Page 5 of Caper Crush
“Not if I’m going to hear more about my derelict lifestyle,” William says simultaneously.
At Fifty-Ninth Street, passengers chaotically switch between the express train across the platform and our local train. William remains standing, even though the seat next to me opens up. A woman slides into that seat, guidebook in hand, and asks me if this stops at the Museum of Natural History. I confirm that it does.
When we get to the Seventy-Second Street stop, William leans down as if to help me up. I swat his hand away.
“I can get up fine,” I say grumpily.
He follows me out of the subway. Passing by the Yoko OnoSkyblue-and-white tile artwork, we push through the turnstiles.
“Are you okay with the stairs?” he asks.
I stop. I’m about to retort that of course I am, but then I grin. He takes a step back.
I pinch his cheek. “You’re such a good boy. I need to hold on to you.” I grab his arm and lean heavily on him. I’m five foot eight and muscular. His biceps flex, but he doesn’t falter. Suddenly, William feels very male. I flush.Too intimate.
He glances at me. “You never do what I expect. Maybe I should just pick you up and carry you. That would be easier.”
My eyes widen.
As he motions to do just that, I retreat. “That’s okay. I’ll walk up by myself.”
I hurry up the concrete stairs, glad he can’t see my face. He keeps pace behind me.
As we walk side by side down the wide expanse of Seventy-Second Street, passing under the apartment building awnings and skirting around the aluminum delivery carts piled high with boxes, I feel very aware of William next to me.
“Was the party as dramatic as last year?” he asks.
Confused, I raise my eyebrow. “Uncle Tony’s parties are always exciting.” Uncle Tony is a costume designer, so his friends are all in theater. He’s the one who taught me how to create disguises. It’s a useful skill to have.As the drama-prone stepdaughter of the former Manhattan Borough president, disguising myself was the best way to escape the press. Better than following my stepsister Annabelle’s approach, which is to be perfect at all times. The press never follows her. No story there.
Takashi is in IT security, which might sound boring, but actually, many of his colleagues are white-hat hackers and have an edgy, antiauthority vibe. “The karaoke machine came out.”
“Remember last year, before Uncle Takashi’s party, on the street outside, when you were yelling at your boyfriend?” he asks.
I blush. I can’t believe William saw me screaming like a fishwife. Some fan kissed Rex, my boyfriend at the time and bandmate, after a concert without his permission. But I hadn’t realized that at first and thought he was kissing her. He pushed her away, but I’d still been upset. I jumped in a cab to go to Uncle Tony’s party. He followed me in the next cab. We met up again on the street outside Tony’s apartment building. I screamed at him that I hated that I was so jealous. “Oh well. I felt a lot better after getting it all out.”
“You certainly didn’t hold back,” William says. We turn to walk up Columbus Avenue, pausing to let the couple ahead of us pass first a woman heading the other way. She is pushing a stroller with a coffee in hand. The street is crowded here, with more people and less space as the restaurants have tables set out on the sidewalk, fenced off by plants and portable barriers.
“Well, I’m always good for a story,” I say wryly. “Sorry to disappoint you, but it was all very civilized this year. Anyway, what would you do if you caught your girlfriend cheating?”
A shadow passes over his face. But then he stands straighter. “Do you really think someone would cheat on me?” He gives me a patronizing, superior look. So annoying.
“If someone can cheat on me, they can cheat on you.” I may not be as objectively good-looking as William, but I do all right with those who like personality.
“But he didn’t cheat on you,” William says.
“Exactly. So I guess we don’t have to worry about that.” I realize what I’ve said makes little sense. “How was Tokyo? Did you get to see your grandmother? How is she doing? Did you bring back exciting candy? Takashi misses Tokyo.”
“Do you want me to answer or are you just asking questions?”
I laugh. “I want you to answer.”
“I did see Obaachan. She’s getting older, but she’s still a strong character. And I caught up with friends after the wedding.” He swings his backpack forward. “And yes, I’ve brought gifts for Uncle Takashi. I wish I could’ve brought fruit back. That’s what he misses the most.”
“He always says nothing compares to Japanese peaches and strawberries.”
We’ve reached Uncle Tony’s apartment building entrance.
“Bye,” I say. “I may see you later. I’m coming by to pick up my painting after the movers leave.”
