Page 29 of So Wrong, It's Wright
“I can tell,” Ruby says. “I've never seen you this twisted up about a guy before, and you were completely enamored with that Terrence asshole who dumped you right before your birthday. I'll never forget that guy, and if I ever find him, I'll be sure to leave a message onhiscar this time.”
“Oh, I don't want you to do that anymore,” I say with a smile. “It led to you meeting Tanner, which has led to me meeting Ash. So really, Terrance did us a favor. We should probably send him a thank-you card. Or, at least I will when I manage to spend more than a few hours with Ash to find out exactly what we are to each other. I feel like we could be something really big. But without that time, that closeness, I feel like we’re going to be perpetually stuck as each other's interstate booty call. And I don't want that with him. I want something more.” When I lift my chin and meet her eyes, there's a stark realization in hers.
“You want to move there, don't you?”
Wincing a little, I nod. “Is that crazy?”
“Crazy?” She tilts her head slightly to the side. “You're talking to the girl who drew a giant dick on her boss’s car then proceeded to taunt him mercilessly until he married me.” She chuckles at the memory, which makes me smile. “I don't think anything can be counted crazy if it's in the name of love.”
“Love,” I say the word out loud so I can feel the weight of it on my tongue. “I guess that's exactly what I'm trying to find out.”
ASH
“So, let me get this straight–you and this new girl you're seeing long distance are a hot mess of awkwardness everywhereexceptonline, and you feel that the solution to that hot mess is to completely relocate yourself so you can be close to her... the hot mess?” my sister, Isla, surmises during our late lunch/almost dinner a few weeks later. My project has finally finished to completion and been submitted for peer review, so I've taken two weeks of my vacation time to come to New York to try my hand at surprising Tahlia again. However, first on the agenda was interviewing for a position at a biomedical research lab, after which, I’ve met up with my sister to ask for her help apartment hunting if I happen to get the job. The New York real estate market is cutthroat, and I know she'll be more than happy to assist me since she's been wanting me to come back to New York for a long time. The reason I want to come back seems to be sticking with her, though.
“You keep saying ‘hot mess’ like it's a bad thing. I like being a hot mess myself, and I happen to really like this girl—messiness and all—and I want to make a real go of it. Not sure if you've noticed, but I'm kind of getting on in years, Isla. I’m not young like you are.” She smirks. “And I'd really like to settle down, have someone to come home to each day, maybe raise a couple of kids…” I sit back and release a sigh. “I don’t know. But I think if that’s ever going to happen for me, then Tahlia could be that girl. And the only way I'm going to find that out is if I spend more time with her. So I need your help. I can sort out the job situation remotely, fly in and out for interviews and whatnot, but finding a decent apartment will take someone on the ground. I really need you to take point on that.”
“OK. And I'm happy to help. I mean, I'm beyond ecstatic that you want to come and live here again because you know I miss your face. But don't you think your girl should be helping with this? I mean, if she's who you say she is, then she’ll be spending a lot of time there, don't you think she should get a say? Oh, I know! Why don't you introduce me to her while you're in town, and when it’s time, she and I can go apartment hunting together?” Her eyes go wide, and she claps her hands together. “Ireallywant to meet this magical girl who’s managed to turn my brother’s head long enough to get him thinking kids.”
“You can meet her. But you can’t tell her anything about the job or the apartment. I don’t want to get her hopes up until I know it’s a done deal.”
“OK. That’s fair, I suppose.” She sits back and pouts slightly as the waiter brings over our meals, placing a chicken salad in front of her and a steak and potatoes in front of me. “When do you think you’ll tell her?”
I sit back and press my finger against the handle of my fork before I lift my eyes to hers with a smirk. “I was thinking I’d take her out to dinner, but it’ll be eating in at the new place.”
Isla’s mouth drops open, her fork piled with salad not quite making it to its destination. “You can’t surprise her withthis,Ash. This is a huge life decision. You could freak her out.”
“And if I tell her and it doesn’t work out, it’ll only make it harder. You know how much drama I have getting jobs. They all think I’m lying about my experience because I look like a dumb kid.” I gesture to my face and she grimaces.
“I still hate you for your complexion. Do you know how much it costs me to look this good? A mint. And I still look older than you when you’re almost fifteen years older than me.”
“It’s not a blessing when you’re a guy, Isla. But if we can get back to the matter at hand, can you help me find an apartment or not?”
“I will. But I think you should tell your girlfriend first.”
“I will when I’m ready.”
“You are stubborn and pigheaded. You know that, don’t you?”
I chuckle. “I like surprising people with things I know they’ll love. And IknowTahlia will love having me in New York, but dangling it in front of her and not delivering will be torture. But if you want to meet her, then by the time we finish up here, she should be at this bar she’s started working a second job at. You can come with me to surprise her there.”
Now her fork clatters to the plate in front of her. “She doesn’t know you’re here this time either?” she practically shrieks. “Did you learn nothing from the last time?”
“I did.” I chuckle, picking up my knife and fork before cutting a slice off my steak. “And I contacted our mutual friend, Darren, and he told me what her movements would be tonight. She’s doing a shift at a bar downtown, then they’re all meeting up at Darren’s drag queen show. He’s the MC at some place in midtown east. He sent me the address, but Tahlia knows where. You should come there too.”
“You’re friends with a drag queen?” Her eyes somehow get bigger and more excited. “My god, big brother, you have this whole life I know nothing about. Yes! Count me in. I want to meet the girl, the drag queen and anyone else you’ve been hiding from me.”
“Great. But just so you know, Tanner will be there too.”
“What?”
“Tanner, our cousin.”
“I know who he is, Ash. Why is he going to a drag show with you? Do you know how much shit his stunt with Wright Media caused? I’ve been up to my eyeballs in public relations bullshit ever since he walked out.” Isla heads up Wright Media’s PR team.
“I know you have, and I’m sorry for that. But Tanner is one of the few family members besides you and my mother, who stayed in contact with me when I left. Plus, his wife is Tahlia’s best friend. I actually met her at their wedding. And Tanner isn’t nearly as big an asshole as you all think he is. He just hated working at Wright Media so much it colored his behavior. He’s a different man away from it.”
“We all hate working there, Ash. But OK. If you say Tanner is cool then I’ll come and keep an open mind.”
