My lungs were on fire as I tried to inhale deeper. Sweat dripped down my back and forehead. My boots felt heavy, and so did my bagpack. It was not at all evident that I work out 5 to 7 days a week.
‘Just three more avenues,’ I told myself.
Manhattan avenues are long ... especially when you barely leave yourself enough time to get across town ... especially when the subway stops in its tracks for three whole minutes on the way to your destination, especially when the drop off is another 15 minute walk from your actual destination. I had sixty seconds to run three avenues carrying a heavy bagpack, wearing a winter coat and fall boots not meant for running ... and did I mention on almost no sleep? Entirely my fault.
I arrived, panting, at West 34th Street and 11th Avenue, just in time to see the Megabus to DC pulling off without me. I set my bags down, trying to catch my breath as sweat beaded and dripped down my face.
It was about time I missed that bus. This was not the first time I’d arrived drenched in sweat, but somehow I always made it.
My phone buzzed with a text. It was Julio.
“Did you make it?”
***
It was a Monday night in Manhattan and I wanted to spice it up. I headed to my favorite wine bar for a light dinner and some live music.
***
Just as I slid into my seat, Dean bounded over from across the bar before I could order a drink.
“Amy!” said Dean. “I haven’t seen you in forever! What are you drinking? Get her a glass of whatever she wants on me.”
I always enjoyed running into Dean at Sojourn. He is the mayor of the place, introducing and connecting everyone. He is lots of fun, always full of knowledge and stories with many tangents attached to each one.
I ordered a Chardonnay and the sliders and then excused myself to the restroom.
“I’ll watch your things,” said Dean.
The Bennett Miller Band played Bluesy rock covers as I waited outside of the occupied restroom. A moment later Marin stepped out.
“Oh, hi Marin!” We hugged and he kissed me on the side of my mouth.
“Hi sweetie,” I haven’t seen you in a while. “How’s everything?”
“Everything is good. You’re not working tonight?” I said.
“I thought you knew, I don’t work here anymore.”
***
I returned to my seat at the bar and took a sip of wine.
“How’s comedy?” said Dean.
“It’s good. Hey, I brought back the sock joke you like! I switched it up a little and it’s working.”
“I do like that joke,” he said.
***
“Do you know this lady?”
An attractive younger man stepped into our conversation. He stood about 5’9”, wore a grey suit and had blue eyes with a shaved head and muscular build.
“I do,” said Dean. “This is Amy.”
“Amy. I’m Julio.” He gripped my hand and looked into my eyes. “Nice to meet you Amy. So what do you?”
“I used to do medical sales, for about ten years, and now I’m a recruiter for medical sales,” I said.
“I did pharmaceutical sales for three years,” said Julio. “Now I do real estate.”
I smiled. “I’m older than you.”
“What’s your nationality?” he said.
“Mostly Russian, on my mom’s side.”
He smiled. “I always go for Russian women. My last girl was Russian. I was stupid. I moved to Jersey for her and lost my apartment that I loved in this neighborhood.”
“That’s not stupid. Good for you. You liked her and you gave it a shot. What happened?”
“She was controlling. I take clients out to dinner ... she’d be calling and texting and get mad that I was out until ten or eleven.”
“Ten or eleven?” I laughed.
***
Two hours and a few glasses of wine later the band was singing “Happy birthday to ya! Happy biiirthday ... to yaaa ...” to Julio. We threw more money into their make shift tip jar as the original glass vase had gotten knocked to the floor and shattered. More tips earned the crowd two encores before the house music came on and dancing ensued. I handed my phone across to the bartender to blast my play list. The lyrics to Ludacris’s “Roll Out” lifted the already energized crowd.
***
The birthday boy found his way back over.
“It’s my birthday,” he said.
“So I see. Happy birthday. How old are you?” I said.
“Thirty-one, and thank you. It’s tomorrow, actually, which is now today. Valentine’s Day. When’s your birthday?”
“November.”
“Are you a Scorpio?” he said.
“I am.”
He leaned in closer and I didn’t mind.
“I’m attracted to you,” he said. “And I know you’re attracted to me.”
“Oh yeah?” I said.
“Yeah.”
***
A group of us spilled out onto the sidewalk as it was closing time. I was heading home and the birthday boy and his crew were devising their plans.
“Come on Julio, let’s go! We’re getting a car,” said one of his friends.
“El Topo,” said Marin. They laughed.
“What?” I said.
“Come with us,” said Julio, grabbing my hand.
“Come to another spot with us Amy,” said Marin.
