Chapter Seven
Marcia grins, tossing her empty bag of popcorn and small Coke Zero cup into the trash can. “It was cute. Nothing tops the trifecta of When Harry Met Sally , Sleepless in Seattle , and You’ve Got Mail , but I’m still glad rom-coms are making a comeback.”
“The grand gesture gets me every time. I don’t know anyone in real life who has been the giver or receiver of one, but the fantasy lives on! Especially when it involves one of the characters racing somewhere to surprise the other and declare their love.” I throw a hand to my heart. “Swoon!”
We wordlessly head to our apartment—me making an effort to walk at Marcia’s slower pace—but I place a hand on her arm and stop us both in our tracks.
“Are you full from the popcorn, or do you want to get some ice cream?” I’m not quite ready to go home yet.
It’s Sunday, which means tomorrow is Monday, and even though I love my job and even my classes, I like the weekends more, when my time is my own.
Marcia twists her face in contemplation. “Sweets are a different part of my stomach than salt, so let’s do it.”
“I love your logic! How about Van Leeuwen? Their vegan mint chocolate chip is amazing, and we’ll feel less guilty.”
“I won’t feel guilty anyway, but I like your logic!”
A few minutes later, we’re sitting across from each other at a table in the back of Van Leeuwen, both eating two scoops of cookies and cream—neither of them vegan—and gushing over Henry Golding.
“He’s exceptionally good looking,” I say.
Across the table from me, Marcia nods. “Cheeks sculpted from glass. Abs too.” Her grin morphs into a grimace. “I’m glad Adam isn’t here to witness this conversation. Aren’t they the same age?”
I do a quick search for Henry on my phone. “He’s thirty-eight. Way older than Adam. You’re safe!”
Marcia spoons ice cream into her mouth. “Still younger than my son.”
I wave my plastic spoon. “Age-gap romances are on trend. And no one would bat an eye if you were a man. Fuck the patriarchy!”
Marcia chuckles. “Isn’t that the truth!” She swings her head from side to side, taking in the crowded shop and the hordes of people outside walking along East Seventh Street. “This was a great idea. Much better than being cooped up at home.”
I rub my lips together. “Do you think Adam will be insulted we didn’t invite him?
” When he moved in, I worried that I would lose out on time alone with Marcia and am glad that’s not the case.
But even on his first day, he invited me to join them for breakfast. He wasn’t home when we left, but we could have texted him to meet us.
“He’s out exploring. Did you know he’s been doing that for a few hours almost every day since he’s been here? He has no fear! Just jumps on the subway and takes off to parts unknown.” She beams.
I repress a giggle. Adam’s a grown man, and Marcia’s proud of his independence like he’s a teenager.
My stomach dips at the reminder that she didn’t get to see this transition firsthand.
I spoon the last bit of ice cream into my mouth and slump against the back of my plastic yellow chair with a groan. “Why do weekends go by so fast?”
Marcia shrugs. “Sundays are like every other day when you’re retired.”
I huff a breath out my nose. “Show-off!”
She grins. “I’d rather be young again, but this retirement thing is a nice perk.” She glances out the window again and back to me. “Shall we?”
I agree, and less than a minute later we’re on our way out the door. “Let’s take a picture first.”
I wait for Marcia to smooth down her hair and refresh her lipstick.
When she’s ready, I position us next to the giant ice cream cone hanging from the entrance and take a selfie that I post in my IG stories with the caption, “Rom-com and ice cream date with my roomie.” At the last minute, I add Taylor Swift’s “It’s Nice to Have a Friend” as background music.
On the next block, I check my notifications and a tingle rushes through me.
Marcia bumps against me and looks over my shoulder with her eyebrows raised. “What are you smiling about?”
“Just getting lots of likes on our picture.” I shove my phone in my jacket pocket before she can see that it was only one like, and it was from Adam.