Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
JO
June
Jordan
Why were a ten-gallon fish tank, a bag of rocks, and a box of fake plants delivered to my apartment this morning?
Me
For Dippy’s new habitat.
Jordan
Any reason why he couldn’t just keep living on my dresser like he has for the past almost two months?
Me
The dresser really isn’t a place for a pet to live.
Jordan
Well, considering he’s not a pet, I’m sure it’s probably fine.
Me
Listen, real talk. I was willing to go with the dresser living space for a while because I wasn’t confident that you would take care of him in the manner to which he has become accustomed, and I figured there was a fifty-fifty chance I’d have to take custody of him.
Jordan
The manner in which he became accustomed to being…living in the bottom of your massive tote bag?
Me
I was hoping you wouldn’t remember that.
Jordan
I remember everything.
Me
Be that as it may, it’s time, J. He needs a home.
Jordan
And I’m supposed to set up this home?
Me
Consider it a family bonding exercise.
Jordan
And what about you?
Me
What about me?
Jordan
He was yours first. Are you or are you not a member of this family?
Me
That really depends.
Jordan
Depends on what?
Me
On what’s in it for me if I come help you set up his habitat.
Jordan
My sparkling company?
Me
I’m not sure that’s quite enough.
Jordan
Savage, Hurricane. Name your price.
Me
I’m thinking…movie night. Thursday night after you have a chance to sleep off your night on call. Every summer of fun needs a good movie night.
Jordan
Sold.
Me
Don’t speak too soon. You’re in charge of dinner, and I get to pick the movie.
Jordan
But how will I know which one of your many, many favorites you’re in the mood for?
Me
Now I’m sure that’s something my summer bestie would be able to figure out without too much trouble.
Jordan
Challenge accepted. What’s the movie?
Me
Something iconically New York.
Jordan
Let me guess…When Harry Met Sally? The diner scene IRL?
Me
Nope. The Day After Tomorrow.
Jordan
The one where Dennis Quaid tries to save the world from climate change?
Me
The very same one.
Jordan
How is that iconically New York?
Me
You’re kidding right? Dennis Quaid’s son, played by a young and very earnest Jake Gyllenhaal, takes shelter in the New York Public Library with his academic decathlon team, and the Statue of Liberty flash freezes into a block of ice. Name me something more iconically New York than that.
Jordan
Goodfellas. Breakfast at Tiffanys. The Usual Suspects. Sleepless in Seattle. Something’s Gotta Give. You’ve Got Mail. And yes, When Harry Met Sally.
Me
Okay fine, I just really love disaster movies. Even though climate change and extreme weather scare the absolute shit out of me, I have never seen a disaster movie I’m not immediately obsessed with.
Jordan
You are the most fascinating person I have ever met.
Me
Oh, I know.
Jordan
You heading into work?
Me
Just got here, actually. I’m really early but I was too excited to sleep, so I’m sitting on the museum steps drinking coffee.
Like, right here on the steps.
Of the American Museum of Natural History.
Where I’m about to work.
Holy balls.
Jordan
You’ll kick ass. They’re lucky to have you.
Me
Fucking right, I will.
Jordan
[Picture of Dippy wearing a scarf covered in dinosaurs]
Jordan
Happy first day.
Me
Stop it. I need to know where you keep getting these Dippy scarves that I definitely did not send you.
Jordan
No comment.
Me
Come on.
Jordan
Nope.
Me
Ugh. Go remove an appendix or something.
Jordan
You will be unsurprised to know I’m on my way to do exactly that right now. Good luck today, Hurricane.
Me
Thanks, J.
I grin down at my phone as I click it off and slide it into my bag. Along with the grin, I feel a little flutter of butterflies at the thought of being alone with Jordan in his apartment for movie night. Aside from that hour in Hallie and Ben’s backyard, we’ve always been together in public and around other people, so this will be the first time we’re really alone.
