Her true love, a bossy sister, their crazy friend and a dream job… what could go wrong as Grace Rodriguez rises through the everyday insanity of adulting in the 21^st century.

THE EXPECTED STRAIGHT UP

by Joe Reister © 2024

Table of Contents

• Thrills
• Agony
• And Back Again
• Morning In Brooklyn

Thrills

“Yes.”  Grace breathed in, feeling the tension rise up and into her tightened core to spread out through her toned arms and legs and then down into the tips of her fingers and toes.  “Life.”  Her muscles tightened and contracted as she held onto all of it, opening her deep, dark brown eyes to stare at nothing in the world in front of her, and blinked at the seeming silence of their small bedroom in their small apartment and released a glowing and wide open smile.  “Is.”  She tugged Puck’s thick head of hair forward, throwing her head all the way back, and pulled him closer than she ever had before.  “Beautiful.”

He laughed to himself, nodding big as he tried to smile bigger, and didn’t stop.

She gasped as his circling motions deepened but slowed and breathed that much harder when he sped up yet again, twisting her entire body into the motion while almost catching her breath and releasing long, muffled gasps as she let go of any and everything for one long and glorious moment to then see Puck look up at her from below a minute later.

He smiled up at her with bright, big blue eyes and glowing red cheeks as his large hands edged up the sides of her body near her breasts and grazed the tips of her long dark hair as he let out another quiet, little laugh.

“Nice.”  She ran her fingers and hands through his short and thick light brown hair, holding onto it and the moment, and noticed the sleek, bright glint on her left ring finger.  “Good times.”

“The best.”  He squeezed her close around the waist in a tight hug, nodding big, and rested his chin and then his head on the middle of her flat belly.  “And just the beginning of something better, right?”

“Right.”  She stared at the shininess of the ring on her finger, taking it in as her other hand caressed the back of his neck, and smiled big.  “Absolutely.”

“Yep.”  He closed his eyes, still smiling, and breathed in deep.  “That’s right.”

“This anniversary is going to be really hard to top.”  She laughed, jiggling the ring with the tip of her thumb, and looked down with a shake of her head.  “Real hard.”

“The hardest.”  He laughed yet again, lying still on her belly, but looked into her eyes.  “Just means we have more to look forward to.”

“There’s the Canadian in you.”  She held up her ring for him to see, pulling him up closer to her with her other hand, and shared a look.  “I’m guessing this is worth more than two months’ salary.”

“I’ve been saving.”  He shrugged, snuggling up right next to her, and glanced at the ring.  “Got lucky.”

“You bet you did.”  She looked back at his red cheeks, blushing herself, and gave him a slow kiss.  “Charmer.”

“Easy from where I’m looking.”  He leaned forward, putting his head onto her shoulder as she put both of her arms around him and squeezed.  “I’ve no complaints.”  He hugged her back tight.  “Never have.”  He glanced up into her eyes.  “Never will.”

“That’s a lie.”  She made a loose fist, tapping him softly in the arm, and side eyed him with a frown.  “But a good one.”  She chuckled.  “A smart one.”

“Thanks.”  He chuckled too, looking right at her, and nodded to his arm.  “And, ow?” 

“Right.”  She scoffed, throwing back her head, and rubbed it with a grin.  “Like that hurt.”

“Only my pride.”  He grinned back and rubbed it and her hand too.  “Unless it was finally supposed to hurt?”

“Never.”  She laughed, half sitting up, and turned him over on their now blanket free bed.  She leaned forward, snuggling into his shoulder this time, and threw a hand up to their world near and far.  “Still, change is coming.”

“More than this?”  Puck grabbed her left hand in his right, touching her ring with his index finger, and looked deep into her eyes.  “This is one of those big life moments, you know.”  He played with the ring and turned it all the way around on her finger.  “One you get to actually choose.”

“Thank you, Ann Landers.”  She rolled her eyes, glancing down at of the mess of blankets and sheets on the floor, and then looked back at him.  “You’re so wise.”

“I read Carolyn Hax.”  He watched her move over and put her head on one of the two pillows still on the bed.  “You know that.”

“Because you met her that one time at that bookstore signing.”  She turned and kissed his cheek, lingering, and put her lips to his ear, whispering.  “But.  I.  Meant.  New.  York.”

“I know.”  He laughed again, leaning back to look right at her, and grabbed her hand again with a nod.  “I’m quick like that.”

“No, you’re not.”  She laughed too, massaging the inside of his palm for a second, and pulled him back to her.  “And I think we’re both going to miss DC a lot more than we think.”  She nodded and looked into his eyes.  “A lot has happened here.”  She smiled and pointed out the one window in their bedroom to the city on the other side of it.  “Most of it good.”

“True, but it’s been five years.”  He kissed her, waving away the rest of the world, and lay back all the way on the bed.  “So, we either need to leave or stay forever, right?”

“That’s what they say.”  She settled further into his shoulder, putting her hand on his chest, and curled up right next to him.  “Although I never figured out who they were.”

“But you’re ready for the move?”  He turned his head to face her and put his arm all the way around her again.  “Right?”

“Kind of, since I already said yes.”  She felt him swallow, lifting her head, and gave him a look.  “You?”

“You bet.”  He nodded, almost shrugging, and found another smile.  “Always wanted to see what the city that never sleeps is truly like, enjoy the crowds and congestion, the ridiculous cost of living and the hockey fans who think the Rangers count for something.”  He chuckled again, pointing to the taped up hockey stick, the broken in ice skates and the worn down pads half hidden under two jerseys in the corner of the room, and then looked right at her.  “They don’t, you know.  Except in ’94 when they had Edmonton’s Messier, and...”

“Funny.”  She took in the hockey equipment with a raised eyebrow and shook her head at it.  “But be careful with that.”

“I know.”  Puck turned away from the worn hockey equipment with a roll of his eyes and stuck out his tongue.  “I wouldn’t want to get all those fans at the Garden angry.”

“No, you wouldn’t.”  She lifted her head, shaking it big, and raised a finger at him.  “MSG’s security is horrible.”  She poked him, narrowing her look, but smiled more.  “Not that I wouldn’t protect my little Canadian prince.”

“I’m sure you would.”  He poked her back and laughed, looking right at her.  “My little Brooklyn princess.”

“Now.”  She leaned back with a tighter fist and tapped him on the arm again, harder.  “Does that sound right?”

“Ow.”  He laughed, making a face and squeezed his arm.  “That almost hurt.”

“You deserved it.”  She nodded big and eyed him.  “Brooklyn princess?”

“I kind of hoped you’d stop punching me once I gave you the ring.”  He gave her more a look and then massaged the spot where she punched the second time with a mocking frown.

“Shows you what you know.”  She pulled him closer, squeezing him tight, and kissed him again.  “But I’ll only use my right hand from now on.”

“Good thinking.”  He kissed her back, grabbing her left hand, and tapped the ring again with his finger.  “And you should know that your Brooklyn parents approve of me now.”

“They did before.”  She smiled more and met his eye.  “But I bet they appreciated you asking for permission.”  She shook her head, raising her eyebrows, and sighed.  “They love their traditions even if you didn’t need to ask.”  She kissed him yet again.  “Although they’re not going to protect you at MSG either.”  She chuckled, pointing again to the corner of hockey equipment, and shook her head.  “Because, you know, they don’t care about hockey.”

“That sounds about right.”  He pulled her closer, nodding to her and then himself.  “But they care about you, and you care about me.  So...”

“The transitive property?”  She made a face at him but kept smiling.  “How geeky.”

“I thought that was just smart.”  He shrugged with big eyes.  “And lovable.”

“Maybe and I’m guessing this helps.”  She showed off her ring again.  “Although I think my mom actually liked you even before we started dating.”

“And your dad?”  He gave her a look.  “He…”

“Didn’t care, since I was dating someone else.”  She kissed him anew and shrugged big.  “Not that it matters since I’d never let anything happen to my favorite dope.”

“Good.”  He kissed her too.  “Because despite the ‘threat’ of Ranger fans and a stunning of lack of Tim Horton’s...”

“Penn Station has one.”  She raised another finger, looking past him for a second, and then half grinned.  “Or did.  I think.”

“I know.”  He grinned all the way, raising a finger back at her, and looked right back at her.  “Right below MSG.” 

“Sort of.”  She made a face, wriggling her hand in the air half and half, and looked at a framed photo on the wall of the sun rising over the Empire State Building.  “I never thought about New York like that at all.” 

“Whatever.”  He noticed her look, wriggling his hand back too and made almost the same face.  “I’m still thinking New York’s better food, better salary and having you as a guide is going to be awesome.”

“Should.”  She half shrugged, taking a breath, and turned back to him with half a frown.  “Although it’s been a few years.”

“True.”  He kept grinning, shrugging all the way, and gave her a squeeze.  “But I have faith in you.”

“Good.”  She nodded and gave him a look.  “Because the City can be a little intimidating for newbies.”