“I have to go home. I have to get up in the morning.”
“Come with us,” said Julio.
“Where are you guys going?” I said.
“Queens.”
“I can’t go to Queens!” I said.
“Come. It’s my birthday.”
***
“You’re a good kisser,” said Julio as we rode over the 59th Street Bridge on our way to Queens.
“So are you,” I said.
***
And just like that I was swooped up from my cozy Upper East Side neighborhood and dropped into a dark, hip lounge somewhere in Queens that smelled of Hookah where twenty-something girls in belly shirts decorated the dance floor. I joined in, my mid-drift covered. Julio got me a beer that I didn’t need and we danced.
“I’m gonna marry this girl,” he said to one of his friends. He looked back at me. “My parents have been married for 35 years. What are you doing tomorrow? Can I take you to dinner?”
“I’d love to but I’m taking the bus to DC to see a friend for the night.”
“Who’s this friend you’re going to see on Valentine’s Day?”
“Just a friend,” I said. “Really.”
“Well when are you coming back? I want to to take you to Nobu. Have you been?”
“I have not,” I said. “I’m back Wednesday night.”
“Okay, so Wednesday?” he said.
***
We found ourselves in another car heading back uptown. What seemed like minutes later four gentleman and myself stepped into an after hours spot somewhere on the Upper East Side. I’ve lived in the neighborhood 5 years and have never seen this place, and likely never will again. After hours bars are like that, popping up and then evaporating like they never existed. It’s part of their intrigue.
Julio led me to a seat at the sparsely filled, warmly lit bar.
“Get this lady whatever she’d like,” he said.
“I’ll have a club soda,” I told the bartender. He was dark, tall and attractive with short dreadlocks.
I fell into conversation with him, and after a bit I looked up to see that none of the boys were around.
“Where are they guys?” I asked the bartender.
“They’re in the bathroom.”
“All of them? Can I go in there? It’s time to call it a night.”
I walked into the men’s room to find them all there standing in a circle, talking, each of them clad in a suit or blazer. They looked like there were plotting an important mission and I wished I’d had a picture.
“What are you guys doing?” I said. “I have to go home, I wanted to say good-bye.”
Julio walked me out to get a cab.
“Can I come with you?” he said.
***
I crawled into bed ... alone. A moment later I opened my eyes, trying to remember whether Julio had gotten my number. I checked my phone to see that I had a missed call from earlier. I called it and a man answered.
“Hello.”
“Is this Marin?” I said.
“No, it’s Julio.”
“Oh ... good,” I said.
“Can I come over? I need to get out of here,” he whispered.
I thought for a second, only one.
“Okay.”
“Where am I going?” he said.
***
Minutes later I opened the door. Julio was standing there ... along with Marin peeking around from behind him.
“Oh ... hello,” I smiled.
“Is it weird that I am here too?” said Marin.
“ ... Come in,” I said.
“What can I get you guys? I have beer, wine, water. Are you hungry? I can set out some snacks.”
“Yes,” said Julio.
“No,” said Marin. “I’ll take a beer though.”
“Help yourself. It’s in the fridge.”
***
We stayed up talking. It was now 7am. Julio and I cuddled in the bed and Marin walked around my apartment in his fancy dress shoes drinking red wine.
“El Topo,” said Marin. He and laughed and so did Julio.
“What is El Topo?” I said.
“The name of some guy’s dog,” said Marin.
“Aren’t you tired?” I said.
“No,” said Marin.
“I really want a pull of a cigarette,” said Julio.
“El Topo,” Marin said again. They laughed.
“I don’t have anymore,” said Marin. “If I go get cigarettes, can I come back?”
“Yeah,” I said.
“Can I have your keys?” said Marin. “El Topo.”
***
Marin came back and sat on the bed, sipping wine and talking to me while Julio snored by my side. I tapped his bare, shaved muscular chest gently so he would stop.
“Why did you leave Sojourn?” I said.
“I didn’t. I got fired,” he said.
“What? Why?”
“I don't know. If you find out will you tell me?” He laughed.
***
Julio and I sat on the Q train, still dizzy from the night before. We came to his stop first.
“Happy Birthday,” I said.
“Thank you for making it happy.” He leaned in and gave me kiss on the lips.
“Let me know when you get there,” he said.
“I will.”
***
20 minutes later I arrived, panting, at West 34th Street and 11th Avenue, just in time to see the Megabus to DC pulling off without me.
Just another Monday night in Manhattan. Until next time ... “Dream Big!”