the cool night breeze. I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder, and turned to find Dave looking somewhat judgmental.
“ What the hell’s going on?” he said. “We’ve been watching you two.”
“Oh trust me it is negative nothing.” I sighed. “He’s actually kind of boring, but who else is gonna keep me company?”
I searched Dave’s eyes to see if he was buying it. I wasn’t sure, but I breathed a big sigh of relief when he walked away.
***
The boat was now closing in on the Statue of Liberty, the last stop befo re the return journey to Pier Seventy-Nine. Once Liberty was standing tall at a remarkably close vantage, the engine turned off for a moment of quiet reverence.
Erik and I sto od in awe, our bodies squished together with several others, as everyone tried inching towards the rail for the closest view. I almost became enveloped by an overweight middle-aged man, but Erik pulled me to safety by my shoulders and turned me towards him. “Are you sure you’re leaving tomorrow?” he said. He stared down at me, his pale blue eyes filled with hope, and his black-rimmed glasses making him look even dreamier than ever. Move over, Clark Kent.
I smiled at him, wishing I could just stay silent so it didn’t have to end. But when in my life had I ever stayed silent? “It’s tomorrow and I have to go back,” I said. “Canada is falling apart without me.”
He looked a bi t sad but only for a second, then he turned me back around so we could get a closer look at Liberty. “Do you know how many people have been inside her?” he casually said.
I burst into laughter. This cackle interrupted the quiet reflection of others. The dirty looks told me they were not impressed.
“You’re not as innocent and nerdy as you seem, are you?” I didn’t look back but I heard him laugh. It was the perfect decoy, because the next thing I knew his fingers traced around my hand, moving along until they found my fingertips. He gave them a gentle squeeze. The moonlight and Liberty’s torch were not enough to light the boat, so no one observed our secret indiscretion. I didn’t have time to react, because as soon as the tremor of excitement hit my body, he let go. A second later the boat started up again, leaving Liberty and the moment behind…
***
From the thirtieth floor terrace of Erik’s apartment building, the East River seemed lit up like Christmas; bright lights were on the bridge, across the docks, and on the vessels themselves.
The Empire State Building was a glowing beacon.
Six lounge chairs were arranged side by side on the terrace. Dave and Laura disregarded the chairs, taking in the view instead. Erik was nowhere to be found, but his cousins Anna and Sylvia were sprawled out on the two middle chairs, acting like they owned the place.
I didn’t feel comfortable taking a seat beside the cou sins who potentially hated me, so I stood in a corner instead, slightly obscured by a potted tree as I watched. Hiding behind a plant? Sure, that seems normal.
The mousy Sylvia spoke first. “Erik will sit beside me. It’s cool out and he can keep me warm!” She rubbed her bare forearms and smirked in my direction.
I was still trying to process why she wanted to snuggle with her cousin, as I quickly made my way to Laura.
“She’s gonna get all cuddly with her cousin?” I whispered. “What kind of creepy retarded shit is that?”
Laura narrowed her eyes. “Tell me again why you even care?”
“’Cause incest leads to birth defects. I’m concerned for society’s future.”
Dave overhearing, shook his head and chuckled, while Laura, eyes still narrowed, tried her very best not to laugh.
I think this night’s about to get very weird...
***
Dave and Laura sat side-by-side, sipping wine and sharing ice cream. Erik lay on a chair with eyes closed, as two silver spoons pecked away at the carton of ice cream on his chest.
Neither of those spoon-peckers was me.
And I was pissed
“ What the hell’s going on?” he said. “We’ve been watching you two.”
“Oh trust me it is negative nothing.” I sighed. “He’s actually kind of boring, but who else is gonna keep me company?”
I searched Dave’s eyes to see if he was buying it. I wasn’t sure, but I breathed a big sigh of relief when he walked away.
***
The boat was now closing in on the Statue of Liberty, the last stop befo re the return journey to Pier Seventy-Nine. Once Liberty was standing tall at a remarkably close vantage, the engine turned off for a moment of quiet reverence.
Erik and I sto od in awe, our bodies squished together with several others, as everyone tried inching towards the rail for the closest view. I almost became enveloped by an overweight middle-aged man, but Erik pulled me to safety by my shoulders and turned me towards him. “Are you sure you’re leaving tomorrow?” he said. He stared down at me, his pale blue eyes filled with hope, and his black-rimmed glasses making him look even dreamier than ever. Move over, Clark Kent.
I smiled at him, wishing I could just stay silent so it didn’t have to end. But when in my life had I ever stayed silent? “It’s tomorrow and I have to go back,” I said. “Canada is falling apart without me.”
He looked a bi t sad but only for a second, then he turned me back around so we could get a closer look at Liberty. “Do you know how many people have been inside her?” he casually said.
I burst into laughter. This cackle interrupted the quiet reflection of others. The dirty looks told me they were not impressed.
“You’re not as innocent and nerdy as you seem, are you?” I didn’t look back but I heard him laugh. It was the perfect decoy, because the next thing I knew his fingers traced around my hand, moving along until they found my fingertips. He gave them a gentle squeeze. The moonlight and Liberty’s torch were not enough to light the boat, so no one observed our secret indiscretion. I didn’t have time to react, because as soon as the tremor of excitement hit my body, he let go. A second later the boat started up again, leaving Liberty and the moment behind…
***
From the thirtieth floor terrace of Erik’s apartment building, the East River seemed lit up like Christmas; bright lights were on the bridge, across the docks, and on the vessels themselves.
The Empire State Building was a glowing beacon.
Six lounge chairs were arranged side by side on the terrace. Dave and Laura disregarded the chairs, taking in the view instead. Erik was nowhere to be found, but his cousins Anna and Sylvia were sprawled out on the two middle chairs, acting like they owned the place.
I didn’t feel comfortable taking a seat beside the cou sins who potentially hated me, so I stood in a corner instead, slightly obscured by a potted tree as I watched. Hiding behind a plant? Sure, that seems normal.
The mousy Sylvia spoke first. “Erik will sit beside me. It’s cool out and he can keep me warm!” She rubbed her bare forearms and smirked in my direction.
I was still trying to process why she wanted to snuggle with her cousin, as I quickly made my way to Laura.
“She’s gonna get all cuddly with her cousin?” I whispered. “What kind of creepy retarded shit is that?”
Laura narrowed her eyes. “Tell me again why you even care?”
“’Cause incest leads to birth defects. I’m concerned for society’s future.”
Dave overhearing, shook his head and chuckled, while Laura, eyes still narrowed, tried her very best not to laugh.
I think this night’s about to get very weird...
***
Dave and Laura sat side-by-side, sipping wine and sharing ice cream. Erik lay on a chair with eyes closed, as two silver spoons pecked away at the carton of ice cream on his chest.
Neither of those spoon-peckers was me.
And I was pissed
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