Page 33 of Brooklynaire
“I also listened to the game. I had to turn my back to your TV so I wouldn’t be tempted to watch. When Trevi got that fourth goal I shrieked so loudly that Bingley asked if I wasokay.”
“Yeah?” It makes me stupidly happy to think of Rebecca hanging out in my den. “That’s funny. Did you notice Bingley taking any other wrong cues?” The AI system definitely needs work. Not that I have thetime.
“He was a perfect gentleman. I sneezed and he saidblessyou.”
“Yeah? That’s classy. Go, Bingley.” The young programmer who’s working on the product with me is a funny guy. Because of him Hal/Bingley also identifies the sound of farts. That’s what I get for hiring a twenty-two-year-old.
Rebecca wads up the empty foil wrapper from her sandwich. “Congratulations, Nate. Seriously. That game was amazing. I’m so happy you’readvancing.”
“I didn’t win it,” I say, standing to find a trash can. “But it sure was fun to watch. Ready towalk?”
“Surething.”
I should have anticipated that the Brooklyn Bridge would be crammed full of people. The weather’s so nice that the whole city has come outside to enjoy it. There are families and couples holdinghands.
I keep a close eye on Rebecca, because I don’t want her to stumble. We’re right beside the bike lane, where riders whiz by at unsafe speeds. The idea of someone hurting Becca makes mecrazy.
Let’s not even wonder why thatis.
“I’m doing three sessions a week with the trainers,” Rebecca tells me. “Doctor Armitage said that the first few will really wipe me out, but that I shouldn’t get discouraged. He’s never had a vestibular patient who couldn’t improve a lot with therapy—unless something else is also wrong. But he doesn’t think that’s the case withme.”
“Okay. I like the sound ofthat.”
“Me too! I could be back to work soon. He said we’d talk about it in twoweeks.”
Two weeks sounds really ambitious, but for once I keep my mouthshut.
“I was thinking I could go part-time at first,” Beccaoffers.
“See what the doctorsays.”
She gives my arm a little nudge. “Don’t kill my buzz, Nate. Oh—and speaking of buzzes—the no-alcohol rule is still in force. Apparently vestibular systems can be confused byalcohol.”
“I could have told you that. Tequila,especially.”
She smiles, and it’s the old Becca smile. I’ve missed it. “Tell me about this party Mrs. Gray is packing for. Bal Harbour? It soundsglam.”
“Alex planned it. If glam is the same thing as Alex making me wear a tux, then I guess it is. Fucking bow ties. I hatethem.”
“That’s only because you still can’t tie one.” She nudges me with her hip, and it makes me want to grab her and kissher.
I don’t, though. “I can too tie a bow tie. I just don’t enjoyit.”
“Here’s a deal for you—I’ll tie the bow tie for you. In Florida.” She cackles. “On abeach. I can’t believe I’m missing this party. The universe hatesme.”
“It’s too bad. I could use the company. You have to go to therapy,though.”
“Nope. I took someone’s cancellation for Tuesday, but then they can’t get me in until Thursday. What do you mean you could use the company? I could be an extra set of hands!” Her face lights up at this idea. “It’s been weeks since I saw everyone. I feel like ahermit.”
“Then you should come,” I hear myself say. “Lauren told me to bring a date to thisbenefit.”
“A date? Really?” Becca steers around a woman pushing a stroller, and then turns to look at me over her shoulder. “What for? I don’t know if I’d be any good at asking people fordonations.”
I shake my head. “That’s not the reason at all. I need the cocktail hour to be a social event. Your only job would be to shut down any business chatter on an M&A deal I’m considering.”With an old friend I want toavoid.
“Oh, okay.” She sucks in a breath. “I really want to go. But I already owe you in so manyways.”
“Bullshit,” I say quickly. “You don’t owe me a thing, okay? Don’t say that.”Just get better, I want to add. But I don’t, because it will sound either weird or like nagging. “Come to Florida. Sit on the beach for a day with Georgia. Visit the land of the living. Then get yourself back here in time for your therapyappointments.”
