Chapter 41 - Happy

                                    

                                          
James and I wake up early after a night of confessions and head to Coney Island to come back to Manhattan early and spend the night close to home.
We go to the aquarium then walk to the beach and hop at the shore a bit since we didn't come prepared for the beach.
As we reach the showers to wash every last bit of sand and salt water off our legs and feet I feel James' eyes on me.
"What?" I ask as I look up at him.
"You're a fun tour guide, you know?"
"Now I do," I smile.
I put on my wet sandals as we make our way to the restaurants on the boardwalk.
I begin to grab at James' arm a bit tighter as I cheer for Nathan's.
"This is the most classic place to come to," I explain as I get on the long line. "You don't come to the boardwalk and leave without some Nathan's."
We manage to grab some seats as a family leaves their table and we start to eat the mass of food we ordered.
We've barely eaten all day so we stuff our faces and I get an approving thumbs up from James.
I get a text from Noori, which is strange since it's so late over in Dubai.
I thought your boy toy was Neymar?
I mean boyfriend
What are you going on about?
Google James
I do as I'm told and I instantly know what to expect.
"Of course," I let out a grunt.
I take my phone and show James.
"Oh, come on," he drops his cheese fry.
The photo the fan from yesterday took came up, no important headline mentioning me just that James was in New York. All I got was a smaller sentence questioning if I was his wife or not.
"I saw him take a photo," I tell James.
"I'm not even gonna worry myself with that," James shrugs it off.
"Good, neither will I," I admit before taking my last bite.
An hour later and we make our way to the Cyclone before heading home.
It was truly freeing to go on that frightening ride for the hundredth time and I could tell James really enjoyed it too. The hour and a half train ride turned out to take a bit less as I decided to take a detour.
The High Line.
As we get out the subway I get a text from Neymar and I text him back, smiling at the stupid joke he just made.
"Come on," I say as I wrap my arm around James' and we make our way above ground to the park.
"This is, um," James begins. "I'm at a loss for words."
I laugh at him a bit and continue walking on the wooden path.
"These are abandoned tracks, above ground tracks, turned into a park," I look back at him. "It's serene, isn't it?"
A couple biking passes us and I place my arms out and begin to walk on the edge of the path.
"You seem really happy," I tell him without looking back.
James' POV 
Kat loses her equilibrium and I rush up behind her to keep her from falling.
"Thanks," she says.
"It's because I'm happy to be here," I admit.
I also admit everything else I've been in denial about to myself.
I've fallen out of love with Daniela and despite Salomé and our families, I know what I have to do. I've fallen for Kat, but you have to understand the two events have no correlation. Kat has nothing to do with my loveless marriage and it has nothing to do with timing. Daniela is one thing. Kat is another. It's not even that she lent me an ear and was there for me, nothing of those sorts. I truly love Katalina.
"Finally," Kat smiles. "The whole world is happy."
"How so?" I ask.
"Not a gloom heart to be seen at," Kat checks the time on her phone. "7:12 pm."
"Kat," I say before her eyes meet mine. "I have something to tell you."
"Okay, but me first," she bites her lip.
I simply nod and she cheers a bit. At least I'll have more time to think this speech through.
"I have been seeing someone," she starts. "You know him and you guys are friendly and I don't know why I haven't told you earlier but just thinking about it all now makes me want to shout from the rooftops because I am in love!"
I swallow my bitterness.
"I've been dating Neymar for the past couple of months, James," she steps forward. "I'm not completely sure why I haven't told you sooner, but to be fair we haven't really told anyone, people just find out a-and we haven't gone public with it at all... I wanted you to know because I care for you a lot and I hope you can be happy for me. I love you to the moon and back, James. I need your support on this. I am truly happy."
I smile at the last bit. That she's happy. That is all I care about, all I could ever care for. Even if I'm not the one who gets to kiss her goodnight and wake up to her in the morning, I know that she's happy and someone out there is loving her. As long as she's loved and at bliss, I'm happy for her.
"Congratulations, Kat," I smile before hugging her. "I'll always be here for you, no matter what."
She leaves a kiss on my cheek, I can feel the ecstasy she left lingering on my skin. The glow in her eyes. It took me a bit too long to realize she was in love. I was too busy admiring her, accepting my own feelings.
"Your turn," she smiles.
"It's not a happy note, the complete opposite actually," I say. "I know what I have to do when I arrive back home."