Page 30 of Back Up Plan

She wondered if Ari had ever felt the same way. Neither of them had been city natives, two out of town girls looking for a community in a world that felt closed off to them.

The train chugged along the elevated platform, the light of the beautiful June Sunday pouring into the car. For once, the train was running the way it was supposed to and within twenty minutes Gabby and Cass were ascending from the station, sweat beginning to drip down their faces.

Cass pulled out her phone and checked the time: 10:03 am. She was a little late to meet up with Ari.

She scanned the street signs to get her bearings in the crowded Madison Square Park. 25th and 5th was just a few blocks away.

“Where are you meeting Ari?” Gabby asked.

“We agreed to meet somewhere in the park so we could arrive together,” Cass said.

Gabby nodded, “Good cover, looks like you spent the night together,” she joked as she nudged Cass’s shoulder.

Cass blushed, “Now you’re getting it.”

Gabby hugged her and said, “I’ll be a few blocks down from the start and if you need anything, just text.”

“Thanks, buddy,” Cass said as she gave Gabby a hug and added, “Happy Pride.”

Heading toward the northeast corner of the park, Cass shot Ari a text:

Walking to the spot now, sorry I’m late.

By the time she had hit send, she was already pulling up to the spot, where she found Ari sitting on a bench staring up at the sky.

“Hey, you,” Cass said.

Ari smiled before even seeing Cass, “Couldn’t even get here on time? That’s strike one,” She said with a wink.

Cass hugged her, their arms settling comfortably on each other’s backs.

“Yeah, sorry. Hard to get out the door much faster,” Cass said, wiping the sweat from her brow. Ari’s face was glowing from the warm weather, somehow looking even more together.

Looking down Ari’s body, Cass noticed her short, thigh length skirt and ponytail. It was a departure from her usual high bun and trousers. Cass enjoyed the view of her legs, her calves toned from wearing heels.

“Nothing to apologize for, I lied about the arrival time,” Ari said.

Cass’s mouth fell open as she smacked Ari’s arm, “How dare you?”

Ari shrugged and licked her lip, “You don’t have a great track record for punctuality. Plus, I thought we could grab a coffee.”

“Fine, you get a pass because there’s coffee involved,” Cass said with a wink. Ari started walking and Cass followed suit.

Ari’s hand hung by her side and Cass reached out to grab it. She slid her fingers between Ari’s.

Ari looked down to their intertwined hands and tilted her head.

“People you work with could be around, right?” Cass asked.

“Yeah,” Ari nodded, trying to hide her smile.

As their hands swayed, Cass couldn’t help but feel like they fit perfectly together. Even on such a sweaty day, when Cass would normally hate to feel someone’s sweat mixing with hers. But, Ari’s felt like it belonged on her skin.

They grabbed a coffee from whatever city-chain was closest, in this case it wasTwo Brews Co.

As they approached the counter, Ari took the lead and said, “Hi there.”

The barista, settling in for a long shift of drunk parade-goers, replied, “Hi, what can I get for you?”

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