Brooklyn Summer

by Maggie Cummings

  “I like to look nice too. I’m not getting any younger either.”

  “Granny, you look amazing. And you have more energy than half my friends. I would never guess that you’re in your eighties.”

  “Which is why you should listen to me. I know a thing or two, so I’ll let you in on a little secret.” She held her arms in front of her and lifted her face into the warm breeze, basking in the beauty of the weather. “Summers are for love. If you and Kellan get along and it blossoms into something—wonderful. If not, a little fling might be just what the doctor ordered.”

  Her grandmother was advising her to consider casual sex. This was a twist she did not see coming.

  They arrived at the center, but Granny paused outside to continue talking. “Happiness is found in all sorts of different ways. In books, in music, the great outdoors.” She reached up and booped Ashleigh right on the nose. “Sometimes life surprises you. You know, Frank’s Henry goes by Genevieve now. And she’s happy as can be.” Ashleigh’s confusion must have been obvious because Granny explained, “Frank’s granddaughter. She’s beautiful and we love her. We accept her.”

  “That’s great.” Ashleigh tried to get a handle on the unexpected turns in the conversation. “Who’s Frank?”

  Ashleigh followed Granny’s gaze to the center’s entrance, and sure enough an elderly gentleman was standing behind the tempered glass.

  “He’s my friend,” Granny said, clearly taking a page out of Ashleigh’s book as she sent a flirtatious wave in his direction. “We looked at the pictures on Instagram from the party you had at Liam’s restaurant. We both think Kellan is very attractive. A touch of masculine and feminine mixed together, if you will. Very captivating, if I do say so myself.” Granny poked her chest with a bony index finger and a devilish grin. “I think you should go for it. Frank does too.”

  “You go on Instagram?”

  “Frank has a smartphone. We don’t just sit around and play cribbage all day like some old bats. We like to stay current.” She delivered the statement with an air of determination and won Ashleigh over in a second.

  “Granny, my head is spinning.” She laughed a little, hoping her grandmother understood that while she was appreciative, she was also mildly blown away. “But you are really sweet. So thank you. As for me and Kellan, I don’t honestly know what’s happening between us.”

  Her grandmother’s eyes lit up.

  “Let me clarify,” Ashleigh said, feeling her cheeks get hot. She needed to get the conversation back on track “There’s nothing happening. Not yet, anyway. Sometimes I feel like there’s an energy between us, but then I wonder if I’m just lonely and I’m misinterpreting the signs.”

  “Oh, Ashleigh.” Granny leaned forward to caress her exposed arms. “Your generation. Always analyzing and processing.” She clenched her hands and brought them together under her chin. “Stop overthinking everything. Listen to your heart. Or at least your hormones.”

  “Granny!”

  “You are only young once.” Her grandmother waved in warning. “Have no regrets.”

  Ashleigh gave her a nudge. “Get out of here, old lady. Tell your boyfriend I say hi.”

  “Said the pot to the kettle,” her grandmother teased.

  Ashleigh shook her head in an attempt at being dismissive, but try as she might, she could not shake the smile off her face.

  * * *

  Leaning back against the wrought iron chair, Ashleigh studied the illuminated marquee visible from the rooftop bistro they’d decided on for dinner. It wasn’t completely exposed, but it had an open air feel and a glass ceiling that allowed a full view of the city skyline.

  “I think I forgot it would still be light out.” She took in the ornate gothic buttress of a building in the distance before turning to Kellan. “What did you think of the show?”

  “I liked it,” Kellan said. “I wasn’t really sure if I would. But it was fun. The music was awesome.”

  At Ashleigh’s insistence, they’d waited in line at the Times Square TKTS booth for discounted tickets to a matinee. Because the options changed daily, the experience was somewhat of a gamble, but the risk paid off when they ended up with twofer tickets to one of Broadway’s hottest musicals.

  “It’s kind of crazy to me that people live here.” Kellan touched the base of her wineglass as she scoped the restaurant’s clientele.

  “In New York City?”

