Page 49 of The Flirtation
Chapter 18
Avery
Ihungup the phone with my sister, and said: “My nephew broke his arm. He’s home from the hospital, but I have to go to Queens.” I started running around my apartment, putting on my boots and big puffycoat.
“Oh no that’s awful. Whathappened?”
“He was inner tubing down a hill in the snow and he smashed into a tree. He has a cast. This all happened yesterday and they didn’t tellme.”
“Oh no. Innertubing?”
“Yes. He was using an inner tube, like as a sled. I got it for him, for Christmas. I also got him a helmet. I can’t believe he broke his little arm. Poor guy! It’s all my fault. I can’t believe they didn’t call me as soon as ithappened!”
“I’m sure it’s not that bad. I broke my arm when I was a boy, it happens to most of us at some time or other. Children’s bones heal rather quickly, you know. How old is he? What’s hisname?”
“Jackson. He’sseven.”
“Okay. And what’s an innertube?”
I made an exasperated sound. “It’s a thing—a big rubber donut, you’re supposed to float in it, like in a river or a lake, but you can also ride down a hill in one when itsnows.”
“Got it. Well, let’s go see Jackson. Do we take ataxi?”
“No, I’ll get aLyft.”
“Great. Withwhom?”
Suddenly I was feeling the cultural differences. “It’s a car service. Like Uber but less rape-y.”
“Awesome. Let’s get aLyft.”
“But you have meetings in the morning. You’re leaving tomorrow night. You need to sleep.” I couldn’t find my gloves. “Where are my gloves.Shit.”
“I’ve gone this long on a few hours sleep, I can sleep on the plane. I came here to be with you.” Luke found my gloves and handed them tome.
My jaw tightened. I kept looking for my scarf. He was so wonderful. Why didn’t I want him to go with me? “But I’m going to my sister’s apartment, you don’t want to spend the rest of Valentines night in my sister’s apartment in Queens—trust me.”Because my family is guaranteed to humiliate me by asking you questions and telling you things that will make you think I’m a totalloser.
“Avery.” He picked up the scarf that I had been wearing earlier thatday.
“No not that one! I need to wear the one he gave me for Christmas! It’s green. That’s his favorite color.” I tore through one of my drawers,frantic.
“Alright, calm down, I’ll help you findit.”
“I don’t need your help. Here. I found it.” I wrapped the extra long Kelly green scarf around my neck, practically chokingmyself.
Luke had already put his shoes and coaton.
“But you don’t have boots. You need thick socks. Shit, I should have bought you warm socks! I’m so sorry I didn’t even think—you must have been so cold out there! All this time! Isuck!”
“It’s alright, Avery, I’m fine. Shall wego?”
“No, you need to sleep. I’m sure Queens sounds very nice and fancy and familiar to you, but trust me, it ain’t nothing to write home about.”It ain’t nothing to write homeabout?
“Avery, if you don’t want me to go with you, just sayso.”
I can’t say that. I want you go with me and be with me and I also don’t. It’s complicated.I sighed and hugged him. “Of course I want you go with me. You’re lovely. I’m sorry, I just feel really weird right now. I feel guilty. I feel like I broke hisarm.”
“You did not break his arm—nobody thinksthat.”