“So, you’ve said about a thousand times before.”  He waved her off with yet another smile.  “But you know I’ve been there a few times myself.”

“Right.”  Grace laughed, pointing to the several photos of them and one with an older and better looking version of Puck tacked onto a corkboard next to the bedroom door.  “Where your brother pulled you out of the gay pride parade for making a scene and then under my watchful eye on the Brooklyn Bridge where...”

“I’m an enthusiastic tourist, yes.”  Puck raised a hand, still smiling, and ignored the photo of him smiling big in a Statue of Liberty pose at the Statue of Liberty.  “Remember London?”

“I try not to think about that.”  Grace groaned, pointing to another photo of them smiling big next to a leery old man in a mock medieval outfit, but then gave a nod and a smile.  “Luckily, living in Brooklyn should be a little calmer than your previous New York misadventures.”  She started tracing her fingertip from the top of his chest down to the bottom of his stomach and kept going lower as she turned to him with a new grin.  “And I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”

“I know.”  He matched her grin, watching her hand go even lower, and breathed in deep.  “But I thought that was my line.”

“About fifteen minutes ago.”  She sat all the way up, shifting him on his back, and gave him a big nod.  “But try to keep up, huh?”  She shook her head at him, giggling, and showed off her ring yet again.  “We’re in this together, and for once, I need you to stay focused.”  She started to climb on top of him and smiled, noticing the bottom sheet now coming off the bed like the blankets before them, but didn’t stop.  “We’ll make this work.”

“Right.”  He smiled, sinking in the bed, and took in another deeper breath.  “Because life is beautiful.”  He kissed her more as they got entangled.  “Or so I hear.”

“It’s all going to be good.”  She leaned in, nuzzling his neck and pulling herself even closer, her lips now below his ear.  “I won’t let anything bad happen,” she said, whispering, and shifted herself down.  “I promise.”

“Of course,” he said, softly, letting out his breath as they both closed their eyes, and then heard a knock from the front door.

One moment passed as neither moved, and they both held their breaths and closed their eyes to hear another, louder knock.

“No,” she said, opening her eyes as they both breathed again, and they shared a look.  “Not today.  Please.”

They heard three more knocks, each louder than the last. 

“I shouldn’t have shut off the phones,” he said, closing his eyes again for a second, and half frowned.  “Or...”

“Of course, you should have,” she said, half rolling off of him without letting go, and turned toward the rest of the apartment with a full frown.  “I’m only getting engaged once.”

“True.”  He smiled again, hugging her from behind, and gave her a squeeze.  “Very, very true.”

“Thanks.”  She smiled too, reaching back for half a squeeze, but kept her eyes on the only half-closed bedroom door.  “Still…”

Then they heard keys rattling and they both frowned.

“That.”  She pointed to the half open bedroom door, through the tiny and barely there living room/den/front hall to where the top front door lock just turned, and then they both heard a second key start on the bottom lock.  “That’s all on you, though.” 

“I know.”  He shook his head, letting out a deep sigh, frowned all the way too.  “Should’ve bolted it.”

“You should’ve.”  She laughed, turning back to him with a wink and a kiss before detangling herself completely from him and stood up.  “Because.”  She pointed out through the bedroom door and to the nearly unlocked front door of their apartment with a quick look back.  “This could suck.”

“Yes, I know.”  He looked at her, letting out a big smile, and then looked down at himself.  “It’s going to be hard.”

“You’re telling me.”  She gave a glance back down herself, laughing out loud, and got out of bed to close the bedroom door all the way.  “Sorry.”  She turned to the cluttered and covered hardwood floor, searching for her own clothes without seeing any, and looked back at him again.  “He is your best friend, though.”

“I know.”  Puck stood up, gritting his teeth, and looked down again.  “For now.”

“Right.”  Grace shook her head at him, laughing out loud, and heard the last jingle of keys.  “Like that’s ever going to change.”

Agony

“Grace and Puck, get decent, real fast and right now.”  They heard as the front door banged open, slamming hard against the back half of the refrigerator, and a semi-athletic Black man in his mid to late twenties stomped into the squeaky floored apartment humming a dreary love song with only a two note range.  He scoffed at the small, very neat and very tidy living room/den/front hall in front of him, rolling his eyes at the entire apartment’s new coat of sky-blue paint, and shook his head at the well-ordered and spic and span clean nook of a kitchen to the left.  “It’s Milo, and I don’t want to see you naked.”  He turned to a small, closed door bedroom to his right, throwing up a hand up at it, and closed his eyes with a frown.  “Again.”  He let out a big sigh.  “Okay?”

“Then don’t come in,” Grace said, loudly, frowning on the other side of the door with a common hand gesture, and gave Puck a tight look.  “He did finish college, right?” 

“Hard to tell sometimes.”  Puck sighed, shrugging, and they both started searching the messy floor for appropriate clothes in a mix of discarded work stuff, fallen books, spilled flowers, and a now mostly empty box of chocolates.  “He makes more than me.”

“Because you work for an NGO, and he went for the money.”  Grace saw nothing but socks, used chocolate wrappers and folders stamped with her office logo on the floor near her.  “And that’s going to change.”

“Yes, I imagine.”  Puck nodded, handing her a pair of his own orange and blue sweatpants, and smiled at her naked legs.  “Very soon in fact.”

“Thanks.”  Grace blushed, noticing his googly eyes, and took him in as she grabbed the sweats.  “And I know.”

“I can see that you’re not in the living room,” Milo said, even louder on the other side of their newly painted canary yellow bedroom door.  “And I’m glad you’re still in the adorable if creepy to others honeymoon phase of your relationship.”  He coughed, loudly, twice, and then grunted even louder.  “But it’s been a year or two now, I forget which, and, you know, others are starting to notice.”  His voice got lower and quieter as he walked very loudly and not very far to the other side of the apartment.  “I see you’re not in what passes for the kitchen either.”

“Don’t you think, just once, he could just sit down calmly on our brand-new couch and wait for us to come out.”  Grace scooped herself into Puck’s sweats, tossing him one of her own shirts, and pointed to their still closed bedroom door.  “This is like at least the tenth time that this has happened.”

“And I think that it’s finally time someone told you out loud that your coupledom isn’t that different, unique or special,” Milo said, his voice getting louder again as he crossed halfway back into the living room/den/front hall.  “Now I could be wrong about this, but I’ve been here since the beginning, with some people actually giving me credit and others blaming me for getting you too together.”

“Please.”  Puck turned to Grace, sharing a look, and shook his head.  “That’s not…”

“I know.”  She nodded with a frown and rolled her eyes.

“I mean I didn’t introduce you or anything.”  Milo’s voice got lower as he walked away from them again, peeking inside the small bedroom on the opposite side of the apartment from theirs and let out a loud sigh.  He made a face and frowned at the Georgia O’Keeffe print above the unused but made-up twin bed and the desk with a laptop set right in the center of it.  “But I did kind of push you two together when you were finally free from other, lesser romantic entanglements.”  He turned around, laughing, and raised an eyebrow at a second O’Keeffe print behind the door.  “Jesus.”  He shook his head, stepping out of the guest bedroom, and turned back to the rest of the apartment to stare right at the canary yellow door of their bedroom.  “And one might even say I deserve some kind of reward in a fairer and more just world.”

“The fact that we haven’t killed him is his reward.”  Grace eyed the closed bedroom door protecting their privacy, shaking a pointed finger in Milo’s direction, and then turned it back to Puck with a big nod.  “And I think we would’ve happened anyway.”

“Yes.”  Puck nodded too, sharing a smile with her, and his eyes got big.  “We totally would’ve.”

“You’re not in my old bedroom either.”  Milo’s voice got loud again as he recrossed the apartment.  “And I don’t like what you did with it.”

“Like he hasn’t seen it before.”  Grace scoffed, shaking her head this time, and threw up a whole hand in his direction.  “Or slept in that bed when he’s had too much to drink.”

“Right.”  Puck pulled up his own pants, having a hard time zipping them closed as he took in Grace putting on one of his button-down shirts and shook his head.  “That’s dirty.”

“Like the sweats,” Grace said, quietly, staring back at him, but laughed as she watched him put on her far too small blouses over his broad shoulders and pointed to below his waist.  “You’re showing…”

“I know,” Puck said, whispering, trying to pull down her blouse below his waist, and failing badly.  “And.”  He nodded to her in his shirt.  “I’m not the only one.”

She looked down, turning red, and threw up one hand halfway over chest before crossing her other arm over to cover the whole thing and searched the floor again.

“I hate to tell you,” Milo said, getting louder, and stomped again as he walked back to their side of the apartment.  “But this is getting to be a habit, and not a good one.”

“Then stop coming over,” Grace said, snatching a black lacey bra off the floor, and turned to the door again with his footsteps now right outside of it.  “Particularly when you’re not invited.”

