“So … you know Cody?”
“Not in real life.” I grinned and she rolled her eyes. “Just trying to make you smile.”
“I know.” She sighed. “Well, he’s coming to New York …” She chewed on her lower lip.
“What?” I yawned slightly. “I thought he was from North Carolina.”
“He is.” She nodded. “But he’s coming to New York.”
“From Afghanistan?”
“I’m not sure exactly.” She shook her head. “I don’t know if he’s flying home first or here first, but he wants to meet.”
“Well, that’s great, right?”
“Yes and no.” She averted her eyes from my gaze and I frowned. What was going on here? Emma had been writing to Cody for years. I’d thought she would be ecstatic.
“What do you mean yes and no? Is it because you never exchanged photos? Are you scared he’ll be ugly?”
“No.” She was biting harder on the pen now.
“Emma, what is it?”
“So I kinda told him I was a bit older.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“I mean, I told him I was in my fifties.”
“You what?” My jaw dropped. “Emma, why?”
“I don’t even really remember now why I did that. I was going through a weird stage with Justin …” She made a face, and I made a retching noise. Justin was her ex-boyfriend, and he’d been a cheating asshole. Much like my ex. We didn’t talk about it anymore because he had already been given far too much headspace. “Anyway, he thinks I’m in my fifties, and now I’m not sure what to do.”
“Oh boy …” I stretched my arms out. “This is a pickle.”
“I know. Ugh. This sucks.”
“Let me think, okay. We’ll come up with something. You do want to meet him, right?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “I know this sounds weird, but he’s one of my best friends and well, I’d love to give him a hug in person. I feel like we know each other so well, well, you know …” Her voice trailed off. “This sucks.”
“It will be okay, Emma. I promise.” I reached over and squeezed her arm. “Now I better go, or AB will be on my ass.” I rolled my eyes.
“AB?” Her eyes widened as she looked me over. “You’re going to meet him now?”
“Yup.”
“Like that?”
“Yup.” I grinned and she started giggling. “Oh, Abby.”
“What?” I said twirling around. “Don’t I look like a top model? Watch out Tyra Banks, I’m coming to take over your show.”
Emma laughed. “You know who you look like?”
“An idiot?” I giggled.
“Well, that as well. You look like that actress on that hospital show.”
“Which one?” I frowned, having no idea who she was talking about.
“I forget the name of the show.” She laughed. “But you know you’re gorgeous, no matter how you’re dressed.”
“And that’s why we’re best friends.” I shook my head. “Because I know right now I look like a hot mess. I could be Ms. Hot Mess 2021 based on this look.” I looked down and my holey sweatpants with the splash of white paint from when I’d painted a bedroom wall. “But seriously, I should leave now. I’m going to be late and I really don’t want to start off my day with him riding my ass.”
“You sure about that?” She winked, and I just shook my head. “What about your parents’ lunch?”
“Can you and Chloe head over around one p.m.? I’ll tell my parents that we’ll all be there around one. I’m not sure where I’ll be, so you guys go ahead without me.”
“Sure. I’ll tell Chloe when she wakes up.” She smiled. “Who knows when that will be?”
“I’m guessing noon. Okay seriously I am out of here. Bye, chica.” I hurried to the front door so that I could leave. I didn’t mind being a little late, but being really late and looking a hot mess was just a recipe for disaster.
Chapter 14
Dylan
* * *
My driver dropped me off and I waited impatiently on Mulberry Street for Abby. I hadn’t been to Mulberry Street in years, and I stood there watching as the local fruit and vegetable stores got ready to open up. Abby was late and I was slightly annoyed. Not at her, but at myself. I was far too eager to see her this morning. I’d been positively vibing on the call this morning. I didn’t really have any work for us to do, but I’d missed hearing her voice this morning.
“Hey, sorry I’m late,” a high-pitched voice said from behind me. I spun around and tried not to burst out laughing. Abby stood in front of me looking like a bag lady. She was wearing the ugliest sweatpants I’d ever seen and a sweater that clung to her in all the right places. Her face was unmade up, though I could see remnants of makeup on her face. Her hair was piled on top of her head, but loose curly tendrils framed her face. She had a defiant look on her face, as she stared up at me with her stubborn chin. An overwhelming urge to kiss her came over me and I stepped back, slightly annoyed.
“You’re very late,” I snapped. “And it obviously wasn’t because you showered.” I sniffed.
“I had to deal with something.” She shrugged.
“What?”
“None of your business.” She looked around. “Nothing is even open.” She shook her head. “I knew it.”
“We can walk to a place that is open.” I grinned at her. “There’s a place in Tribeca I know that has good food.”
“What place?”
I thought quickly. “Sarabeth’s.”
“Ooh.” She looked excited. “I’ve heard the food is good.”
“So shall we go?”
“What about work? I have to go to my parents at one p.m., so we don’t have much time.”
“You’re close with your parents?” That familiar twinge hit me when I talked about people’s parents.
“Yes.” She nodded. “Very close.” She smiled, happy. “They’re amazing.”
“Nice.” I nodded.
“What about your parents?” she asked and then blushed. “Actually, no worries,” she added quickly. “I forgot. Sorry.”
“So you heard that I’m an orphan?” I said in a muted tone.
“Yes.” She nodded. “But you’re close with your brother.”
“Yes.”
“How did that work?” she asked.
A chill crept over me. “None of your business.” I smiled my non-smile. “Let’s go eat.”
“Sure.”
“Also, awesome look this morning.” I grinned as we started walking. “You’ve got that drunk Alabama sorority girl look down.”
“I don’t think so.” She laughed. “Have you seen those girls? They wear the nicest clothes all the time. They would never be caught dead in this outfit.”