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“What’s next?” I ask after Chase tosses his taco wrapper in the trash.
He eyes me for a sec, like he wants me to know he knows that I’ve changed subjects, but he’s giving me a chance to answer his previous question. I simply stare back at him until he sighs and glances at his watch.
“I planned on chartering a yacht to sail around on the Hudson.” He slides his phone out of his pocket. “I’ll call and see when they can take us.”
As much as I’d like to try sailing on a yacht, something I’ve never done—because let’s face it, that isn’t something normal people do—I can tell Chase isn’t over the family ambush. Or my lack of forthcoming information. His posture is stiff, and his smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
For reasons I can’t quite define, I need to cheer him up.
Maybe it’s the guilt I’m carrying because I almost bailed on him at brunch. I’m not proud of that. But honestly, if Chase hadn’t hauled me out of the booth when he did, I would’ve crawled over him to get to the door, leaving him to his familial fate. Or more likely, I would’ve lunged across the table and smacked that smug look off his brother’s face.
“I have a better idea.” I link my arm through his and rest my chin on his shoulder.
A bit of his smile creeps up to his eyes. “Is that so?”
I nod, my chin moving up and down on his arm. “Trust me, you’ll like it.”
He narrows his eyes over his smile. I flutter my lashes at him in response.
“Okay.” He chuckles, smoothing his brow. “Lead on.” He waves to the path ahead of us that will take us out of the park.
I reward him with a peck on the cheek before steering us in the right direction, glad the oppressing shadow of family drama and awkward silences are over. In the years since my parents passed, I’ve come to love my solitary life, free from uncomfortable family dynamics. Even when my parents were alive, there hadn’t been any of that. At their age, they’d been too tired or too wise. Maybe both.
Suddenly, I’m jostled to the side.
“Whoa there, buddy.” Chase stops and steadies the young boy who careened into him before squatting down to the kid’s level. “You okay?”
Eyes wide, the kid just nods, his unruly, short brown hair sticking up every which way. He’s about five or six, I’d guess.
“Ethan!” Another kid shouts, jogging over to us. “Sorry about that, mister.” He places a hand on Ethan’s shoulder. Must be his brother. Same eyes, same chin, same wild hair, but a few years older.
“No harm.” Chase smiles, stands back up. The older kid takes Ethan’s hand and leads him back into the park. Ethan waves his free hand at Chase.
“Cute kid,” he says as he waves back, his eyes contemplative.
Looking at the boys, I wonder if Thomas ever looked out for Chase like that. Held his hand. The wistful look on Chase’s face makes me think he might be having those same thoughts.
Growing up, I was jealous of my friends with their many siblings or large Thanksgiving dinner parties. Of course, I also bore witness to my friends being teased by their older brothers, or their parents’ insistence that they share their toys with their brothers or sisters. Those were the only times I felt any sort of win by being an only child.
And today. Today, I definitely felt a win after meeting Thomas. I may not have a cool younger sister like Liz, but I also don’t have an asshole older brother like Thomas.
In the distance, a woman swoops down on Ethan and his brother, giving Ethan a hug before shaking a finger at him. Followed by another hug. Then one for the older boy.
An image of Chase’s mom pops into my head. She seemed nice enough at brunch, but I didn’t exactly get a hugger vibe from her. I wonder briefly how Chase and Liz came by their ability to express affection so openly.
The young family gets swallowed up by the crowd at the park, and Chase wraps his arms around me. “So, where are we going?”
I settle into his embrace, giving him a side-hug. “My happy place.”
* * *
“I have to say, your happy place and my happy place are two completely different places.” Chase looks around, shaking his head.
“Oh yeah?” I head into another room of the Museum of Modern Art. “And what is your happy place, then?”
Chase trails after me. “Inside you.”
An older woman gasps, and Chase cringes, having not seen her standing there. “Sorry about that, ma’am.” He nods in my direction. “She kind of makes me crazy.” The older woman looks unconvinced at his words. Chase winks.