“Just so you know,” Milo said, sighing big, and they heard him tap his forehead against their bedroom door.  “My life has fallen apart, and I don’t know what to do.”

“Again?”  Puck turned, seeing his watch on the floor, and noted the 9:15 am.  “This early?”

Grace frowned at the door.

“I have nowhere else to turn.”  Milo tapped his head against the door again, three more times, and then leaned forward so that the upper half of his body was now pushing right against it.  “Nowhere.”

“There are a few hundred hotels in DC, and his sister lives in Arlington,” Grace said, pointing to the south and east toward Virginia, and raised two fingers and then a third to even more local accommodations.  “Plus, he’s got the Metro app and...”

“He wants TLC,” Puck said to her, pointing north and then east, and gave her a shrug.  “Or he could stay at one of the two hotels a couple of blocks away.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”  Grace nodded to him, smiling now, and her eyes got bigger.  “That boutique one has a great brunch.  Remember?”

“It does.”  Puck winked, smiling back, and pointed north as the door handle started to slowly turn.  “We should go there after this.” 

“Yes.”  Grace nodded, winking back, and fastened her bra around her stomach.  “Alone.”

Puck laughed, nodding right to her as Milo peeked his head in through a narrow opening in the doorway and stared at both of them with his big and very deep brown eyes.

“Okay, I do not need to see that, or that.”  He sighed yet again, making a face at both of them, and raised one hand in front of Puck’s waist and the other in front of Grace’s chest.  “Although I have seen you whack it to avoid just that kind of problem, Puck.”

“Do you mind?”  He frowned, loudly, covering himself with a hand, and half twisted himself away from Milo.  “We’re trying to get dressed here.”

“And not doing a very good job of it.”  Milo laughed more, looking past both of them, and his eyes went wide on one last Georgia O’Keeffe print.  “Really, how many of these flower vagina prints do you have?”

“Those are from my old apartment.”  Grace frowned so he could see it, pulling up the fastened bra underneath the shirt, and turned it around to cover her breasts.  “And you’ve seen them like a hundred tim…”

“You’re killing me.”  Milo closed his eyes for a second, shaking his head big at both of them, and then took in a deep breath.  “I pretended to search your apartment for like the last ten minutes, and you’re still only half dressed.  If that.”  He caught a glimpse of them through the fingers of his still raised hands, and his mouth twisted down and to the right.  “Ugh, what were you two doing anyway?”  He saw a dozen half eaten chocolate covered strawberries and an empty bottle of champagne on the small dresser next to the bed.  “Oh, come on.  You can’t put this stuff away from last night?”  He groaned, lowering his hands, and gave them half a look.  “Or is it this morning?”  He noticed some bubbles still rising in the half-filled champagne flute.  “Really?” he said, loudly.  “It’s like 9:15…”

“We know.”  Grace turned her ring around as Milo walked past her and deeper into the bedroom and picked up a hockey jersey on top of the equipment in the corner and behind a large dresser under the window.

“At least get a shirt or sweater to cover your unmentionables.”  Milo handed the jersey to Puck and kept his eyes raised high.  “Men don’t have the equivalent of bras.”  He looked at Grace, but then raised his hand in front of her chest again and frowned.  “Not that it’s helping enough.”  He shook his head.  “Come on.”

“You’re the one who barged in, Milo.” Grace stared right through him, crossing both arms over her chest again and nodded to the open bedroom door and the rest of the apartment on the other side of it.  “You…”

“You guys are worse than when I was a hormone addled teen.”  Milo turned to shake his head again at their flushed cheeks and twisted bedheads, raising a wagging finger at both of them, and shook his head at the bed missing all its blankets and half of its sheets.  “You can’t go one afternoon without…”

“It’s Saturday morning.”  Puck looked over his shoulder at Milo while double checking below his waist and putting the jersey back on the dresser.  “And…”

“Right.”  Milo laughed, pointing to Puck while still facing away from him.  “And…”

“And we have the day off.”  Grace stepped forward with her own finger in Milo’s face, standing straight up, and looked him right in the eye.  “When we can do whatever we want, wherever we want.”  She gestured to the mess of scattered clothes, shoes and work stuff all over the floor along with a sheet and all of the blankets from the bed.  “We’re adults, and...”

“It’s Washington, DC, Grace.”  Milo stepped back, throwing his hands up in the air, and tried but failed to keep his eyes off of the two of them and their mess.  “Everybody who’s anybody is working today.”  He grinned and pointed his finger at her.  “Particularly you, with all you do.  So…”

“You’ve never thought that once in your life.”  Grace frowned, side eying him, and then pointed to the champagne, strawberries and the rest of their mess all over the bedroom floor.  “And we’re clearly not working.”

“Obviously.”  Milo looked right at her for a second before turning away and laughed.  “Or at least I hope you don’t think it’s work.”

“Shut up.”  Grace punched him in the arm, hard, and raised her fist again.  “And…”

“Ow.”  Milo rubbed his arm, bracing for another, and stepped back.  “What the heck?  That hurt…”

“Nice.”  Puck stood back and laughed, shaking his head at the both of them, and then half frowned right at Milo.  “You know it’s our anniversary?”

“What?”  Milo blinked and stared back for a second, taking him in, and facepalmed.  “I guess I should have remembered that.”  He chuckled, looking up to notice the unbuttoned half of Puck’s teal shirt that Grace wore, and shrugged at them and the rest of the mess in the bedroom.  “Luckily, none of this is new.”

“What?”  Grace turned on him, reaching for the untouched buttons, and held up her fist to him again.  “I get Puck because you were roommates, but…”

“Just your butt, when you first got together.”  Milo shrugged more, looking down below her waist, and half grinned.  “You forgot to shut the bathroom door all the way when you went in to shower.”  He chuckled and pointed his thumb back to the living room/den/front hall and the apartment’s bathroom.  “And it only happened once.”  He squinted past them for a second with more of a grin, raising two fingers then, and looked back.  “Okay.  Maybe twice.”

“We do not need to know that.”  Puck stepped forward, grabbing Grace’s arm as she pulled back her fist yet again, and turned to look right at Milo.  “Okay?”

“I mean.”  Milo looked right back with another shrug and grinned even more.  “It wasn’t like it was my first butt.”

“No.”  Grace lowered her fist but raised a finger at Milo’s face with a giant frown.  “It’s not okay.”

“Right.  Well, you guys have really done wonders with my place since then.”  Milo saw the corner desk squeezed into the bedroom with work junk and two laptops on it and a framed print on the wall above it with a bit of wrapping paper still attached.  “She Wears His Shirt, huh?” he read the title, giving it a look, and turned back to them, comparing Grace in Puck’s shirt to the stylized brunette with the oversized button shirt in the print.  “Subtle, but better than the sexualized flowers.”

“Are you kidding me?”  Grace stepped forward but ran into Puck.  “You…”

“It was a gift from Grace, Milo.”  Puck gave her a hug and turned her around with a smile.  “For our anniversary.”

“Great.”  Milo rolled his eyes at the print, not noticing Grace pocket her ring, and nodded to Puck.  “What did you get her?”

“You really want to know?”  Puck half frowned, noticing that Grace had pocketed her ring, and raised a finger between them.  “Right now?”

“Huh?”  Milo stood there, staring at Puck’s finger wagging in his face, and turned to Grace shaking her head.  “I guess not.”  He stared at Puck’s shirt spilling over her shoulders, her t-shirt too tight on him and then looked down at the mess of clothes and other stuff on the floor, taking it in for the first time, and then turned back to the print of the stylized brunette about the desk.  “You know, I did not need to see any of this.”

“Then don’t look,” Grace tightened Puck’s button shirt on her slender frame and pointed to the apartment’s front door.  “Or barge in uninvited, huh?”

“Again.”  Puck scooped a bunch of clothes on the floor and lifted the lid on the clothes’ hamper hidden halfway behind the desk in the corner.  “Understand?”

“Um.”  Milo stared at them, then the rest of the bedroom, and started to laugh again.  “Sure?”

“Really?”  Grace gave him a look, picking up more work folders from the floor, and then turned back to him with narrowing eyes.  “And why do you even have a key anyway, Milo?”

He stared back at her and then both of them, breathing in deep, and swallowed hard.  “Because my life’s a mess.”  He slouched, sinking visibly, and leaned back against the bedroom wall.  “And you didn’t want me pounding on the door in the middle of the night or breaking in at any hour of the day.”  He pulled the key fob out of his pocket, showing it off for a second, and then looked back at the apartment’s front door.  “Plus, it’s just my old key and you didn’t change the locks.”

“You moved out last year.”  Grace stared at him, shaking her head, and held out her hand for it.  “And we shouldn’t have to…”

“I remember.”  Milo sighed, ignoring her hand and look, and pocketed the fob.  “When we traded apartments.”

“And then you moved in with Mary.”  Grace frowned at the keys now in his pocket and raised an eyebrow.  “Remember?”