  “I mostly was referring to this area. It seems kind of intense. Crowded. Loud. Busy. But I saw people walking into their apartments with groceries on our way here. It’s wild to me that this is a neighborhood. With all this going on around it.”

  “This neighborhood is Hell’s Kitchen.” She paused to consider the accuracy of her statement. “Actually, it’s also referred to as Clinton,” she corrected. “But I think most people still go with the former. Don’t quote me on that, though.”

  “How does anyone come up with a name like that?”

  Ashleigh pulled a crusty end of bread from the basket in the center of their small table. “Before the turn of the century this whole area was an immigrant ghetto. Irish, mostly. And really tough, like, dangerous. Constant riots. Gangs. Murders. The saying went that it was a hotbed of criminal activity, more perilous than if the devil himself lived here.” She broke the bread in half and popped a tiny piece in her mouth. “Later it became home to the Westies—that’s the Irish Mafia.”

  “I love that you always know the history.”

  “I do not.” She pointed with her crust. “For all you know, I’m making it all up.”

  “You’re not, though.”

  “Maybe I am.” Ashleigh raised her glass in the slightest challenge. “You don’t know.”

  “I guess I’m going to do some fact-checking then.” Lifting her phone off the tabletop, Kellan leaned in close. “I bet I’m right.”

  “What are we wagering?” she asked, purposely loading her tone with innuendo.

  “You tell me.” Kellan met her stare. Her slight grin was wolfish and enticing, her green eyes full of temptation.

  The intensity of the moment rattled Ashleigh, and despite her initial courage, she was out of clever responses. Rather than say what she really wanted—there wasn’t enough alcohol in her system for that kind of bravado—Ashleigh laughed the moment off, angling Kellan’s forearm toward her under the guise of getting a better view of the phone’s screen, but it was just a ruse to touch her, and she wondered if Kellan knew. Keeping her fingers in place she felt the muscles move beneath Kellan’s smooth inked skin as she thumbed in the search terms. Sitting so close, she was intoxicated by Kellan’s scent, a mix of musk and sage, and she felt her own heart rate climb ridiculously in response, so much so that she was having a hard time focusing on the Wikipedia information as it appeared.

  As Kellan scrolled the page, a text popped up, but she dismissed it immediately.

  “Olivia 4C. Hmm,” Ashleigh mused playfully. “Should I be jealous?”

  Ashleigh had no idea what the hell she was doing, but she channeled Granny and tried not to overthink it.

  “That depends,” Kellan countered with a mischievously arched eyebrow. “Are you?”

  She was spared figuring out a comeback when their server arrived with the entrées, placing the plates down and topping off their wine.

  Kellan cut into her steak as she spoke. “Olivia lives in the apartment across the hall.” She stopped to take a sip of wine. “She checks in on me once in a while.”

  “I bet she does.”

  Kellan laughed, but her eyes were dead serious and it seemed like she was looking right through her, trying to figure out if this was for real. Ashleigh wasn’t sure if her uncharacteristic behavior was the result of Granny’s advice, the wine going to her head, or the simple math that it had been ages since she’d spent this much one-on-one time with anyone. Let alone a person who flirted and doted and was possibly interested, even if only for the summer. Not a good idea, she repeated in her head. She�
��d do well to get a handle on herself before she lost her inhibitions completely.

  “Do you like the beach?” she asked, changing the course of the conversation drastically.

  Kellan’s expression showed confusion for a half a second before she caught up to the shift. “I do.” Kellan speared a green bean with her fork.

  “Would you be up for going on a day trip?”

  “Isn’t that what this entire summer is about?” Her smile was charming and sweet, and Ashleigh felt just the teensiest bit foolish.

  “You’re right. I just meant…there’s beaches around here, obviously. But I was thinking about going out to Fire Island. It’s a bit of a hike, but it’s really quaint and super gay and has a sunset that’s truly unbelievable.”

  “You don’t need to convince me. I’m down. When should we go?”

  “Tomorrow?” Ashleigh asked.

