The Waiter by Bradleigh Collins (bill gates books recommendations .txt) 📕

that morning, George came walking over to my desk carrying the biggest bouquet of red roses I’d ever seen. The card said, Red for my Red. I love you more than anything. An hour later, George returned with a somewhat smaller bouquet of white roses with a card that simply said, I’m still a dick. I’m still sorry. And I still love you.

“These are actually for you,” I’d said to George as I tossed Dalton’s card into the garbage. I knew George had already read the card. He knew they were from Dalton. I took out a post-it note and wrote a little love note: To George, you complete me. Then I stuck it on the vase and handed the flowers back to him.

“Thanks, Ginger Spice,” George said as he walked back to his desk, carrying the white roses like he was a pageant winner. I never told Dominic about that.

I ordered another martini.

“How’s Dana?” Dalton asked.

“She’s great! She just got a job at Time Out New York and she and Simon are moving up here on Friday.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah! Her mom is totally going to kill me.”

“What about Simon? Does he have a job up here?”

“Not yet. But he’s a really good graphic designer. He’ll land something in no time.”

“Where are they going to live?”

“Downtown. In the financial district. They found a one-bedroom near Battery Park.”

“And where are you living?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Why? Are you living with him?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I am.” It was kind of the truth. There was no way I was going to tell him about mine and Dominic’s bi-coastal status. If Dalton sensed any kind of weakness in the relationship, he’d move in for the kill.

“How long have you been living with him?”

“Also none of your business.”

I could see him getting agitated.

“You ran right to him that night, didn’t you?”

“Does it even matter, Dalton? We’re done. And you’re leaving. What’s the point?”

He sat there, staring at his drink.

“Can we just talk about something else? Tell me about your next gig. Do you have a new assignment or are you going back to Atlanta for a while?”

“No, they already gave me my new assignment. It’s for twelve months. I start Monday, April third.”

“Wow, your new assignment is for a year?”

“Yeah.”

“Where is it?”

“Hoboken,” he said. And then he smiled.

I felt like someone had just jammed a needle full of adrenaline into my chest, like that scene from Pulp Fiction.

“Hoboken? New Jersey? Like, right across the Hudson River Hoboken?”

“Yes, Sam, that Hoboken.”

“So, you’re not leaving New York?”

“I’m not even leaving my apartment,” he said, taking a swig of his Scotch. “I kinda like this neighborhood. I’ll just take the PATH train to work every day.”

I had nothing. No response. I just sat there on the barstool shaking my head, thinking about the fact that Central Park was the only thing separating Dalton and me for the next year. I looked at him. He smiled at me and downed his drink.

Dalton had just checkmated me. And he fucking knew it.

CHAPTER 40

◆◆◆

“Reservation for nine,” Katie said. We had just arrived at Pageant, a popular Irish pub and restaurant on Ninth Street in NoHo known for its Shepherd’s Pie and stout drinks. It was the night of Josh’s birthday. We were all having dinner downstairs before taking over the upstairs lounge for his karaoke party.

I’d talked to Dominic earlier while he and Nick were at the trade show in San Francisco. It was loud and I could barely hear him, but he wanted me to wish Josh a happy birthday for him and to take lots of pictures.

“Hey Red, I’ll see you in five days!” he yelled into the phone before hanging up.

I couldn’t wait to see him. I was sad that he wasn’t here tonight, but I was so proud of him. The gym was set to open at the end of April, and I was flying out to California to celebrate with him.

But tonight, we were celebrating Josh. We were also celebrating Dana and Simon’s status as the newest New Yorkers. They had just moved into their apartment on West Street and Morris. I spent the entire day helping them unpack. I took the little black dress I was wearing tonight with me so I could change there. I wouldn’t have time to come all the way back to the Upper West Side. Their apartment was way downtown. Way further than Dana wanted to be, considering that her new office was in Times Square. But the rent was much cheaper down here. Plus, they had a large balcony with an amazing view.

“I plan on spending a lot of time out here,” I said to Dana. We stood there, staring out at the top of the Woolworth Building, sipping wine as the sun set over Lower Manhattan before heading out to Pageant.

“I’m so fucking glad you’re here,” I said, hugging her.

“The adventure continues.” She clinked my glass with hers.

She, Simon and I arrived at Pageant the same time as Josh and Katie. Lucy had called and said that she and Kyle were on their way. Josh wasn’t sure if Darryl and Molly were meeting us for dinner or just coming to the party. We all hoped it was just the party. We could handle Darryl by himself, but the combination of him and Molly together was too much. We did our best to tolerate her because we loved Darryl.

The hostess walked us to our table, which was right in the center of the restaurant. Josh sat down at the head of the table with Katie next to him. I sat next to Katie and Dana sat next to me with Simon beside her. Then Lucy and Kyle arrived and Lucy sat directly across from me.

“Oh god,” she suddenly realized. “I guess this means I’m sitting next to Molly.”

“Simon,” Dana said, “be a doll and go sit on the other side of Lucy across from me.” Of course Simon, being the doll that he is, did