“Yeah.”  Milo nodded, swallowing again, and hung his head low.  He took in a deep breath.  “That did happen.”

“Oh kay.”  Puck noticed Milo starting to shrink into himself right in front of them and stepped forward.  He patted him on the shoulder and pointed him into the rest of the apartment.  “Why don’t we take this into the living room, eh?”

“Okay.”  Milo’s face sank more, but he started forward.  “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”  Grace noticed Milo’s look and downward stance and nodded to Puck.  “Good idea.” 

“You know.”  Milo pointed to both of them and then the rest of the bedroom.  “This isn’t the first time this has happened.”  He looked right at them.  “I’ve nearly caught you in the act even when I forgot my keys.” 

“We know,” Puck said, ushering Milo into the living room/den/front hall, and dragged Grace right behind him.  “And I think that might actually be a problem.”

“You think?”  Grace stutter stopped with half a frown at Puck.  “Are you…?”

“It’s been a weird day.”  Milo sat on the very white couch and sank into it and its too many pillows.  He looked up, staring straight ahead, and frowned at a second framed print of the same familiar stylized brunette from the bedroom also hanging on the living room/den/front hall wall.  “You guys have a couple of definite styles.”

“Great.  Puck turned around an old wood chair from the small and worn Formica kitchen table and sat down, giving him a look.  “So…?”

“Why are you here?”  Grace stood over Milo, giving him her own look, and didn’t move.  “On a Saturday morning when you should still be in bed?”

“It’s over with Mary.”  He made a face, breathing deep and his face sank further into a frown.  “Like over, over.”  He nodded big, coughing bigger, and turned to face her.  “Forever.”

“Again?”  Puck shrugged, sharing a look with Grace, and raised four and then five fingers.  “This is what?  The fourth or fifth time?”

“Fourth, Puck.”  Milo nodded, staring straight ahead again, and pointed a finger to the outside world and then his thumb back at himself.  “But this time she kicked me out.”

“What?”  Grace turned to him in a whirl, almost opened mouthed, and stared right at him.  “She kicked you out?”

“Yeah.”  Milo nodded again with a tightening face and stared at the familiar brunette in the print hanging in front of him.  “She did.”

“Uh.”  Puck turned and stared at Milo too.  “That’s a first.”

“And last.”  Milo swallowed, sitting up, and turned to the floor.  “There’s no more do-overs according to her.”  He wiped his face.  “That was it.”

Puck stood up, and Milo got off the couch to walk the three steps to the other side of the apartment.

“I don’t know what happened.”  He shrugged big and stared out the window.  “After all I did for her and baby Josh.”  He threw up his hands.  “Night feedings.  Changing diapers.  Buying diapers, and…”

“Are you kidding?” Grace said, watching from behind him, and frowned.  “Milo, you nearly broke up with her when she had the baby, twice more since you moved in with her, and you can’t stop giving us the same sob story that even though you clearly love Josh, he isn’t yours, you’re no good at the father thing and you resent contributing more than think is your fair share.”

Puck nodded with her, not saying anything, but kept his eyes right on Milo.

“You’re right,” Milo said to Grace’s reflection in the window.  “But I started a college fund in May, and...”

“Mary doesn’t need that.”  Grace raised a hand, taking a step toward him, and then lowered it.  “She’s a lawyer with the IRS.  She could…”

“She just needed a little support and TLC, Milo.”  Puck stepped in between them again and gave a look to Grace.  “Not someone to change diapers, do all the baby stuff and try to be a super dad and partner.”  He clasped onto Milo’s shoulder and squeezed.  “The same thing you gave her since you asked her out when she was four months pregnant.”  He squeezed again.  “That’s all.  You just needed to be there, and instead you tried to paint yourself into the perfect 1950s dad and husband.  A role that barely existed in real life, and you couldn’t fulfill, at all, in the last ten months, so…”

“Mary got sick of it.” Grace frowned again, keeping her voice calm, but shook her head.  “She didn’t need you to take care of the baby or her, and she told you that.  She just needed…”

“I know.”  Milo turned around, taking in a deep breath, but looked past both her and Puck.  “But…”

“Look.”  Grace snapped her fingers right in his face to get back his attention.  “You’re the one who decided to date only pregnant women for some weird reason.  The one who wouldn’t stay away when Mary kicked you to the curb before she had the baby, and the one who kept hemming and hawing about what to do when Mary and Josh kept moving forward.”  She shrugged.  “What did you expect?”

Puck looked away but nodded.

“She was all alone.”  Milo turned back to the floor.  “And I was doing the best I could.”

“Come on.”  Puck looked back at Milo.  “She wasn’t really alone.”

Milo looked at his shoes.

“And you’re an idiot,” Grace said, nodding big to Milo.  “You know tha…”

“I do.”  Milo looked up at them again and wiped his face a second time.  “And now Elijah’s back.”

“Elijah?” Puck said, half frowning, and turned to Grace.  “The rumored father?”

She shared his look.

“The real father,” Milo said, nodding.  “No matter what Mary said about it being an immaculate conception.”

Grace sighed and stopped herself from rolling her eyes.

“He didn’t know Mary was pregnant and has been out of the country for nearly two years,” Milo said.  “He’s in the State Department.  And now…”

“Now Mary doesn’t have any time for grand declarations of love or any of your other nonsense.”  Grace started to step forward but stopped.  “So, you messed up again, and she said, ‘enough is enough.’”

“Yeah,” Milo said.  “Basically.”  He wiped his face yet again.  “And I know I deserve it.”

“You do.”  Grace shared another look with Puck and turned back to Milo.  “I’m sorry, but you do.”

Puck swallowed, nodding again, and just stopped himself from stepping forward too.

“I know,” Milo said, looking back at the two of them, and started to raise his hands.  “But…”

“You can’t play games when kids are involved, Milo.”  Puck sighed, looking back at him, and nodded even bigger.  “You figured that out.  Right?”

“Finally.”  Milo pushed the longer dreadlocks out of his face.  “But it wouldn’t have made a difference anyway.”  He frowned and stared into space again.  “I just wasn’t ready.”

“Yes.”  Puck nodded.  “Sorry.”

“And now you’re getting pay back.”  Grace stepped up this time, touching Milo’s arm, and looked right at him.  “I’m sorry, but...”

“Yeah, I know.”  Milo looked up, nodding to her with another tear, but then noticed her chest.  “And the buttons are still off on your shirt.”

“Great.  Glad I was trying to help.”  Grace kept her eyes on him, only half stifling a frown, and shook her head.  “You know you’re an idiot, right?”

“I think that’s pretty well established.”  Milo wiped away more tears.  “What else you got?”

“How about a beer?”  Puck turned to the kitchen in one quick motion and headed for their three-quarter sized refrigerator.  “It’s usually how post break ups start for you, right?”

“You don’t think she’ll take me back?”  Milo kept his eyes on Puck as he opened the refrigerator.  “I mean I was there when…”

“It’s different with a kid, Milo.”  Puck sighed, pulling out a bottle of Molson, and reached for two more.  “I thought we just established that.”  He raised an eyebrow at him as the refrigerator door shut.  “Again.”  He shrugged and held up the beer.  “And now that Mary’s brought Elijah back into the picture?”

“Yeah.”  Milo let out a long breath and ignored the beer.  “I guess you’re right that I did wrong, no matter how hard I tried otherwise, and it really is over.”

“It is.”  Puck gave him a twisted look, still holding onto the beers, and he and Grace both nodded.  “Sorry.”

Milo looked the two of them over in the wrong clothes and then at the open bedroom door behind them and let out a deep breath.  “Sorry to interrupt.”  He bowed his head slightly to them, seeing the remnants of wrapping paper on the floor, and shrugged.  “I should’ve remembered it was your anniversary.”  He looked past them for another second, breathing in, and managed to put on a smile.  “Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” Grace said, putting on a smile too, and made a face.  “I guess.”

“Yeah.”  He nodded, just standing there watching them, and they stared back at him.  “Okay.”

“Milo, why don’t you…”

“No.  I’m an idiot, not a fool, Puck.”  He pulled out his wallet to check how much cash he had, focusing on the single dollar bills, and started for the front door.  “I’ll try to give you guys some space, honest.”  He looked back at them, pausing for a second, and tried to put on a smile again.  “It’s your special day, right?”

“Yes,” Grace said, half nodding, and turned to Puck with a narrow eyed look.  “It is.”

He half nodded too but kept staring at Milo.

“Let me know if you can make our usual brunch tomorrow.”  Milo turned, opening the door out of the apartment, but then looked back.  “I’ve heard that new boutique hotel a few blocks away has a really good one, but I’ll try to stay out of your hair until then and understand if you can’t.”

“Try?” Grace shook her head, stifling a frown, and then nodded.  “Do, okay?”

“Okay.”  Milo put on a smile and shrugged big.  “I will.”

