Once again, he declines to look at me as I get into the backseat. He just returns to his place behind the wheel, pulls away from the building, and merges into traffic.
I watch through the tinted windows as we drive. Midtown gives way to the tunnel. Then we’re heading north, bound for God knows where.
My phone vibrates in my hand.
Where are you? Drinks tonight???
Rain check. Something came up.
I don’t know how to answer that in detail, so for now, I just give her a smiley face and a thumbs-up. I’ll fill her in once I know what happens.
The drive takes longer than I expected. To my confusion, we leave Manhattan entirely. The skyline of the city shrinks in the rearview mirror until it’s just a smudge of sparkling light against the darkening sky.
I assumed we were going to a restaurant,
