We Find Love

Chapter Seven

The sun was starting to set when we arrived downtown. I was thankful because that meant there would be fewer people out on the street. I find a spot in a partially empty parking garage, and we all pile out of the car. I text Casper where we are, but he doesn't reply. I knew he was right behind me, so I knew he'd catch up. Matilda happily holds Embry's hand, and Orson walks next to me as we leave the parking garage together. We stop first at AT&T, I sit Orson and Embry at the front of the store while Matilda and I talk to an associate.

"I'd like to add her to my plan," I tell the attendant, while Matilda starts looking at the different phone options. I was thankful for my new job; none of this would be possible without this gig. Casper calls me and I pull away from the counter leaving Matilda to talk to the associate. "Heyo,"

"So, I invited Mac to dinner, is that okay?" Casper says.

"Uh—Yeah, I guess," I say.

"Sorry, we were just talking on the phone, and we haven't seen each other in like a week," Casper sighs out.

"A week?" I choke out a laugh. "Is Casper Boucher in a relationship?" I question, which makes Casper laugh.

"I can explain," Casper sighs.

"And your job?" I question.

"I can still satisfy my clients and keep a solid relationship," Casper says.

"Well does he know?" I whisper, and Casper stops laughing.

"We can talk about this later," he quips. "Where are we meeting for food?" he says.

"Uhm—Let's just go to the food market on 75th, the kids are really picky," I say.

"Gotcha, I'll meet you there!" Casper says, I end the call, returning to the counter to finish the payment. When we're done, we spend an extra few minutes allowing Matilda to set up her phone, before we leave the store together. Embry sticks next to Matilda, holding her hand tightly. Orson strides next to me, sticking by my side, and looking around at every building like a child at a museum. We walk through downtown together, and it's just the afternoon crowd of people walking to the subway to return home. We pass by an aisle of nice restaurants with glittering storefronts, and I can't help but catch Misha sitting near the front of one of the restaurants.

He sits at a table with a pretty girl with a short black bob. I only see them at a glance, and then we're already a street over. Matilda is pointing out all the billboards and talking about all the passing buses. I swallow down my words, keeping my thoughts to myself—Both Orson and Embry were doing so well, and I wasn't going to spoil it. We made it to the food market, an old factory building with the first floor cleared out and filled with a bunch of different huts and restaurants. Casper and I usually came here when we didn't know what else we wanted to eat, and it was closest to the clubs.

I immediately spot Casper in front of our favorite pho place, standing next to Macintosh, who seemed nervous. We approach them, Macintosh looking down at the kids with slight surprise. "Hey! Macintosh!' I say, with a wave. "I'm Soncerae,"

"Yes--I remember," Macintosh smiles.

"This is my sister Matilda—And this is Orson and Embry," I say, Orson, giving the tall man a wave.

"Embry and Orson," Macintosh repeats, and I nod along, giving Casper a look.

"Ah yes, Embry and Orson are Misha's kids," Casper says, nodding towards Macintosh who nods along.