“We’ll see you tomorrow.”  Puck stepped up and looked right at Milo, clasping him on the shoulder again, and gave him yet another squeeze.  “And call us if you need anything.”  He waited until he got Milo’s full attention and looked him in the eye.  “Okay?”

“I won’t.”  Milo shook his head, barely looking at him, and left through the open door with half a wave back to both of them.  “I promise.”

And Back Again

Grace and Puck closed, chained and locked tight the front door of their tiny apartment right behind Milo, staring at their side of it for a moment, and then let out deep breaths.

“Please don’t tell me he’s going to a strip club, Puck.”  Grace turned to him, hearing Milo thumping down the carpeted hallway on the other side of the door, and her face twisted up and then down.  “That’s not what I want to know.”  She shook her head at him with narrowing eyes.  “Okay?”

“Okay.”  Puck half shook his head back, still staring at the closed front door in front of them, and his face started to twist down.  “I…”

“Really?”  Grace groaned with more of a face, closing her eyes, and pushed back the long, thick, dark brown hair out of her face.  “Video isn’t enough for his post break up life anymore?”

“The benefits of a bigger paycheck and that crazy bachelor party we went to six months ago for Jeff Black.”  Puck turned, with more of his own twisted expression, and looked right at her.  “He enjoyed the up close and personal.”  He shrugged big.  “So…”

“Please don’t say…”

“I didn’t mean touching.”  Puck raised his hand and shook his head again.  “No, no, no.  We established some definite guidelines for his return and any follow ups.”  He pointed to the closed front door and then down the hallway.  “I mean, come on.”  His face twisted all the way around, and he almost grinned.  “It’s Milo.”

“Ugh, ugh, ugh.”  Grace opened her eyes, giving her entire body a complete shake and shudder, and looked past Puck at the smaller bedroom on the left side of the apartment that used to belong to Milo.  “I do not want to know this.  At all.”

“I didn’t want to tell you.”  Puck noticed Milo’s old room too, half laughing with a roll of his eyes, and turned back with a finger in the air.  “The good thing is Milo’s too self-important, proud and skilled in the art of self-deception to take advantage of the club’s other, ickier services.”

“Great.”  Grace took in a breath, giving Milo’s old bedroom a last shake of her head, and sighed big before meeting Puck’s gaze.  “I think I’m actually happy to hear that.”

“I didn’t actually imagine he’d go by himself, though.”  Puck pushed his hand through his short and thick light brown hair, swallowing, and turned back to the front door.  “That is kind of creepy.”

“You think?”  Grace nodded bigger, pointing to her own breasts mostly under Puck’s loose shirt, and then nodded out the front window and in the direction of a nearby strip club.  “I mean, isn’t all of that just kind of a gigantic tease?”

“Absolutely.”  Puck grinned with a long look at her in his shirt and shrugged in the same direction.  “But Milo thought it helped with that last two break ups with Mary, and...”

“It’s scary that he has so much experience with that.”  Grace groaned again, undoing the top button of her shirt, and looked right into his eyes.  “Thankfully, you’re not into that.”  She undid a second button, leaning forward, and licked her lips.  “Right?”

“Right.”  Puck nodded big and looked right back, gesturing for more, and adjusted his pants.  “No need.”

“Good.”  She laughed and walked to the front door, bending her head toward it to listen for a few seconds, and shrugged.  “And if that keeps Milo away.”  She grinned too, looking back at Puck, and twisted the door’s heavy inside deadbolt into place.  “Maybe it’s worth it, just for just today.”

“Good idea.”  Puck nodded, heading to their tiny half kitchen not more than a few feet away, and grabbed two bottles of water from the refrigerator.  “But hopefully we won’t need the lock.”

“Yes.  Well, Mary isn’t going to take him back.”  Grace took two steps toward him, and they met in the living room/den/front hall.  “That’s for sure.”

“No kidding.”  Puck gave her a water bottle, taking a long sip from his own, and swallowed hard.  “Not after kicking him out, she’s not.”

“I’m surprised she’s put up with him this long.”  Grace drank too with half a frown.  “I know I wouldn’t have.”

“Shocking.”  Puck half frowned too.  “But he did try.”

“Sort of.”  Grace gave him a look, taking his free hand, and pulled him close.  “And you think the real father really didn’t know about Josh?” 

“No.  Mary’s kind of independent, remember?”  Puck half shrugged, letting her lead him toward their bedroom, but then gave her a look with a giant, twisted frown.  “I mean, the whole immaculate conception thing.”

“Nobody believed that.”  Grace shook her head, stopping them for a moment on the edge of the living room/den/front hall, and side eyed him with a grin.  “That was Mary just being Mary.”

“Yes, but it worked.”  Puck smiled back, glancing over his shoulder at the double locked and bolted door, and half shrugged.  “Milo only found out about Elijah last month.”

“I know.”  Grace swung him around to just outside their bedroom, keeping her eyes right on his, and drank more water.  “But it’s amazing what we don’t want to know, right?”

“Yes.”  Puck drank more too, gazing back into her eyes, and gave her hand a squeeze.  “But that’s got to be the last nail in the coffin?”

“And an understandable one all around.”  Grace nodded and reached into her pocket.  She held up her ring with a renewed glow in her cheeks, putting it back on one handed, and then pushed him into the bedroom.  “Although with Milo things could always get worse.”

“True.”  Puck shut the bedroom door behind them, twisting the door handle lock with a flick of his wrist, and nodded to the ring.  “Is that why you hid the rin…?”

“Absolutely.”  Grace nodded bigger, drinking more, and held up the water bottle, tapping it against his.  “Good thinking, no?”

“Yes, and to rehydrating too.”  Puck drank more and a brighter glow lit up his face as he took her in.  “Learned that from this woman once.”  He chuckled to himself and gave her a wink.  “She could never stop talking about drinking six glasses of water a day.”

“Eight, and she sounds smart.”  Grace smiled and turned to him with her own wink, putting down the bottle on the large dresser by the lone window, and picked up more work folders and a shoulder bag from the floor.  “Maybe even a genius.”  She chuckled to herself and dumped everything next to the two laptops on the desk jammed in the corner of the bedroom.  “Right?”

“Good looking too.”  Puck walked to the other side of the small room, keeping his eyes right on hers, and straightened out the mattress before pushing the bed back against the wall.  “Plus, she knows how to take advantage of a situation.”

“Something I learned in college.”  Grace stood still, taking him in again, and held up the ring.  “But I do think the engagement might be a little more than Milo can handle today.”  She sighed, moving to pick up the top sheet and two pillows from the floor and dropped them on the bed.  “What with his breakup, and...” 

“And that’s not even telling him about New York.”  Puck caught something out of the corner of his eye and pointed to a Brooklyn neighborhood guidebook on top of the small dresser next to his side of the bed.  “Good thing he didn’t see that.”

“He had other things on his mind.”  Grace noticed his now tighter expression and did a two-step over the mess of a bed to get close to him and take his hand again.  “Still…”

“Right.”  He gave her a look, letting her get even closer and turned over the guidebook to hide the photo of the Brooklyn Bridge on the cover.  “That would probably kill him today.”

“And ruin even your good vibe.”  Grace put her arms around Puck, staring right into his eyes, and nodded down to the guidebook.  “But New York will be good.”  She gave him a quick kiss.  “Trust me.”

“I know.”  He winked and shifted on his feet, taking her with him as they pivoted away from the guidebook, the now rebalanced bed and the sort of half cleaned up floor.  “It was your idea.”

“And you’re complaining?”  She followed his lead with more of a smile, and they started dancing.  “Today?”

“Just the opposite.”  Puck let out a big smile, keeping the pace slow, and looked into her big eyes with a twinkle of his own.  “Who else could land an Associate Vice President of Fundraising job with the promise of full vice presidency after a year.”  He nodded to the city outside.  “And all from 200 miles away?”

“Thank you.”  She looked back with blushing cheeks and gave him a tight squeeze.  “The power of DC contacts.”  She shrugged and let out a laugh.  “And my phenomenal skills at freelance grant writing.”

“You are pretty phenomenal.”  He dipped her back with an even bigger smile, holding her low and tight for a moment, and then pulled her up and into a slow spin.  “And you better get that promotion next year.”

“Or what?”  Grace laughed, staying close, and kept her eyes right on his.  “You’re going to beat up Chad?”

“Your new boss?”  He tilted his head back, keeping them close to the bed, and let out half a laugh.  “Tempting with that name, but...”

“He does sound a little full of himself.”  She shrugged, pulling him much closer, and kept them moving.  “But he does run a multi-million-dollar education foundation in Manhattan.”  She kissed him behind the ear.  “And anyway, I won’t be able to tell what he’s like until after I start working with him.”  She leaned back with a nod.  “And even then, I think I can handle that.”  She gave him a grin and a wink.  “I mean, we’ve been in DC for the last five years.”

“Too true.”  He twirled her under his arm, nearly halfway across the cluttered room and then pulled her back close and tight again.  “But remember how much the small stuff counts in non-profits.”  He sighed and half frowned at himself.  “They don’t have anything else to fight over.”

