Page 34 of Elevator Pitch

“I am a lawyer, not a stoner. I missed that train. Didn’t have time to party in college. I was trying to pass the bar.”

“That’s why you’re so grumpy now. You don’t know how to have fun and you hate parties.”

“How potent did you make those brownies, babe?” he asks, looking at Audrey.

She glances over at him, and before taking a bite of her burger, she says, “Not very potent.”

He wears a knowing look. “You’ve all been acting like you’re eight years old tonight.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing. My childhood sucked,” Audrey argues with her mouth full.

The table is silent at her admission, looking around at each other for a subject change. Rome chews his lip hesitantly while she seems unfazed and focused on her food.

I take a stab at breaking the quiet spell.

I clear my throat and exclaim, “we’re healing our inner child!”

She looks up at me with a soft smile.

“To healing our inner child!” Chess agrees.

I hold out my burger and the girls join me, doing a cheers motion with our cheeseburgers.

Rome shakes his head in response, chuckling at us. “You know, as much as I complain, I love youlittleinstigators, I just love this one more,” he says as he pulls Audrey in close, placing a kiss on the top of her head.

“You getting sappy on us,Romeo?” Chess asks.

“Will I ever lose that name?”

“Never,” we sing in unison.

“We love you too,Romeo. You’re a good babysitter,” I add.

“Thanks.”

“Eric is a better one, though,” Daya says.

“That’s fair.”

16

worth a shot

Greyson

Queens, NY | November 12, 2023

I haven’t seenSelah since I got back home from Miami. I attended twoSoulBlendusers’ weddings over the weekend. We text every day and still have our standing coffee date on Tuesdays.

The other night, she FaceTimed me while wearing this little pajama set. She propped up her iPad while she was making dinner, and I witnessed her being herself where she was most comfortable, at home. I didn’t take that for granted, knowing how much she values her alone time and was happy to be a part of it. It was like a long-distance date, even though she lives downstairs.

I got a suggestive text from her late last night and I didn’t show up at her door, but I played along. The following day, she woke up apologizing profusely and explained she had an edible. It amused me, but she felt embarrassed. It didn’t change how I viewed her. I’d gladly do everything she mentioned in that text. She just needs to ask for it sober.

Some nights, Selah texts me late and says that she is having a hard time sleeping, and I’ll stay up and talk to her and try tohelp her ease whatever is on her mind so she can get some rest. I don’t worry about missing out on sleep because I can come in late whenever I need to. I just wish I knew what was keeping her up so often. She doesn’t really say, and I don’t want to scare her off if I pry.

I’m currently taking some pictures of Elena and Marco while they’re doing a catering gig for an event in Queens. They hired me to take some new photos for their website and social media. I told her since she doesn’t accept my money for food, I’d do it for free, but she refused, of course. It brings me back to when I met her years ago and she catered that party with her aunt. We were just kids, but now, she and Marco have a growing restaurant. I couldn’t be prouder of my best friend. Plus, I haven’t felt inspired to photograph much of anything lately, so when she asked, I was more than happy to help.

I respected the fact that it was an event and not a normal trip toAguilar’s, so I didn’t eat a bunch. I’m heading home to relax for the night. It’s been a week, and I want nothing more than to chill. As I get closer to our building, Selah crosses my mind as usual, and I hope that she’s having a good night.

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