Page 44 of Seal the Deal
Truthfully, Andrew doesn’t even want to go to New York and never has. The crowds and change seem like a hellscape to him, but it was a hellscape he’d always been willing to endure for his twin. He would do anything for Charlie, including stepping aside so Charlie and Eden can be happy.
“I know I always said if I made it then it’d be me and you, and I’m not…it’s notnotyou and me anymore, but they want the pieces of Eden for someone’s private gallery. If I go, it’ll be a showcase of my favorite pieces of him. That, and he’s never been anywhere. Can you imagine him in New York City? There’s so much queer history I could show him and?—”
“You love him,” Andrew finishes.
“I love him so much.”
Andrew smiles, ignoring the unease and confusion swirling in him. How stupid was he to imagine they’d spend this meal talking about Andrew. Turns out he doesn’t need to lie at all.
“I’m happy for you, Charlie. You should take Eden.”
“You sure you’re not upset? Because if you are, I won’t ask Eden.”
“Ask Eden what?” Eden interrupts, arriving at their table with their food. Rather than drop it off and leave, he settles himself in the empty half of the booth beside Charlie.
“I thought you were working for another hour,” Charlie pipes up.
“Juanita let me off early to eat with you guys,” Eden explains, grabbing a chip from the basket in the center of the table and popping it in his mouth while his gaze moves between Charlie and Andrew. When he’s done chewing he asks, “what are you gonna ask me?”
“Uh, well?—”
“Charlie wants you to go to New York with him.”
Eden’s hand is stretched across the table, another chip covered in salsa that drips on the table as he gapes at Charlie. “Why?”
“Because the showcase is of you. I’ve been holding off showing the pieces publicly until it felt right and this—it feels right. Bringing you with me feels right.”
“I can’t go to New York,” Eden hisses.
“Why not?”
“I have to work and…and—” but he stops, the longing clear as day.
“The gallery is in the East Village,” Charlie says. “I was planning on making a trip of it—stay a few extra nights to hit up the queer scene. You’re twenty-one now so we could go clubbing, take a walking tour of some of the important queer history spots, and?—”
“Yes,” Eden blurts, shoving his chip into his mouth before slumping in the booth as if admitting he wants to go cost him dearly. Knowing Eden, it probably did. He’s allergic to having wants or needs.
“Maybe you could send me photos,” Andrew offers, bumping Eden’s foot beneath the table. “I’m too busy with work to manage coming anyway, but I’d love to see it all.”
“I could text you,” Eden says, already brightening.
Sure it’s a lie, Andrew isn’t too busy, but he knows Eden will have an easier time soaking it in and taking photos if he pretends it's for someone else.
“You’ll have to keep an eye on Charlie too, make sure he doesn’t get into too much trouble.”
“I am sitting right here, you know,” Charlie says around a massive mouthful ofarroz con mole.
Eden and Charlie devolve into bickering about whether Charlie needs a babysitter in New York that leaves Eden looking annoyed and Charlie delighted. As they continue to argue, Andrew tries to smile, even as he feels slightly out of place. Staring down at his food, he takes a tortilla, rolling it up and dipping it into his steaming bowl ofalbondigas. Chewing slowly, he tries to force away thoughts of Nicki and their agreement. Tries not to think about all his unread texts and how he’d stupidly let himself open up to Nicki. He tries not to think about being replaced. He tries not to think at all. Tries and fails.
Maybe Andrew’s destined to be what other people need forever.
* * *
Doinghis best to keep his expression neutral, Andrew takes several deep breaths in and out as his boss wraps up his speech,finally.
This meeting lasted far too long. It was also, for reasons that make no sense to Andrew, scheduled ten minutes before their lunch break.
To the surprise of no one, it’d gone so far over that it’s now an hour past Andrew’s normal lunch time, something his brain and body are equally unhappy about considering how unimportant and pointless the entire meeting was. Everything his boss rambled about from end of the month statements to upcoming quarterly projections are things that could have been succinctly and timely explained in an email.