“You’ve reminded me of that every week for the last five years.”  She poked him in the ribs, smiling at his squeak, and leaned in close again for a kiss behind the other ear.  “That’s why I’m moving on up.”

“Obviously.”  He kissed her back on the neck.  “And bringing in more money helps.”

“You will too soon enough.”  She whispered in his ear with a smile as he kissed her a second time.  “Now that you’re finally moving out of the non-profit sector.”

“And making my Computer Science degree finally count for something?”  He leaned back, looking at her with wide eyes, and nodded big.  “You know?”

“It’ll finally pay for itself.”  She smiled big again and gave him another squeeze.  “Right?”

“Yes.  Just have one more last interview.”  He turned them around, twirling her in front him as he leaned into her back, and wrapped his arms all the way around the front of her waist.  “Then we’re going to take New York by storm.”

“Good.”  She turned back around still wrapped in his arms and nodded to the city outside of their window.  “And you’re not going to miss John Paul and Richard?”

“No.”  He shook his head, half swallowing, but kept his eyes right on hers.  “They’re already talking about coming up for Halloween.”  He shrugged to her and nodded to himself.  “And we’ll have plenty of your family to make up with the loss of my brother and Richard.”

“Right.”  She swallowed too but then nodded and took half a step back.  They shared a look, and she smiled right at him, lifting her hand high, and then ran her finger down his chest before slipping the too small shirt he was wearing over his big head and broad shoulders.  “But that’s not what I really want to think about right now.”  She shook her head with a leer and a grin.  “Okay?”

“Really?”  He took half a step forward closer to her with his own leer and grin and reached down for his half undone button shirt hanging loosely on her shoulders.  “You have other thoughts?” 

“The best kind.”  She grinned from ear to ear and traced her finger back up his now bare chest.  “Including how ridiculous you look in the shirt I slept in last night.”

“We were in a hurry,” he said in a whisper, shrugging, and started undoing her remaining buttons one by one as he nodded to the front door past the living room/den/front hall.  “I’m just glad Milo didn’t notice.”

“Right.”  She chuckled, leaning in close, and kissed him on the cheek.  “Except he commented on it not ten minutes ago.”

“Oh.”  He half smiled with a look and kissed her back.  “Right.”

“Good thing you’re pretty.”  She reached up her hand, caressing his cheek, and smiled bigger.  “And have nice skin.”

“Well.”  He took her hand in his own, looking right at her, and half laughed.  “I moisturize now and then.”

“Right.”  She gave him a long kiss then, leaning into it, and opened her eyes a minute later.  “Me too.”

He wriggled his hips, and his pants slipped onto the floor. 

“I think those are even dirtier than what I have on.”  She grinned, wriggling her hips too, and just like that they stood bare legged and almost on top of each other.  She nodded past the living room/den/front hall and to the far side of the apartment.  “So, how about we continue this engagement party in the shower?”  She looked into his eyes with a sly grin and pointed through the bedroom door to the bathroom only nine feet away.  “Restart this whole thing refreshed, relaxed and ready to go.”

“I’m all for cleanliness.”  He grinned wider and nodded in the direction of the bathroom while caressing her hand in her own and lingered on her ring.  He held up their hands between them and kissed it.   “And this is turning out to be a wise investment.”

“Except we showered last Saturday too, and the one before that too.”  She gave him a side look, squeezing his hand tight in her own, and then pointed to herself.  “At my suggestion.”

“That I wholeheartedly support.”  He took the lead, unlocking the bedroom door, and pulled her toward the bathroom.  “Sunday too if I remember.”  He grinned wider but turned to the front door with a lingering look.  “Still…”

They both stopped then, hearing something on the other side of the apartment’s front door and held their breaths until Grace turned back to Puck and leaned in close to his ear. 

“It’s hard to imagine, but I know I’m going to miss Milo eventually.”  She nodded, letting out her breath, and pulled him the rest of the way to the bathroom.  “It’s going to take a while, though.”

“I bet.”  He laughed and glanced over his shoulder at the door again.  “But…”

“I’ll come back in an hour.”  They heard Milo’s low and muffled voice through the front door.  “Okay?”

They frowned but kept going without looking back or saying a word.

“You know, he’s not going to be able to do this when we live 2o0 miles away,” Puck said, whispering, as they stepped all the way into the bathroom, pushing that door shut and locking it tight behind them.

“Two hours.”  They heard as Grace turned on the shower with one hand and pulled Puck closer with the other.  “We won’t hear him in here.”  She smiled.  “At all.”

“Right.”  He smiled back and raised a finger.  “That’s why we started talking showers in the first place.”

“Sure.”  She pulled him even closer with both hands and gave him a googly eyed look.  “Keep telling yourself that.” 

“Okay.”  He gave her a googly eyed look back and couldn’t help glowing from ear to ear.  “Whatever works.” 

“Yes, we’re going to be all right.”  She kissed him again, slowly, closing her eyes, and started down his neck.  “You know that, right?”

“Of course.”  He leaned right into her kisses, pulling her closer, and took in a very deep breath.  “What could go wrong?”

Morning In Brooklyn

“Yes, dreamers, that’s right, it’s another great, big, good morning to you all.”  An older Grace look-a-like pushed through a raggedy front door in need of a coat of paint, smiling big, waving wider and giving a giant look all around the rest of the old, shabby and worn-down apartment.  “How we doing today?”  She dropped her designer black leather bag on a patch of half repaired hardwood floor, draped her long black leather coat on a propped-up unpolished wooden chair by the front door and pointed two finger guns at Grace and Puck in the forty-seven-year old kitchen.  “And I’m not just talking to my sister.”

Grace shook her head, barely waving back to her older sister, and kept her eyes focused on the 50-year-old stove and what she was cooking in the large shiny skillet.

“Hey, Gabby.”  Puck recoiled from the finger shot next to Grace, smiling back right at her, and looked past the tight white silk blouse under a matching red tailored jacket and skirt with black tights and blacker leather boots.  “A very nice, if familiar look.”  He did a double take at a similarly styled Grace right behind him while fiddling with a cheap tablet at the tiny and cheaper kitchen table.  “And how are you doing after your exciting weekend here in New York’s largest and my favorite borough?”

“After two 12-hour nights of straight sleep, I’m rested, relaxed and ready to sell a bunch of pharmaceuticals to the high and mighty.”  Gabby winked at him with a grin, crossing into the kitchen with just two steps, and glanced back at her designer leather bag to double check that it was resting in a clean spot on the floor.  “And try not to think too much about the ridiculous mark up.”

“That’s the spirit.”  Puck laughed, winked and grinned back as Grace shook her head and rolled her eyes behind him.

“Got to earn the dollars somewhere.”  Gabby took in the other side of the one floor apartment with the large, combined dining/living room and noticed the beat up, half patched and unpainted walls.  “This place isn’t going to refurbish itself.”

“That’s what you said last Monday.” Grace pointed to the single patch of new drywall in the kitchen in front of her sister while keeping her eyes on the shiny and popping skillet in front of her.  “And every Monday before that.”

“It pays to keep your eyes on the prize.”  Gabby patted Puck on the back, moving around the table, and gave Grace a pointed nudge with her hip.  “Nice job.”  She studied the lone section of dry wall compared to the rest of living room’s barer worn walls, scuffed and nicked floors and ripped and torn up couch, and then smiled at the sterling desk with the two laptops on it near the front windows and stared at the out of place but framed artwork above it.  She looked back.  “I’m glad to see you guys are making this place your own.”  She pointed to the print with almost a frown.  “Although I never cared for figurative expressionism.”

“Grace gave it to me for our anniversary.”  Puck handed Gabby the cheap tablet, glancing back, and smiled at Grace.  “It reminds me of her.”

“Subtle.”  Gabby compared the brunette with the slick hair in the oversized button shirt to Grace in half of her buttoned up business look, taking the tablet from Puck, and pointed to the drywall in front of them all.  “The kitchen is looking better every day.”

“Sweat equity is what it’s called.”  Grace looked up and back from the stove, pointing to herself and Puck with a spatula, and handed Gabby a cup of coffee with milk already in it.  “It’s why you love us so much.”

“Thanks.”  Gabby pulled the cup up to her nose and breathed in the coffee with a laugh.  “You’ve always been a hard worker.”  She took a sip, holding up the cup, and tipped it to her sister.  “So industrious and...”

“Shut up, sit down and relax, will you?”  Grace thumbed her to the table and flipped the three crepes in the skillet.  “Breakfast is almost done.”

“Good.”  Gabby smiled and held up the cup higher to her sister.  “Although this coffee won’t calm me down.”

“Shocking.”  Grace turned and put one crepe on each of the three bright blue plates in front of her with fruit salad already on them, dabbing full fat vanilla yogurt on the whole thing, and grinned at Gabby.  “Got you to shut up, though.” 

