Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Henry
As soon as I entered my office building, I let out a deep breath. I didn’t want to leave her. I’d enjoyed our lunch and our conversation, and there was so much more I wanted to know about her. I took the elevator up to my office. As I passed by June’s desk, she stopped me.
“Henry, Kirsten is here. She just ran to the restroom and said she’d be right back.”
I let out a sigh. “Thank you, June.”
“Also, here are your messages while you were at lunch.” She handed them to me.
“Thanks. You didn’t tell Kirsten how long I was gone, did you?”
“No. She didn’t ask.”
“Okay.”
I walked into my office and took a seat behind my desk. Pulling out my phone, I noticed I had a text message from Ben.
“Dude, I got three free tickets for the Yankees game tonight. Premium seats. Frankie’s in. You? Don’t let a friend down. It starts at 7:00.”
I laughed when I read his message.
“Count me in. Have Frankie meet you at your place, and then I’ll pick you both up at six o’clock since your place is on the way to the stadium.”
“Awesome. I knew you wouldn’t let your bros down. See you later.”
“Hey, baby,” Kirsten walked into my office and took a seat on my lap. Wrapping her arms around me, she pressed her lips against mine. “Where and with whom did you go to lunch with?”
Shit.
“I went to the Mexican place a few blocks over with Ben.” I lied.
“I hope you didn’t eat too much because I made us dinner reservations tonight at Tavern on the Green.”
“I really wish you had asked me before doing that.”
“Why?” She climbed off my lap and stood over me with her arms folded.
“Because I’m going to the game tonight with Ben. He just asked me at lunch.”
“Too bad. Tell him you can’t go.”
“I already told him I would.”
“Is Frankie going too?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Because you see your friends more than you do me, Henry,” she shouted as she walked away from my desk. “I’m leaving in a couple of days and won’t see you this weekend.”
“And we’ll spend the evening together tomorrow. I promise. You’ll have me all to yourself.”
“You know what, Henry? Just forget it. I’ll see you when I get back from my trip.” She grabbed her purse and stormed out of my office.
“Fuck!” I shouted as I leaned back in my chair.
I left the office early and went home to change before picking up Frankie and Ben for the game. I hadn’t stopped thinking about Ellie since lunch. I picked up my phone from the bed and texted her.
“Hi, Ellie. How are you?”
“Hi, Henry. I’m good. You?”
“I’m good. I’m getting ready to head out to the Yankees game with a couple of friends of mine.”
“Sounds like fun. I hope you have a good time.”
“I’d like to take you out Friday night. My friend, Frankie, owns a small art gallery in Greenwich Village, and I’d love for you to see it.”
“I’d love to.”
“Great. Is six-thirty a good time?”
“It’s a perfect time. You know where I live.” She sent the smiling emoji.
“I’m afraid I don’t know your apartment number.”
“14B.”
“I’ll text you when I’m standing outside your door.” I included the wink emoji. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
“Have fun with your friends.”
When the three of us arrived at the stadium, we grabbed a beer and a couple of orders of nachos and headed to our seats.
“Kirsten wasn’t pissed about you coming tonight?” Frankie asked.
“Of course, she was. She’s leaving Friday to go on a trip with her mom for the weekend. She said I see you two more than I do her, and we got into a big fight.”
“Gee man, I’m sorry,” Ben said.
“Don’t be. I offered to see her tomorrow, and she got really pissed off. She told me she’d see me when she got back from her trip, which is fine with me. Listen, I need to tell you guys something before the game starts.”
“What’s up?” Frankie asked. “It sounds serious.”
“I met someone.”
“Okay?” Ben’s eye narrowed at me. “As in another woman?”
“Yeah.” I sighed.
“Oh shit, bro,” Frankie said. “Who is this chick?”
“Her name is Ellie Scott, and she is incredibly beautiful. We met yesterday at the grocery store after an apple debacle.”
I explained what had happened, and they both laughed.
“Anyway, I took her to lunch today, and now I can’t stop thinking about her. I know you’re going to think I’m crazy, but I feel alive when I’m with her. Even though we just met, I feel like I’ve known her my entire life. I forget about everyone and everything else when I’m with her.”
“Damn, Henry.” Frankie placed his hand on my shoulder and gave it a grip.
“There’s something else about her,” I said.
“What?” Ben asked. “Is she married or something?”
“Is she pregnant?” Frankie smirked.
“No. She’s deaf.”
Both their jaws dropped.
“Wow. Okay,” Frankie spoke. “Guess it’s a good thing you know sign language.”
“Yeah, bro. Are you going to keep seeing her or what?” Ben asked.
“I’m seeing her Friday night. In fact, I’m bringing her to your gallery, Frankie. She’s an artist like you.”
“Really? Have you seen her work?”
“Yeah. Let me show you.” I pulled my phone from my pocket and pulled up her website. “She sells her paintings online.”
“Wow. She’s really talented,” Frankie said as he scrolled through her website.
“Let me see,” Ben spoke as he grabbed my phone from Frankie’s hand. “Damn. Those are nice paintings. “I want to meet her too, so I’ll be at the gallery Friday night as well.”
“She’s also a freelance website designer.”
“Really? I’ve been looking for someone to design a new site for the gallery,” Frankie said.
“Great. You can talk to her on Friday.”
“Not really, bro. I don’t know sign language.”
“She can read lips, and I can interpret.”
“I don’t mean to burst your happy bubble, but you’re playing with fire, man,” Ben said as he shoved a nacho in his mouth. “You need to make a decision and fast about Kirsten.”
“I know I do. But my entire future is at stake.”