  Kellan cringed and Ashleigh felt her heart drop with disappointment. “There is a tiny problem.” As if to illustrate how tiny, Kellan held her fingers thisclose and crinkled her forehead. “It’s not on the schedule. Are you sure you’re going to be okay with the change?”

  “Jerk.” Ashleigh poked her. “I actually got nervous.”

  “Over what?” Kellan laughed. “Did you think I wasn’t going to go with you?”

  She didn’t know how to respond because the truth was, in the fraction of that small second, she worried that Kellan had other plans. Possibly with someone else. And what she felt…well, jealousy didn’t even cover it.

  “I don’t know your entire schedule. Maybe you had other plans. We actually had nothing on the itinerary tomorrow.”

  “Why is that?” Kellan sliced a piece of her filet. “I’ve been meaning to ask you. I noticed in the amended version you sent you’ve adjusted so there’s more free days. Are you sick of me already?”

  “Not at all.” The truth couldn’t be further from Kellan’s suggestion. Ashleigh wanted more time with Kellan, not less, and it scared her more than she was willing to admit. “I figured there might be some things you wanted to do. Either with or without me. I didn’t want to monopolize your time.”

  “I like spending my days with you.”

  It was such a nice thing to say, yet it sent a rush of panic through her body. Did that mean Kellan spent her nights with someone else? So far, most afternoons had blended into evenings together. And they flirted. Or at least she thought they did. Maybe that was just Kellan’s way of communicating with everyone. Or worse, what if she had been fluffing Kellan during their outings only to send her to the waiting arms of Olivia in 4C every time they parted ways?

  “Hey, Ash, you okay?” Kellan brushed her leg under the table. “You disappeared on me there for a second.”

  “Sorry.” Ashleigh snapped into action. “I was just thinking about the logistics. For tomorrow,” she lied. “I should remember to text my sisters. I had lunch plans with them tomorrow.”

  “Do you want to postpone the beach? We could go a different day.”

  “Not at all.” She smiled, registering what looked like relief in Kellan’s eyes over the confirmation of their on-the-spot decision. “The weather is supposed to be nice. If we put it off, who knows? Siobhan and Stella work right around here. I can see them anytime.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I am.”

  They spent the remainder of their meal talking about the show, the city, the mountains of Colorado, their families. Ashleigh told Kellan how her sisters’ twin bond carried into related careers in the fashion industry. She listened to Kellan talk about home, loving the way her slight accent came through when she talked about her parents and Turk.

  They polished off their bottle of wine, but she was far from ready to call it a night.

  “Feel like going to Liam’s for a drink?” she asked.

  “Definitely.”

  Ashleigh hooked her hand through Kellan’s elbow as they walked to the corner to grab a cab. Riding the high of good wine and even better conversation, she didn’t move when their knees brushed in the back seat of the car. She kept them pressed together as she rested her head on Kellan’s shoulder and took in the view of the city while crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. It was bold and gratuitous, but utterly enjoyable, and if Kellan minded, she wouldn’t know, because Kellan didn’t move a muscle.

  * * *

  “Lookee here.” Liam looked up from the martini he was shaking. “If it isn’t my two favorites. Give me one second and I’ll be right with you.”

  “Take your time,” Ashleigh said over the bustling dinner crowd. “This place is packed, Liam.”

  Kellan claimed some real estate in the corner of the bar area and made room for her to squeeze in. “Do you want me to get you a stool? I think that one’s empty.” She indicated a vacant seat with a nod of her chin.

  Ashleigh was moved by the offer. “I’m fine,” she said. She placed her hand on Kellan’s hip, rising on her toes to adjust for the height difference as she spoke over the noise. “I’m going to run to the ladies’ room. Would you get me a drink?”

  The bar was boisterous and crowded, forcing them into each other’s space, making any conversation oddly intimate. Ashleigh was enjoying the continued closeness—she could literally feel its effects everywhere—but she worried her defenses might not hold up.

  “Wine?” Kellan asked. Her eyes were a touch glassy, and Ashleigh caught her gaze drifting to her lips, over and over.

