WALK WITH YOU CHAPTER 9

As we make our exit off the bridge and into Lower Manhattan, there are upcoming signs for Chinatown and Little Italy. We still have a way to go, and a small part of me wishes it could last a lot longer. We come across what looks like a karaoke bar on Bowery and numerous groups outside including a group of girls stumbling towards us. A statuesque blonde points at Evan and whispers to her group of equally gorgeous

friends. I know ladies, I know.

They continue to point and giggle at him when Barbie yells, “‟xcuse me? Hey! Hey you, guy in the hat.” Here we go.

I‟m actually surprised he hasn‟t been hit on more on our trip to be honest but I was also secretly hoping it never happened, especially coming from someone as stunning albeit drunk as this girl. Evan glances over at them, his face neutral like a well-used mask of emotions. With a sway and squint of her eyes she points one of her perfectly manicured fingers at him.

“I think I know you. You‟re that guy.”

Color draining from his face he grabs my elbow to steer me in the opposite direction while telling the girl politely

“No, don‟t think so, sorry. Come on Izzy, let‟s walk on the other side of the street.

There‟s too many people here.”

I can hear the girls still shouting at him but I can‟t quite make it out due to the noise from the bar, her slurring and the fact that Evan has a hold of my arm so tight I hear rushing in my ears, while a blush creeps on my cheeks.

“What was that about?” I ask curiously.

“Nothing just a bunch of drunken girls trying to find a man, I guess.” Not convinced I add “She seemed pretty sure she knew you.”

“I told you, I just have that face. You said you thought you knew me when we first met too remember?”

Yeah I did, kind of still do at times, especially when he laughs. Like I‟ve heard it many times before.

Leaving it for now, we walk on the opposite side of the street passing a few hotels. My mind thinks how I would love to just check in and lay down, get off my aching feet and go to sleep. My heart on the other hand disagrees and just wants this night to keep going.

Pulling me from my thoughts Evan asks me, “So, you mentioned friends back in

L.A.?”

Oh god I miss them so much. “Yes! Ella, my best friend. Shannon who is also my roommate and Jon her boyfriend. They‟ve been together since we were kids.”

“You don‟t live with Ella?”

“No, she lives on campus at UCLA. She‟s earning her Master of Arts in Architecture right now. When she‟s done she‟ll move in with me and Shannon will move out with Jon. She‟s pretty much the most impressive person you‟d ever meet.”

Impressive, beautiful, funny, intelligent, the girls a damn Hawking Supermodel. When I first met her she intimidated the crap out of me, but then I got to know her and she just became Ella. A sister more than a friend nowadays.

“I beg to differ on that one, you‟re pretty damn impressive yourself.”

Really? He thinks I’m impressive? God I’m such a girl, get it together Isabelle!

“Well thanks, but really the girl is gorgeous and smart, she‟s a 10 out of 10.”

“What about the other two? You said they‟ve been together since you were younger?”

“I met Ella when I was 12. Shannon and Jon when I was 15. They were together already when I first met them. Their moms were best friends and neighbors so I guess it was just meant to be.”

Never in my life did I meet a couple like them. Perfect in every way for each other including their differences. They just worked, without any effort at all at times it seems. The only other couple I remember like that were my parents, high school sweethearts together till death. As if reading my mind “What about your parents, do they live in L.A. too?”

Okay, let’s get this over with.