It's funny when you live in an apartment building in New York city you began to see the same people at different points in their life. There are the early morning commuters who are driven in their careers, racing to the gym to start their days. There are the partiers who usually enter and exit the building either late at night when they are heading out to the clubs or early in the morning when returning from them. Then there are the stay at homes who have kids or who work out of their apartments as day traders or writers. Like me they live life on their terms and by their rules.
I usually meet them while riding the elevators in the middle of the day while taking a break from my work to go out for a run or a sprint at the gym. That's how it was when I first met Alyssa and Robert. I was in my workout gear - shorts and a T - returning from a morning run, panting and sweaty. They were returning from getting their morning paper in robes. We laughed about our casualness and at the day-breakers as they called them. You know, the people who went to an office.
Our conversation was light and bright and focused on how we all loved the flexibility of our days, able to do whatever we wanted, as long as it didn't get in the way of our work. The three of us were on the same path it seemed, that rare mix of drive tempered with a freestyle sense of living.
Their apartment was on the top floor and as I exited they asked if I wanted to come up for a cup of coffee. I said, "why not? Let me just grab a quick shower and change out of my clothes." It's funny because I thought I heard Alyssa say "oh, don't bother. I doubt you'll be in them long." My floor pinged and the doors opened, and the three of us froze. It was one of those moments, a cross road in the day.
Robert reached his hand out to stop me from exiting and said simply, "We're more of a come as you are kind of couple."
I smiled not really understanding where it was going, but I was willing to go with them no matter where it led.
Sure enough the door to their apartment opening into a sun-filled penthouse, well appointed in mid-century modern furniture, with a sliding glass door that in turn opened onto a rooftop deck.
I couldn't help but think "these people are doing pretty well for stay-at-homes. Robert excused himself to make us some coffee as Alyssa sat herself down a chic couch and smiled at me.
"Jay, please make yourself at home. If you'd like there is a shower just through those doors," as she crossed her legs letting the opening of her robe fall open to reveal her knees and lower thighs. I couldn't help buy let my eyes jump down to her tanned flesh.
I shook my head, no and thanked her all the same.
"It's okay, Roberts probably already taking one. He's probably forgotten all about our lattes."
I managed a smile and a laugh at her inside joke.
