Reckless Abandon(47)
“Ems,” her curt voice cuts me off, “you’ve lived out there for two months. What do you mean you haven’t gone out?”
This—coming from my social butterfly of a sister—is expected. She thrives on going out and meeting new people. It’s in her nature. Not mine.
When I first got to New York, I had two weeks to find an apartment before my new job began. I stayed in a hotel, spending way too much of my savings to do so, before I found a place to live. And for the last six weeks I’ve been working my ass off getting the Juliette Academy ready for opening day.
The Juliette Academy is a free after-school music school for children in New York City. It is offered to everyone, regardless of economic status. You are accepted through a lottery. All you need to enroll is a New York City address and the willingness to learn.
I love the school’s name. Juliette sounds like a mini-Julliard. It’s a cute play on the name of the famous school uptown where some of the greatest musicians have trained.
A lot of inner-city kids submitted an application for entry. I wish I could give the spots to only those kids but the lottery is open to everyone. Our first run is two hundred and fifty kids, each receiving a lesson once a week. If they progress, they can apply for grants or pay out of pocket for more lessons.
Running a program isn’t what I had planned for my life. In fact, if I weren’t at the place in my life I was this summer, I never would have taken it. But I needed out and New York was a perfect escape.
I’ve kept myself busy hiring the final round of teachers and working on a curriculum for them to follow. My job description also requires me to make sure every applicant is in the proper class for their age and skill level as well as make sure they have the proper equipment. Ordering two hundred and fifty instruments with the budget I had was difficult but it got done.
And then, of course, it was getting said two hundred and fifty kids in the right classrooms with the right teachers with the right equipment—
Yeah, I’ve been so engrossed in getting the program up and running I haven’t had time to go out.
I explain this to Leah but she doesn’t seem to be buying it.
“I’m surprised you haven’t tracked down the dirtbag and banged down his door already.” Leah’s tone gets feisty whenever she refers to Asher. “When you first took the job in New York I thought it was because he lived there. Like you needed to be near him or something. But every time I call you you’re at home or at work.”
“That’s because that’s all I have time for. And seriously, what am I going to do? Knock on his door and say, ‘How dare you let me have sex with you?’ He didn’t promise me anything, Leah. It was just a fling. It was exactly what you wanted it to be.”
“I didn’t want you to get hurt.”
“I didn’t get hurt.” My lie repeating itself as it has for the past three months.
Leah lets out a hmpf sound. “Well, you did say it was the most mind-numbing sex of your life. The least he can do is offer you round two.”
If she were in front of me I’d punch her in the arm. “You dirty skank!”
Her laugh is so loud I have to pull the phone away from my ear. “I’m kidding. Not really. Well, kind of. But seriously, you need to get laid. Aren’t there any nice boys around?”
“No boys. Just Frank and a few guys at the academy. And Mattie who lives upstairs. He’s way too young. I don’t even think he can drink legally.”
“Oh . . . Do Mattie. Do Mattie!” she chants.
I shake my head at the thought. “Good night, Leah.”
“’Night, sis. I’ll text you the days the girls and I are coming to town. Love you!”
I hang up with Leah and finish my salad, tuning the pages on the class list for next week.
I look over the pages but my mind is only thinking of one thing.
Asher.
I could kick myself for letting my mind go there.
Leah and I stayed on Capri for three more days after he left. Three days I hoped he would return and clear up the misunderstanding. But there was no misunderstanding. He lied to me about who he was, got me in bed, and then disappeared.
For a split second I thought I was falling in love with him. Isn’t that tragic? After knowing him a short time I let myself think he was worth giving my heart to. I blame the sex. Yes, it was really good sex.
Clearly it was the kind of sex that makes you think only illogical thoughts.
Gah! I stand up and shake off all thoughts Alexander Asher. I need a cold shower and a good night’s sleep.
I turn up the stereo slightly and decide Mattie and I need something with more edge. I blast One Republic because while Mattie had a wicked day it looks like I’m gonna have a wicked night.
For a girl who grew up in the Midwest and spent the last few years in Pittsburgh, moving to Manhattan was quite a change, though I’d like to say I’ve been catching on rather easily. Since I’ve moved to New York I’ve learned: avenue blocks are longer than street blocks, there are separate downtown and uptown train entrances (a lesson I learned the hard way, after swiping my trusty Metro Card), cabs with the number lit up are empty and available, cart food is delicious, five dollars for a domestic beer is completely reasonable and an empty subway car during rush hour is not a good thing. I’ll let you use your imagination as to why (I also learned that one the hard way).