Up & Out - Ariella Papa [90]
“Wow,” I say, momentarily impressed, but then, “I go out of town and you become a manny.”
“What?”
“A male nanny. I read about this in the Styles section of the New York Times.” It’s how I find out about a lot of trends. Lauryn didn’t even know she was in a starter marriage until I identified it as such.
“I guess so, though the Greaneys didn’t call it that. That’s the name of the family.”
“I got that.”
“The pay is sweet.”
“I bet.”
“And it’s fun to hang out with a bunch of boys, throw a ball around, go to the park, watch movies, eat hamburgers and, of course, play video games.”
“Of course.” Leave it to Tommy to get paid for doing the things he loves to do. I am jealous that he actually gets to hang out with kids. Real live ones, not the kind you watch behind a glass partition while they get prodded for answers about your television show.
“So you want to celebrate?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, go out to eat.”
“For real?” I’m shocked.
“Yeah, I mean nothing too outrageous. What about the Half King?” I look at my watch. It’s Monday, but it’s also summer, but work hasn’t let out yet.
“If we hurry maybe we could get a sweet spot outside.”
The Half King is a great bar/pub in Chelsea. In the winter, there is a warm, welcoming feeling and in the summer they open up the backyard. In the winter, you feel like there is no need to ever step out into the cold again. In the summer, you can just sort of get swept up in all the people talking at once and the outdoor private-party feel.
Tommy and I snag a seat outside and order pints of cold beer. Slowly, the place starts to fill up and we decide to order Mexican burgers for dinner. I get mine veggie.
“So are you on a diet or something?” Tommy says accusingly.
“No, I’m just trying to eat healthier. I’m not as young as I used to be. I don’t like not being able to fit into my clothes.”
“You’re running—I never thought I’d see the day.”
“That’s Kathy for you. She kind of convinced me to do it.”
“Right.”
“C’mon, you should talk. Those kids are going to wind you in seconds.” I gesture to his burger.
“Listen, Greta Waitz, I could still run the capri pants off you.”
“You think, huh?”
“Yeah, without training.”
“Oh, really.”
“Yeah, I’ll do it for all the couch potatoes like me.” He is talking trash.
“When are we going to race?”
“Let’s do it at the actual race.”
“Deal,” I say.
“If I win, what do I get?”
“I don’t know, a video game, what?”
“No, I can get those at the store. How about a case of Guinness?”
“Okay, and if I win?”
“A night at Nobu.”
“For real?” I am very excited.
“Calm down. The place next door.” Wow! This is great. Nobu Next Door. I am totally running hard core tomorrow. Tonight I am getting drunk. We shake on our bet.
Tommy is so excited about his new job it’s contagious. We’re talking, really talking, about all the things we used to talk about. I think he’s on sort of an upswing. Things have gone back to normal with Lauryn and are starting to plateau with Tommy. We are adults and we can be friends. It’s all good.
They close down the garden for nighttime noise control, but we move into the pub and keep drinking. Tommy tells me that he is really concerned about Beth. I feel like he is angry with her and just doesn’t want to admit it.
“How many times has she not returned your calls?”
“A lot,” I say. “I don’t expect her to return them anymore.”
“Who are these assholes she’s been hanging out with?”
“I don’t know, but she and Jordan seem to be playing the same dangerous games.”
“What does that mean?” For the first time tonight, he looks upset with me. I retreat, not quite sure what I’m getting at. Instead I tell him about Jordan.
“Wait, you mean he could lose his job?”
“Yep, up and out.”
“Since when?”
“They have been unsatisfied the whole time he’s been there.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I assumed you knew, besides, you never want to talk about Jordan. You always get defensive.”
“I’ve heard you and Lauryn tear him a new one. I don’t want to be a part of the gossip.”
“Well now you see why. He’s irresponsible.