Page 104 of Last Letters to Ara
In fact, don’t stop there. I want you to make it a moment. I want you to go to New York and explore the possibilities, really see if it’s something you’d like to do.
I want you to have everything this world can possibly give you.
Whatever happens, know that I’m proud of you and that will still stand true regardless of the outcome, but they’d be crazy not to take you.
You’re going to change the fashion of the world one day.
I’m not just saying that because I’m your dad, either.
It’s the truth.
I love you so much, Ara.
Good luck.
Love,
Dad
“Theo?”
“Yeah?”
“How do you feel about going to New York?”
• • •
It was an amazing feeling, arriving at Tampa International Airport, being one of the people to walk through my favorite terminal as someone with an adventure awaiting, blood rushing in anticipation.
Theo hadn’t even questioned it when I asked him to take the first flight to New York with me. He’d told me the only seats remaining for today were first class and booked it, but getting onto a somewhat empty plane, I now know that hadn’t been true.
But he wanted to make this a moment.
An hour into our flight and we haven’t spoken about our extracurricular activities on the couch this morning, but he’s held my hand and touched my waist, making sure I know that he hadn’t forgotten.
The flight attendant approaches. “Champagne?”
I glance at Theo with wide eyes and he smiles. “Yes, two, please.”
The plan is to work on my application on the plane with the help of the officially professional writer sitting next to me, find a hotel, and get settled in. Tomorrow morning we will go to The Fashion Institute, and see if we can swing a tour. If we can’t on such short notice, we’ll just walk around the grounds ourselves. Most people would probably be more prepared, but I don’t want to wait. The more time I have to think about it, the higher the chance of me getting in my own way.
Taking a sip of champagne, I imagine what Lou would think of all this fancy plane stuff. I make a mental note to take her somewhere first class one day. She hadflippedwhen I’d told her about the spontaneous trip.
Me: I’m going to NY
Lou: WTF when?
Me: Now.
Lou: Uh, okay Ms. Spontaneity. Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?
Lou: Wait. By yourself?
Me: …with Theo…
Lou: Don’t come back until you’ve had at least seven orgasms.
That last one had made me snort water out of my nose.