  “How about a cosmo?” She squeezed Kellan’s arm gently. “Please,” she added, almost as an afterthought.

  “You got it,” Kellan said.

  When she returned, her drink was waiting next to Kellan’s pint of lager. She took a sip, and while it was yummy, it was also strong. She was already nervous her restraint was slipping. As the minutes passed, her reasoning against acting on pure attraction was fading. No doubt the alcohol was acting as a coconspirator. And yet she continued sipping away as she squeezed in next to Kellan in the corner.

  On the one hand she relished the tight space they were forced to share, because it meant continual contact. At the same time, though, she missed the lively conversation Liam’s thriving business made it impossible to have.

  Liam was busy and kept apologizing even though it wasn’t necessary. After half an hour competing with the loud music, she suggested leaving, blaming the crowd. She was bummed to call it a night, but suggesting a quieter place was out of the question with so much alcohol already softening her resolve.

  Kellan agreed amiably and walked her the few short blocks to her parents’ house as they discussed the details of the LIRR train schedule which would take them to the Fire Island ferry. As they crossed Sixth Avenue, an overzealous car turned into the crosswalk, and Ashleigh reached for Kellan’s forearm to make sure she was out of the way.

  “Thank you,” Kellan said. “I owe you one.”

  “You owe me nothing,” she said, letting her hand slide into Kellan’s. In response, Kellan laced their fingers together. Ashleigh’s palm throbbed from the contact, and she was devastated to realize they were already at her house.

  “What time tomorrow?” Kellan asked. “Should I meet you here or…”

  “That seems crazy. But going down by you is really not convenient either.” They were still holding hands, and she turned to face Kellan as she tried to come up with a logical meeting point halfway between them. She’d lived in Brooklyn her whole life, and picking a spot should be simple. But all she could focus on was their fingertips touching lightly and the way Kellan’s gaze went from her mouth to her eyes and back again. She prayed she wasn’t imagining it.

  “I’m trying to think of a good place that’s between us to meet up,” she said. “I’m blanking.”

  “I’ll be here at ten.” Kellan pulled her in close as she took control of the situation. “I’ll bring coffee. Sound good?”

  “Okay,” she said, not bothering to argue. She was too absorbed in the way Kellan was looking at her. Her gaze was boozy but also
intense and filled with desire. Kellan was going to kiss her. She was sure of it.

  As if the universe was listening, Kellan leaned forward. The kiss she placed was soft but just to the side of her mouth. If Ashleigh turned one millimeter, their lips would touch. But she didn’t. She choked. “Text me when you get home,” was all she could manage.

  “I will.” Kellan held eye contact as she backed away, their hands finally releasing as the distance between them increased. “See you in the morning, Ash. Sweet dreams.”

  Ashleigh shut the front door behind her and closed her eyes as she leaned her whole body against it. Her dreams were going to be something, that was for sure. Sweet was definitely not among the possibilities.

  Chapter Eleven

  Did you make it home okay?

  Kellan saw the message from Ashleigh when she was halfway to the fridge. She needed a cold bottle of water or a beer or something to take the edge off the day that seemed sizzling with undercurrents from minute one. They always flirted a little, but today was off the charts. But Ashleigh had opted to go home early. It was confusing.

  A glance at the clock told her almost an hour had passed since they’d parted, and she’d forgotten to text confirming she’d made it home safe. Kellan shook her head. She was usually more accountable. In the service, it was second nature to check in and report back. But damn, her brain was so scrambled over Ashleigh, it was messing with basic manners.

  I did! I’m so sorry I forgot to text you :(

  You forgot about me already? Ouch.

  Far from it. She twisted the cap off a liter of Poland Spring and downed a third of the bottle. Who says I forgot about you?

  Did you go back to Liam’s?

  Nope. Came straight home. For someone who wanted to leave so badly, Ashleigh was chatty. Not that she minded, but it did make her wonder if something was wrong.

  How come?

  This was…odd. Kellan responded with the shrug emoji before sending a second message. Is everything okay?