Page 91 of Fire Island
That was me from the month my parents died to the moment I met the woman in front of me right now. Five years of running riot without a care in the world for the damage I caused.
And it cost me.
Everything.
“You working on modifying it or going to upgrade?” I ask.
“This is what you came here for? To chat about bikes? You don’t want to hear what my first word was, or when I lost my first tooth, or how my shitty grades were?” He leans back, imitating my position.
I smile at him. What else can I do? I imagine this is what the town saw back then. A boy with an attitude bigger than the chip resting on his shoulder.
“Nah, past is in the past. Besides, I don’t reminisce.”
He scoffs, looking away.
Ava shifts on her seat. “I’m going to grab some coffee.”
She leaves the table and disappears from the room.
“So you’re like some loner locked up on an island in some lighthouse, then?”
“Absolutely, and you’re some misunderstood guy with shitty parents, right?”
“I don’t want your sympathy. Or anything else from you. I came here because my mother wanted me to.”
“So, you do have a conscience . . .”
“Barely.”
“Right, because that doesn’t sit well with the broody guy act.” I lean forward and study his face.
“Fuck off,” he mutters.
I sigh. “I understand this is a lot. You’re not the only one whose world got flipped like a goddamn trash can.”
He doesn’t reply, simply stretches, his hands clasping the back of his neck as he stares out the window. So we sit in a companionable silence for a moment. The first part of this encounter we both agree on. I can just hear what Iris would be saying:Pot, kettle. Pigeon pair, you two.
Reese lowers his arms. “What’s your island like?”
“An island. Quiet. No place for young blood, that’s for sure.”
“Yeah, right . . .”
Two men of few words, we sit in silence once again. As if she’s been watching, Ava reenters the room. “Well, how’s it all going?”
“We’re eloping next Saturday,” Reese drawls with an eye roll.
“Reese,” she scolds. Looking at me, she tilts her head. “Sorry, I don’t know where—” Her face tightens with a flat smile.
Oh, he absolutely gets that from me. I resist the urge to chuckle at the two of them.
“Are you staying on the mainland for the rest of the day?” Ava asks, sitting down.
“Nah, gotta head back.”
“Oh, sure.” She forces a different kind of smile.
“You’re welcome to come over to Fire Island any time,” I say to Reese. “If that’s something you want.”
