Anywhere With You Read Online Free PDF Page B

stepped out of the airport and into the night. The cold air hit hard, the bitter wind whipping my hair into my face. Of course, I’d forgotten to pack a coat. As though he read my mind, Jack shoved his suit jacket my way and demanded that I put it on. For one reason or another, he was in one of his odd moods yet again. Just as soon as we stepped off of that plane, all of a sudden, he turned pushy—all take and no give. Except for the jacket that is. Which I took, because it was cold and because he offered, and there’s no sense in being cold, just to prove a point. I slipped it on and I thanked him, but after that, I did my best to ignore him, which worked for the entirety of the three minutes and forty-five seconds it took us to hail a cab.
    He gave the cabbie the address and then turned to me. “You’re sure you’ve told what’s-his-name I’m coming with you?”
    “It’s Ian, Jack. His name is Ian.”
    “Right,” he said as I watched his hands rub at his chin, and for the briefest of moments, I wanted to reach over and touch his face, too. “What kind of man doesn’t take issue with his girlfriend bringing another man home for Thanksgiving?” And just like that, any inkling I had of putting my hands anywhere other than around his neck was instantly cured.
    I rolled my eyes. “A secure man, that’s what kind.”
    “Well, I’m a secure man. And I’d be finding myself a new girlfriend if I were in what’s-his-name’s shoes.”
    I threw up my hands. “IAN. His name is IAN!”
    He mouthed Ian’s name as he rolled his eyes, silently mocking me.
    I let out a loud sigh, hesitated for a second, and then told the truth. “Also, I told him you were gay.”
    His eyes grew large and his jaw twitched. Still, I could tell that it hit him out of left field. “You are fucking kidding me.”
    I cocked my head and offered my best ‘what do you think’ face.
    Jack shook his head and then shifted his body further away from mine. He didn’t say anything for a long while. So I took out my phone and shot off a few emails. Eventually, when I looked over at him, I saw a small grin playing across his face. He noticed me looking and cleared his throat. I watched the grin fade as he looked over and nudged my arm, harder than I’d expected. “Guess what’s-his-name isn’t that secure after all, is he?”
    I hit him. “Fuck you, Jack.”
    He laughed. “It’d probably make you happier, that’s for sure.”
     

     
    As we made our way through the lobby of the crowded hotel, it struck me that I’d forgotten how beautiful this time of year was in Boston. The holiday decorations had already gone up and everyone seemed to be milling about humming as though in a trance-like state, glowing with the expectation of all that was yet to come. I could feel the buzz in the air, and it was the kind of thing that gave me goose bumps. The whole world seemed happy, and suddenly, knowing it made me perhaps the happiest of them all. Something shifted for me on that airplane and it had all started with a dream. I’d dreamt of my father—something I hadn’t done in a very long time.
    Jack seemed happier now, too. At check-in, he requested a separate room—a move for which I was grateful. Until, of course, we were informed that the hotel was full, and I realized we would be forced to share. A detail in which Jack didn’t seem nearly as surprised or irritated about as I was. “It’s not like we haven’t done it before.” He offered with a shrug.
    “That’s the problem,” I said my mouth forming a hard line.
    I adjusted my bag in my hand and shifted my weight from foot to foot. “Let’s go up and get settled,” I finally relented as I ushered him in my direction. For good measure, just so he didn’t get the wrong idea, I added, “Then I’ll text Ian and let him know we’ve arrived. I’m sure he’ll want to meet us for a drink.” I had only barely finished the sentence when my phone rang. Jack stopped in his tracks,