“Can’t argue with that.”  Gabby grinned back, touching the tablet’s screen, and watched it light up with the usual information and a smile at Puck.  “Just like every other day until yesterday.”

“That just needed an update.”  Puck stopped watching Grace and shrugged at the tablet.  “Easy breezy.”  He looked back at Gabby and nodded.  “You catch ‘The PI’ last night?”

“What else have I got going on?”  Gabby nodded, putting down the tablet, and leaned forward with bright eyes and a bigger smile.  “Who’d’ve thought that David would…”

“Eat, and then talk.”  Grace put a plate down in front of each of them as the kitchen table wobbled.  “I’ve got a busy morning and don’t want to hear a recap.”

“Of course.”  Gabby steadied the table with both hands and rolled her eyes.  “Whatever you want, princess.”

“Princess.”  Puck laughed, ignoring a look from Grace, and used his foot to jam the wad of aluminum foil back under the short leg.  “Smells good.”

“It does.”  Gabby put down her coffee and picked up her fork, smiling at the presentation and turned the crepe around to get a fuller look.  “Always something different.”  She sniffed more closely.  “And smells a whole lot better than anything we had as kids.”

“I don’t know about that.”  Grace sat down and took the first bite, holding it in her mouth for a moment, and then tilted her free hand back and forth in front of her sister.  “Mom could cook some mean juevos con tocino.”

“Yes.”  Gabby took another bite, raising all five fingers, and gave her a look.  “But we had that five times a week.  Five with toast every other day, if we were lucky and dad bought bread.”

“High in protein.”  Puck swallowed his third bite, looking at the two of them, and nodded big.  “And this is better than anything my mom made when I was a kid.”

“Cereal?”  Gabby turned and made a face.

“Lots of it.”  He gave her a thumb’s up with a big smile.  “Wheat Flakes.”  He nodded even bigger.  “My favorite.”

“Ugh, never heard of it.”  Gabby half frowned and wagged her fork at him.  “And it sounds terrible.”

“I know and worse, it’s sugar free.”  Grace shared a frown with Gabby, and then turned to Puck and pointed to his plate with a smile.  “But the real question is, is this better than your brother’s cooking?”

“Close.”  Puck drank some coffee, nodding big, and smiled more.  “Still excellent, though.”

“You’re kidding?”  Gabby did a double take, raising a forkful of crepe, and gave him a look.  “This is really good.”  She turned and nodded to Grace.  “Like restaurant good.”

“John Paul is hard to top.”  Grace shrugged with her second bite and nodded north.  “Did a summer at the CIA in upstate, and actually thought about being a chef for a few months.

“He’s a lawyer, though?”  Gabby turned to Puck with another face.  “Right?”

“Yes, but with no kids.” Grace took another bite, savoring it, and gave her a look.  “So, he has…”

“Lots of time.  Right.”  Gabby nodded, throwing up a hand, and drank more coffee.  “One of the perks.”

“For now.”  Puck leaned forward and nodded right to Gabby.  “He and Richard are thinking about adopting.”  He turned back to a nodding Grace and pointed to his nearly empty plate with a wider smile.  “I do have to say, though, that this is a great way to start the day.”

“You’re right.”  She smiled back, batting her eyes, and took her own bite.  “It isn’t bad.”

“Ugh.  Enough.”  Gabby shook her head at both of them staring into each other’s eyes. and slid her fruit salad onto Puck’s plate.  “I’ve got a busy day too and can’t afford an upset stomach.”

“Please.”  Grace turned and side eyed her as Puck laughed.  “Then you should be eating the fruit.”

“True, and I do have to be on my game.”  Gabby took a bite of fruit from Puck’s plate and held up three fingers.  “I’m starting with a jerk who looks likes Fred Flintstone.”

“He’s animated?”  Puck turned to her with a chuckle between mouthfuls of mango.  “Like you can’t shut him up?”

“No.  Like he’s got the same giant head, stocky build and feet wider than they are long.”  Gabby shook her head, pulling out her phone, and flashed a photo of her smiling with a giant man smiling more and staring at her tight blouse.  “But he’s the head of his department.  So…”

“The things we do.”  Grace gave Puck half of her crepe, still looking at Gabby.  “You know?”

“I do.”  Gabby nodded, putting down her phone, and switched to two fingers.  “Then I’m meeting with a 73-year-old chief of surgery who’s popping half of what we sell and still can’t find my eyes.” 

“Hence the girls again?”  Grace pointed to Gabby’s revealing blouse.  “And subtlety.”

“You don’t go for subtle in sales.”  Gabby shook her head with a grin, adjusting her bra, and turned to Puck who laughed and kept his eyes up.  She went down to one finger.  “Then I’m meeting someone who I hear thinks I’m an evil, slutty bitch for selling pharmaceuticals in the first place, and...”

“Lovely.”  Grace gave her a look with narrowing eyes and finished the fruit salad.  “But they’re still buying?”

“Yes.”  Gabby nodded big to her and took the last bite of her crepe.  “Melinda and I went to college together, and she thought I stole her boyfriend.”

“Great.”  Puck mixed together their leftover fruit salad and crepe and nodded to Gabby.  “But it was just him hitting on you and you giving him a big, fat, ‘No.’  Right?”

“How nice of you to remember.”  Gabby gave him a thumb’s up, turning to Grace with her own narrowing eyes, and then grinned from ear to ear.  “Melinda’s my main target.”

“Of course.”  Grace took it all in and laughed out loud.

“Sure.”  Puck sat back and looked right at Gabby.  “She’s dead meat, eh?” 

“Eh, and you’re getting smarter.”  Gabby gave Puck a look and half a laugh.  “Maybe even growing on me.”  She winked at Grace, sharing a smile, and then put down her fork and looked right at both of them.  “But I’m going to turn my head, wriggle my butt and smile sweetly so I can enjoy those big fat commissions at the end of the quarter.”  She gave them a squint.  “You know what I mean?”

“I do.  Makes dealing with all of these terrible administrators, doctors and other horrible people worth it.”  Grace sighed, pointing to Gabby’s tailored suit and boots, and then leaned forward to look her in the eye.  “Still, you’re better than…”

“Pharmaceuticals pays the bills, Grace.”  Gabby stood up, grinning more, and then pointed to the apartment and Puck.  “And lets me subsidize my baby sister and her boyfriend.”

“Fiancé.”  Grace made a face, holding up her engagement ring, and gave her a look.  “And I’m not a…”

“Right.”  Gabby grabbed the coffee pot, refilling her cup and then theirs, and smiled at her sister.  “The good thing is you’re paying more than the last tenants.”

“You didn’t have any last tenants.”  Grace pointed to all of the raggedy walls needing sheet rock, paint and a whole lot more.  “You…”

“True.”  Gabby added milk to her cup and Puck’s.  “You are the first.  Still…”

“Thanks,” he said, smiling, and tipped his cup to her.  “Glad to help.”

“Really?” Grace shook her head and frowned at him as Gabby ignored her.

“See, this man knows a good thing when he sees it.”  Gabby chuckled, keeping her eyes on him, but pointed to Grace and her ring.  “Of course, I’m assuming you already knew that too.”

“Shut up.”  Grace shook her head, but grinned.  “And…”

“That’s no way to talk to your landlady.”  Gabby raised a finger, reaching over and poked her in the ribs.  “Of course, I’ll let it go because you’re family.”

“Don’t I know it.”  Grace got up, turning her back to her sister, and put on an equally tailored but navy blue jacket.  “That’s why I can’t get away from you.”

“Funny.”  Gabby took in their similar styles, smiling again, and nodded.  “And kind of true.”

“And me?”  Puck nodded to himself and looked right at her.  “Have I crossed the line?”

“Not quite.”  Gabby smirked, picking up the tablet from the table, and gave him a wink.  “You’re getting there, though.”  She pointed to the new dry wall in the kitchen.  “And I appreciate the help.”

“Sure.”  Grace turned to the drywall, and her face twisted down.  “No charge.”

“Funny again.”  Gabby chuckled, leaning in closer to her sister, and gave her a big smile.  “And to finish answering your question about my job’s worthiness.”  She kept her eyes right on Grace and stood up straighter.  “Not everybody is going to use their natural charisma, street wise intelligence and beguiling charm to save the world by bringing college to the masses.”

“Thanks.”  Grace nodded with the hint of a blush and half a curtsy.  “I do my best.”

“It’s true.”  Puck smiled big and nudged her.  “You are pretty awesome.” 

“But we can’t all be Wonder Woman.”  Gabby shook her head at herself, shrugging big, and then pointed to Grace and then Puck.  “Although I do like supporting her and Steve Tremont.”

“Trevor.”  Grace made a face but straightened it out.  “And I always thought you were.”

“Please.”  Gabby gave her another look and grin, putting on her jacket with a full 360 degree spin, and somehow made sure that none of her long dark thick hair got caught in it.  “And I know.”