I know he’s not in a position to offer any more than friendship, and I’m happy to take it and give that right back to him. But I can’t deny that I’m wildly attracted to the guy. I’ve been mostly able to shove it down, but when he admitted to me the night of the scavenger hunt that he felt like who he is isn’t enough for all the people in his life? Well, I just wanted to wrap him up and tell him over and over again that he is exactly enough for me.
And good lord, when he tucked me under his arm because he saw I was cold, I had the thought that I would never be cold again, if only I could live with his arm around me and his fresh laundry scent filling my senses. He doesn’t think he’s enough, and I think he’s everything. Even if we’re never more than the friends we are now, I really want to be the one who makes him believe that.
My first morning at the museum of my dreams and a movie night with my favorite guy on the horizon. Today really is a spectacular day. Standing from the steps, I take one final glance at Central Park stretching in front of the museum, all lit up in the morning summer sunshine, and I turn to jog up the stairs and into the museum.
My breath catches as soon as I walk into the rotunda that serves as the lobby. It’s been years since I’ve been here, but Barosaurus and Allosaurus , the iconic dinosaur casts, still stand tall at its center, and the Theodore Roosevelt aphorisms I still have memorized are inscribed on the walls. The museum isn’t open yet, so I get to take it all in silently, and I am immediately in love.
“Josephine Evans?”
I turn at my name and see a blonde woman walk into the rotunda. Her hair is piled on top of her head in a messy bun and she’s wearing jeans, a T-shirt that says You Bet Jurassican , and bright red, high-top Converse. Much like with the museum, I love her instantly.
“That’s me, but you can call me Jo. Josephine is…a mouthful.”
She laughs and offers me her hand. “Jo. I’m Monica, the head of youth programming. I’m really happy to meet you—and I love your shoes!”
Now it’s my turn to laugh as I shake her hand. “I was kind of afraid my particular brand of casual would be too casual, but it looks like I’ll fit right in.”
“You absolutely will. We work with kids all day, so we’re a casual bunch. Unless you’re meeting with donors, which you’ll probably have to do at least once while you’re here, feel free to wear whatever works best for digging for dinosaur bones with preschoolers.”
“Monica, you’re speaking my language.”
She smiles and motions for me to follow her. “I thought that might be the case. We’re thrilled to have you here. I hope Barb told you how impressed we are with the programs you put together in Pittsburgh.”
“She did, and I appreciate it.” I follow her into a small office decorated in bright colors and take the seat she points at while she settles behind her desk.
“So, as you know, we are excited for you to put together similar programming here, and as you do that, to write a kind of handbook on how to do it. We do a lot of work with smaller museums both inside and outside of New York, and I think what you’ve created can be replicated on both large and small scales all around the country.”
I blow out a breath, not exactly sure how to respond. “Wow, thank you. I appreciate you saying that.”
Monica gives me an incredulous look. “This can’t come as a surprise to you, Jo. What you have done is incredible.”
“Oh, I know. It’s mostly that I’m used to being the crazy, quirky, Converse-wearing girl. It’s not often that I get complimented for something that’s not my pink shoes or my ability to quote the movie Armageddon in its entirety.”
“Well, from one quirky Converse-wearing girl to another, I’m really excited to work together this summer. And I love disaster movies.”
I grin at her. “They’re the best, right? I was just setting up a movie night with a friend for later this week and we’re watching The Day After Tomorrow .”
“Iconic New York.” Monica nods in approval.
“That’s what I told him!” I exclaim. “You can’t beat the frozen Statue of Liberty.”
“You absolutely can’t. It’s nice that you have friends in the city.”
I shrug, pulling out a Fireball and popping it in my mouth. “One friend. He’s actually my brother-in-law’s best friend, but he works here now. I kind of forced him into being my summer friend. He went through a really rough time a couple of years ago, and I think he needs some fun in his life.”
“I don’t even know you yet and I’m already sure you’re the kind of person who can bring the fun. So, you want to go poke around the basement Night at the Museum style while I tell you what we’re up against on the programming front?”
I stand, grinning like a maniac. “Monica, there is nothing I would like more. I think we are going to be great friends.”