”
Her blue eyes widen, her lips fighting a smile. “What? Are you serious?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you sure?” Her head tilts.
Chuckling modestly, I nod. “Yeah. I was going to go alone, but if you don’t have plans, you should come.”
“What do you do there? Where is it?”
“It’s in Rixton Falls,” I tell her. “Upstate. And I just relax. I fish. I canoe. Watch the fireworks over the waterfalls.”
Aidy’s full lips press together, widening into a timid grin. There’s a crease above her cupid’s bow when she smiles, and I’m not sure how I’d never noticed it before, but it’s halfway between her top lip and her nose and it’s fucking adorable.
“You want to come?” I ask. “I can pick you up Friday. Bring you back Sunday.”
“Yeah,” she says. “I’d love to.”
19
Aidy
“How are you guys getting there again?”