“Wow.”  Puck stared at the spin and the still perfect hair.  “Linda Carter?”  

“Who?”  Gabby gave him a look.

“Give me a break.”  Grace ignored her smirk.  “You bought this brownstone, own a car with a Brooklyn parking space and you’re only 30.

“I’m 29.”  Gabby raised a finger to Grace.  “And you should know that.”  She half frowned and almost took a step toward her.  “We’re sisters.”

“Right.”  Grace shook her head with giant smirk.  “But didn’t you…”

“Shut up.”  Gabby wagged the finger, nearly smiling, but side eyed her.  “And…”

“And I thought the brownstone was Elden’s idea.”  Puck looked up, pushing his empty plate away, and started on his second cup of coffee.  “Right?”  He nodded and turned to Grace shaking her head.  “He thought the Heights was a good de…”

“Don’t bring up Elden.”  Grace raised her own finger.

“No, Grace.”  Gabby smiled, reaching down, and punched Puck in the shoulder.  “I’m all good.”

“Ow.”  Puck gave her a look and rubbed it.

Grace laughed.

“Puck’s right, though.”  Gabby looked right through him and started clearing the table with half a shrug.  “Elden wasn’t so bad in a few ways.”  She stifled a frown.  “He actually took the divorce pretty well and let me buy this place out for what we originally paid and not what it’s worth now.”  She sighed, putting the dishes in the sink, and put on a smile for Puck.  “And I guess that was pretty nice of him.”

“Yes.”  Grace put her coffee cup in the sink, turning right to Gabby, and rolled her eyes.  “He was a real sweetheart.”

“No, he was a big ass, but…”

“He knew his hockey.”  Puck squeezed in between the two of them with the rest of the dishes from the table, nodding, and turned on the sink.  “You have to give him that.”

Both women turned to him in between them and gave him another look. 

“I’m serious.  He knew the Rangers,” Puck said, missing the look, and started on the dishes.  “And for New Yorkers that’s pretty impressive.”

“And here I thought you might not be so bad, Puck.”  Gabby stepped back, turning to Grace, and shook her head.  “So close, and yet....”

“He’s almost there.”  Grace poked him and shared a smiled with her.  “Inches.”

Puck smiled at her.

“Meh.”  Gabby tilted her hand back and forth and made a face.  “We’ll see.”

“Whatever.”  Puck looked back at both of them, taking in their nearly identical outfits, and chuckled.  “You know you’re basically wearing the same thing again?”

“Yes.”  Grace turned to Puck with her own little twirl.  “Mom really instilled an excellent fashion sense in both of us.”  She pointed to Gabby’s suit jacket, shirt and calf high leather boots.  “Professional, sleek and fetching to the eye.”

“I like the subtler cleavage and more conservative color.”  Gabby pointed to Grace’s looser shirt that came up higher compared to her tight and lower cut blouse and then adjusted the collar of the own jacket.  “Very professional and appropriate.”

“And yours makes sense considering you’re going for the magic.”  Grace pointed too and picked up an imaginary piece of lint from her jacket.  “The red really pops.”

“It’s not a coincidence.”  Gabby smiled and shrugged big.

“Nor is the dark blue for the serious office look.”  Puck nodded to Gabby while pointing to Grace and gave her a slow once over.

“Thanks,” Grace said, smiling, and shot a finger gun at Puck.

He shot back with his own smile. 

“You’re welcome.”  Gabby rolled her eyes at them, putting on her leather coat, and made sure to cover things up.  “But you have to save those shots for the right moment.”  She laughed, looking at both of them, and shook her head with a giant frown.  “Preferably when I’m not here.”

“Yes.  You’ve told us.  About a hundred times.”  Puck nodded, raising a finger, and looked her in the eye.  “And to answer your question, Gabby, yes.”  He nodded bigger.  “I have gotten used to basically living with a sister and girl stuff, and I’m loving life.” 

“Even with the busted-up apartment?”  Gabby looked past all of the needed patchwork on the walls and pointed to the old water stains on the ceiling.

“Not a problem.”  Puck looked up at the stains, shrugging, and smiled.  “Totally fine.”

“Particularly since we hired the service that got rid of the smell,” Grace said with another look at her sister and made a face.  “That was gross.”

“But well worth it,” Puck said, nodding, and gave a thumb’s up.

“Yes, sorry about that.”  Gabby looked back at both of them, pointing to the entire apartment, and smirked again.  “And the cut rate rent.”

“Right.”  Grace’s face tightened.  “About that…”

“I’m just happy to be here.”  Puck just smiled more. 

They both turned to him, with Gabby closing her eyes for a second, and then opened them up on her sister.

“Este es la cosa canadiense?” she said to Grace.  “Sí?”

“Más or menos.”  She grinned, glancing over at Puck, and gave him a glowing smile.  “Adorable.  Isn’t it?”

“No.”  Gabby frowned and felt her temples.  “Not really.”

“Adds to his charm.”  Grace stepped up, pulling Puck close and kissed him.  “You’ve got to pay closer attention.”

“Ugh.”  Gabby touched Grace’s arm but failed to pull her away.  “Tal vez, deben moverse a un nuevo apartamento más pronto.”

“I don’t think we’re moving yet.”  Puck shook his head, still smiling, and winked at her.  “We like it here.  Like we said.”

“Really?”  Gabby looked back at him.  “You know Spanish now.”

“I’m learning.”  Puck caught Grace grinning at him more and he shrugged.  “It’s a lot like French.”

“He is, and it is.”  Grace turned to Gabby.  “And why are you bringing up moving?”  She side eyed her.  “I thought you liked us here.”

“I thought you did too.”  Gabby met her look and threw up a hand.  “But the walls are thin, and...”

“Ceiling,” Puck said, pointing up, and got yet another look from both of them.  “We’re downstairs.”  He nodded and gave them a look back.  “You’re upstairs.”  He shook his head.  “Not next to you.”

“Yes.  Thank you.”  Grace raised her hand to him and turned back to Gabby.  “And you know moving is something we’re thinking about.”  She held up her ring finger.  “Along with making this official.”

“Right.  I know.  Good.  Okay.”  Gabby dismissed her with the back of her hand but looked back at the two of them.  “But…”

“We just looked at a place in Sunset Park.”  Puck nodded.  “Below 4^th on 26^th Street.”

“Below 4^th?”  Gabby frowned and turned to Grace. 

She shrugged.  “It’s gentrifying, and...”

“Really?”  Gabby still frowned.  “Below…?”

“Even below 4^th.”  Puck nodded, squirting some soap into a sponge as he turned the faucet to get more water, and gave them a big smile.  “Really.”

Gabby kept frowning.

“We need to fix that.”  Grace ignored her sister’s expression and pointed to the slow water flow.

“I’ll add it to the list” Gabby said, staring at Puck for another moment, and then turned to Grace.  “And how are you going to afford all of that?”

“Increased salaries.”  Grace grabbed her own long leather coat.  “Your ten months of generosity.”  She put it on and then nodded.  “And an investment of ours that should be paying off very soon.”

“So, then it’ll be a wedding worth attending?”  Gabby gave her a look.  “Right?”

“It always was.”  Grace ignored the look, buttoning her coat, and started for the front door.  “Wasn’t it?”

“Sure.”  Gabby laughed, following her, and threw up her hands.  “Of course.”

“We’re actually going to figure all of that out tonight over a fancy tasting,” Puck nodded big, now scrubbing plates, and looked back with a bigger smile.  “Might even have some champagne.”

“And it’ll definitely be romantic.”  Grace made eyes with Puck, sharing a smile, and then poked Gabby.  “Otherwise, we’d invite you along.”

“Thanks.  I already hear too much,” Gabby said, pretending to cough, and turned to the rest of the apartment to study the ragged walls, stained ceiling and scuffed up floors.  “I guess I’ll just have to redo this place and rent it out to a privileged couple wanting a kid or a hipster doofus with rich parents who will pay too much for rent.”

“That’s the spirit.”  Grace stood still as she and Puck looked over the apartment too.  “But don’t get started until we leave, okay?”

“No duh.”  Gabby shrugged, looking past them, and waved her forward.  “Family.”

“Thanks.”  Grace smiled at her.  “Appreciated.”

“We could do wonders with this place.”  Puck tapped his foot on the scuffed floors and shrugged.  “We just need some better tools and a little more of our own sweat equity.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying.”  Grace poked Gabby again.

“Oh, youthful enthusiasm.”  She opened the door and pushed Grace halfway out.  “I love it.”

“We’re only a few years younger than you.”  Puck made a face as she kept going.  “How…?”

“You’ll understand in a few years.”  Gabby laughed, pulling the door behind her, and gave him a wave.  “But have a good day.”

“You too.”  Puck waved back, taking a last look at the apartment, and nodded.  “And thanks.”  He smiled again, turning back to the dishes, and nodded bigger.  “I’m planning on it.”

***

Of course, the drama, silliness and humor continue.

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