Chapter 31
CHAPTER
THIRTY-ONE
I nside the Javits Center, the crowds have become unreal. It’s the same as before, except bigger, denser, and louder. The heat from the surprisingly warm weather and the densely packed bodies is enough to make someone pass out, and I’m sure someone will at some point. I guess that’s why there’s medical staff at ready dotted around here and there.
Even the cosplay is bigger: some folks are wearing full on constructions that make them wider or taller than humanly possible, to match their larger than life characters of choice. There’s even one person running around dressed as an accurate, to scale model of the Javits Center itself, which is not something I was expecting to see.
I decide to skip out on stopping by Excelsior’s booth: aside from avoiding Hank, I think it’s more important that I see Cal. I need to tell him what happened.
Pushing slowly through the crowds, I find pockets of people moving in the direction I want and fall into their wake, allowing their more forceful or practical need for space with their cosplays to make a path for me. Zig-zagging between people, some paying attention but most not, I eventually find my way to Artists Alley, and if anything, the crowd gets even thicker.
Even harder to navigate now, as people keep stopping to talk with creators, to get signatures and sketches, or even stopping for pics of the cosplayers in the throng, I feel my frustration rising, my heartbeat increasing with my need to just get. To. Cal.
At last, I see our table, and see Manny and Cal continuing to work the crowds. Today, Cal is not in his usual dungarees, and is instead wearing tight fitting jeans, artfully torn at the knees, a beanie on his head covering most of his curls, but a few slip out from under, cascading towards those giant black lashes of his. And to top it off, he’s wearing a tank top, actually showing off his arms for once. For a second, I pause and admire the curve of his bicep, and feel my heart flutter as a tricep pops up as he twists his arm to grab something under the table. He looks amazing.
“Hey!” I practically yelp as I run up to the table.
“Oh, hey, man! I didn’t think we’d get you until later?” Cal says, surprised, but smiling.
“Nah. This was more important.”
Cal grins at me and it genuinely fills me with warmth inside.
I walk up to him behind the table, and I cannot control the need to touch him. But instead of diving in for what I really want to do, I just poke his bare arm and raise my eyebrow. “Well, this is a new look for you.”
“Heh, yeah,” he laughs, and I swear to god, he blushes. His cheeks fire up, a bright pink against his pale skin. “I figured it was going to be crazy hot today, what with the weather and the people, and this makes sense.”
“Well, you look amazing, man,” I gush, and he rubs his head.
I press my hand against his hard shoulder, and turn him aside, leaving Manny with the customers at the table. “Anyway, I wanted to tell you something. So, last night, Hank gave me an ultimatum.”
“He did what ? That creep?—”
“No, no, it’s okay. Look. I didn’t take it. I stood him up. I don’t want to get there that way. You were right. And if that means I’m done for at Excelsior, then so be it. They’re not the only publisher in town, and well, I should focus more on my own work anyway,” I look into his eyes. “On our work.”
Cal looks at me for a beat, and then all of a sudden he throws himself at me, his arms enveloping me. He squeezes me in a hug so tight, I think I might actually be the one to pass out after all, but I don’t even care. Then he loosens his grip, and as he pulls away, his lips brush my cheek and I feel myself melting.
“I’m so proud of you, Jesse. Look, I know it may be harder this way. But no matter what happens, you got me by your side. Whatever may come, we’re together in this, and we got this.” He smiles at me and gives me another quick hug that leaves me breathless.
As he goes to sit back at the table, I stand there, my hand touching my cheek. ‘Whatever may come’ he said. He’s with me. He’ll stand by me…just like he always has.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. Taking it out, I see it’s a text from Anna.
Missed you this morning at the booth. Remember tonight is the Excelsior Party at O’Malley’s. You’ll have been sent a QR code that works as an invite to let in anyone you want to bring. Don’t go nuts!
Anyone I want to bring? I can only really think of one person right now. I go and join him at our table and start selling our book.