City Love(23)

You could say I’m a work in progress.

My ex ended us right before I left for New York. That’s why I was lugging all that rage in my baggage when I moved in. We were so happy together. We were so in love. Or so I thought. Then everything fell apart overnight. Turns out that our thoughts about the relationship were diametrically opposed. I thought we were going to try the long-distance thing. I thought we were going to be together for a long time. Meanwhile, he thought dumping me so hard my heart would shatter into a zillion pieces was the best way to go. Because why wouldn’t you want to devastate the girl you said you loved? Out of nowhere? With no advance warning?

Oh, and then? I saw him out the next night. He was at Urth Caffe with his friends, whooping it up at a big rowdy table. He was totally oblivious to the fallout of his actions. Urth Caffe was our place. That’s where he took me on our first date. That’s where we went for brunch the morning after we had sex for the first time. That’s where he gazed into my eyes and swore that no girl could ever be more perfect for him than I was.

Urth Caffe was the last straw.

I darted over to his table. His friends immediately shut up. The sudden dip in volume caused people at other tables to look over, which was a good thing considering I wanted as many spectators as I could get.

“Hey, Darcy,” he said, looking up at me with those big eyes I could never resist. “Why are you—”

There was no time to think. I picked up his soda and threw it in his face. Yeah, I’m that girl. The one who slings drinks in bad boys’ faces with flair. My new motto could be Act Now, Think Later.

This summer I’m all about being spontaneous. I love being free and going with the flow. I want to forget about consequences for a while. Keep things light. Let my anger go. This summer is mine to play with and New York City is my playground.

Getting back to my normal happy self would be a lot easier without the jarring bursts of pain. Every time I think I’m done being hurt by him, a memory will flash in my mind so eidetic it’s like I’m right back at square one all over again. We weren’t done yet. Not even close. How could he not have seen that?

A street performer near the fountain is drawing a huge crowd. An impressive achievement anywhere, but especially here. New Yorkers hardly stop for anything. They walk quickly with purpose. They always have someplace to be and they needed to be there ten minutes ago. But this boy is making them stop and watch.

Short List of Events New Yorkers Will Pause For – someone has collapsed on the sidewalk – free samples

– accident involving a mangled bicycle or bent traffic light – movie filming with an A-list celeb – a natural disaster (if it’s horrific enough) This boy is a lot younger than most of the other street performers I’ve seen. Back home, artists like to do their thing around the Santa Monica Pier. They’re typically dudes in their thirties or forties, sometimes even older. This boy looks like he’s my age. With his blue eyes, blond hair, and athletic build, he’s got that surfer boy look I’ve been crushing on since I was twelve. Along with the clearly entertained crowd of people watching him, I am transfixed. I can’t help myself. Surfer Boy is bringing me right back to when I first started liking boys, wishing my first boy adventure would hurry up and happen already. Watching him feels the same way watching boys I liked back then felt. Same racing pulse. Same damp palms. Same hint of vertigo. What can I tell you? This boy is already rocking my world and I don’t even know his name.

I watch his act. He’s a magician, but not in a corny way where rabbits get yanked out of musty hats. His way is funny, sharp, and engaging. He’s very good at making the crowd feel like they’re in on the joke. Little kids laugh and their parents smile. Quirky cerebral humor rules. This boy has natural talent. He has unique tricks I’ve never seen before that he might have invented himself. He could be some kind of master genius magician. Tricks have to originate somewhere, right? Who knows. This boy could be igniting a revolution of contemporary magic.

He finishes his act. The crowd bursts into applause. He even gets a few whistles and one, “Righteous, man!” Some people put money in his collection bucket. The crowd scatters while he takes a break. A few people go up to him.

I wander over. He shoots me a smile while he’s talking to the last person left. Then he approaches me.

“Please tell me I was even remotely entertaining,” he says.

I eye him up and down like a guy. Now it’s my turn to take control. I’m in charge. I’m the one with the power over boys’ emotions.

“Oh yeah,” I drawl. “I’m entertained.”

He actually blushes a little. I bet he’s never had a girl be this forward before.

“So how’s the summer solstice treating you?” he says.

“You can tell it’s summer. Things just got hotter.”

“Are you flirting with me?”

“Is it obvious?”

“Only about as obvious as a ton of bricks. Wait, wouldn’t the bricks have to fall or something to be obvious? Like a pile of bricks just sitting in some vacant lot wouldn’t be obvious.”

“Flirt much?”

“Tragically, no. And it’s waaay too obvious.”

“Only about as obvious as a ton of falling bricks.”

“Are you always this forward with the dudes?”