Page 85 of My Secret Snowflake
“We can leave the bikes at my parents’ house,” I say. “But then they’ll probably invite us in for lunch. Maybe we should go straight to the Essex Market. We can take turns going inside so one of us can watch the bikes. Are there any gifts you need to get?”
“I’ll take a quick look, but I usually get my family books, chocolate, and warm socks. It’s easy and usually well-received,” Sebastian says. “But I’d definitely like to check it out because I didn’t even know this existed. I’m not that familiar with the Lower East Side, other than coming here for dinner or to go to a bar.”
“Okay, you go first, and then I’ll run in and grab us some food and the coffee beans,” I say. “I actually bought my parents their gifts during the company retreat in France.”
“Sounds good,” Sebastian says.
Essex Market is now on the corner of Delancey and Essex and has become a very upscale establishment. Sebastian goes in first, and I watch the passersby. Two young men dressed in sweats head for the gym across the street, their duffel bags slung over their shoulders. A woman in heels hurries by, a coffee in her hand. Another person walks by with an enormous button as a necklace.
Sebastian comes out with a bag of coffee. “I thought I might as well buy some for my parents.”
I run in and buy two bags of coffee beans at Porto Mark Importing Company. Then I pick up two cheeseburger empanadas and Khao main gai at Eat Gai.
Sebastian is outside, studying his phone, the bikes leaning against a wall plastered with concert posters. He looks up, and a huge smile envelops his face. As I near, he kisses me on the lips hello.
“We can go to Sara Roosevelt Park and sit there,” I say. “There’s also a dumpling place we should stop by. They have the best dumplings—and the cheapest. Maddie found it.”
“I’ll follow you,” he says.
I place the bags of coffee and two dishes in my basket, and we bike down to King Dumpling, a very small place on the corner of Hestor. Graffiti covers the building. A huge menu hangs in one glass window. I run inside to order six dumplings for $2, and then we walk our bicycles over to the park. We find a bench and sit. Sebastian lets out anmmmas he eats the first dumpling.
“This is an amazing find.”
“Right?”
“Shouldn’t we stop by your parents’?” Sebastian asks. “I feel like I should introduce myself more formally or something—that you’re not just sneaking off in the night to be with me.”
“That your intentions are honorable?” I ask, almost holding my breath.
Sebastian smiles wryly. “Yes.”
I release my breath.
He glances at me, tilting his head.
“Were you worried about that?” he asks.
How can he read me so well?
A shadow briefly passes over his face. “This isn’t a fling for you, right?”
“No.” I reach out to hold his hand. “Definitely not. But you mentioned flings, and then last night happened so quickly that I just got worried. I’m probably a little overly sensitive because of what happened with Patrick.”
“You don’t have to explain yourself. You’re right that we didn’t talk much last night. But I really do like you, and I wouldn’t have kissed you last night if I wasn’t serious.”
“Do you think you’re over Melody?” I might as well address what concerns me.
He pauses. “Yes. I’m not in love with her anymore. I still care for her as a friend, but not as a potential partner.”
There was a definite pause. But the warmth in his gaze makes me want to believe him.
“Are you over Patrick?”
“Definitely,” I say. Without a pause. “And not just because he cheated, although that does have a way of killing any remaining feelings. But even before that, we’d been having so many issues. He begrudged me the hours I worked for my job. So why do you think you’re not in love with Melody anymore?”
He frowns.
What am I doing? This is the worst conversation to be having the day after. I’m looking like some insecure needy woman. And I’m not. But I also don’t want to be the consolation prize.
