“I went to my favorite stationary store inMidtown.”
“Scott, that’s so sweet ofyou.”
“I’m just glad they haven’t closed down. I bought myself some notebookstoo.”
Inside the notebook is a small envelope. Written on the envelope, in excellent penmanship, are the words:Thank you for beinghere.
Scott continues to unpack bagels and lox and cream cheese and potato pancakes and coffee cakes. I have already gained five pounds just from looking at all thatfood.
“Open the envelope,” he says, still not looking atme.
“Yes sir,” I say. I carefully open the envelope and find a gift card to Henri Bendel departmentstore.
“Don’t be mad,okay.”
Oh I’m furious. You got me a gift card to the coolest fancy department store in Manhattan—how dare you.“What’s thisfor?”
“I knew you wouldn’t want me to take you shopping and pay for things because that would begross.”
“Correct.”
“But…I don’t want this to sound asshole-ish.”
“You want me to buy a new dress for thewedding.”
“Is that bad? I love that dress that you wore to Jeff and Laurie’s wedding, but I remember you wearing that back in Boston. I just want you to have a nice new dress and I don’t want you to spend anymoney.”
“Okay. I’ll get somethingdecent.”
“The balance on the gift card is seven-fifty.”
I blurt out “Seven hundred and fifty dollars?!” I wonder if I can trade it forcash.
“American dollars,yes.”
I start coughing. “I thought the wedding venue was azoo.”
“Yeah, but it’s not the San Diego Zoo, this is midtown Manhattan, it’s still gonna be pretty formal. Black tie optional, it said. And no black tie is not an option for most of the men in myfamily.”
“Gotit.”
“Also, you should probably get a larger dress size than usual, because when we’re done eating this deli food I want to take you to Mary’s Fish Camp. Their fish sandwich and fries are amazing. And there’s a place on Bleecker that has the greatest ice cream you will everhave.”
“Sounds like I should get a fancy pair of black stretchpants.”
“I wish we were staying here longer. I want to take you to Babbotoo.”
“I’ve actually been to Babbo! The Tuscan white beanspread!”
“Oh my God. The risotto I had there was the best I’ve ever eaten. I’d be so fat if I still livedhere.”
And I would still probably want to have sex with you all thetime.
I crawl across the bed towards him. As relaxed and happy as I am here, he is equally as tense. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him so tense and grouchy before. Why does it make me want to fellate him? I reach over to unzip hisjeans.
“Hey, what are youdoing?”
“Um. I’m about to put my mouth on your sexualorgan.”
