Page 61 of Bitter Beats

“You’ll need a gown,” Kimberly advises. “I can help with that or?—”

“Have you seen her, Kimberly?” Mav interjects, gesturing toward me. “She may look frumpy?—”

“Hey!” I swat at him, tugging down my merino wool sweater. It’s not frumpy; it’s classic.

“But Mckenna Byrne knows how to pull together a black-tie look,” Mav carries on like I haven’t smacked him. Instead, he captures my hand and keeps it trapped against his abdomen.

Kimberly arches an eyebrow, her eyes darting between us. They narrow slightly as a questioning look ripples over her expression.

I roll my eyes and yank my hand out of Mav’s grasp. “I can get dressed just fine. Thanks, Kimberly.”

“The event is the eighteenth,” she continues, shaking her head. “You’ll be in New York for at least four days.” She pulls up her notes app and rattles off a list of activities for us. “HamiltonorThe Book of Mormon?”

“Hamilton!” I say instantly.

Mav shrugs. “Whatever she wants.”

“You’re going to the Friday evening performance,” Kimberly confirms. “Brunch at Sarabeth’s or Le?—”

“Clinton Street Baking Company,” Mav cuts her off. His eyes dart to mine and flash playfully. “You’ll love it. Banging pancakes and the best chicken and waffles.” He groans appreciatively. “But totally unpretentious. It’s warm and chill and…I gotta take you.”

Kimberly pulls back in surprise.

I grin. “Okay. Clinton Street.”

“Anything else?” Mav asks Kimberly.

She sighs. “If you’ve got ideas, I’m open.” Her finger hovers over the screen of her phone, waiting for our suggestions.

“Ice skating at Rockefeller Center,” I confess one of my childhood wishes. Every year my father promised to take me, but it never materialized. He always had a crucial meeting or a last-minute lunch. Mom scoffed when I suggested it. The wind would mess up her hair.

Mav cocks his head thoughtfully. “Huh? Wouldn’t have taken you for the touristy type.”

I snort. “It’s a thing from when I was a kid.”

He studies me for a beat before nodding, his gaze flicking back to Kimberly. “Add it to the list.”

She dutifully types it out. “What else?”

“Dyker Heights Christmas lights,” Mav tacks on.

Kimberly gapes. “You want to go all the way out to Brooklyn?”

Mav shoots me a look and a sheepish shrug. “Childhood thing.”

I grin. “I’m in.”

“You guys are crazy,” Kimberly mutters. “And taking this in stride. Better than I thought.”

“I want to go to the Public Library,” I add.

“And eat late-night tacos in Hell’s Kitchen.” Mav smirks.

“Walk through the Bryant Park Winter Village.”

“Buy roasted chestnuts on a street corner.”

“And a pretzel,” I agree.

---