I grabbed a lipstick to shove into my purse, trying to get accustomed to all this clarity hitting me from every direction. When I opened my bedroom door, I found Landon in the hallway in jeans and a gray T-shirt with his unruly hair now combed and slicked back, highlighting the longer bristles of his beard.
How had I spent two decades knowing this man and managed to ignore how beautiful he was? Karen was right, but it wasn’t only the perfect face and body that drove me to the point of distraction. Under that broad chest was a gorgeous heart and soul, a man who had always thought of me first since the moment we’d met.
I wanted all of him to be mine, but after glancing at a picture of us from almost the beginning, maybe he always had been, and I was too foolish to realize it.
“I don’t know where you wanted to go for lunch, but I hope this is okay.” I glanced down at myself and lifted my head to his slow smile.
“Gorgeous,” he said, dragging his gaze up and down my body. “Nice pants.”
“Thanks.” I pivoted back and forth. “God bless black stretchy pants.”
“They help with the view from the back.”
My head snapped up to Landon’s wicked grin.
I exhaled a loud sigh and reached out to nudge his arm, my cheeks aching from the wide smile blooming on my face.
“You look okay, I guess.” I flicked my eyes up and down. “Embracing the scruff?”
“Too lazy to shave. And there is nothing going on, so I figured we could leave earlier if you want.”
I laughed at his shrug and headed down the stairs. The subway station was a short walk from my house. We rode the train mostly in silence as I focused my attention out the window. The six train ride in the Bronx was mostly above ground, and I always enjoyed watching the buildings whiz by against the horizon. I’d seen many sunrises and sunsets from here, and after not taking the train for a long time and heading to do something fun instead of work, I appreciated the beauty of it all.
Things like a subway ride, even though I’d been doing it twice daily for many years, seemed different and new. When Landon draped his arm over the back of my seat, I dropped my head to his shoulder and let him draw me closer. When the car dipped underground, I allowed my eyes to shut and let the sway of the subway car soothe me, enjoying what was new between Landon and me, even if it had always been there.
I’d spend the afternoon with my favorite person, appreciating the simple joys and worry about what I’d tell myself about it later.
“You don’t hate it, do you?” Landon asked, his nose crinkling as he sat across from me at Serra, Eataly’s rooftop restaurant in the Flatiron District. The restaurant was set up like a greenhouse, enclosed by screens and under a skylight. Trees lined the middle of the dining area, and flowers hung from the ceiling. It was a sunny day with temperatures in the sixties, higher than usual for October in New York. The afternoon was pleasantly cool, but the sun streaming in from the open skylight above our table made it warm enough to peel our jackets off.
His office space was on Madison and Thirty-Fourth, right in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. I’d suggested walking to Twenty-Third Street for lunch. The way the city’s atmosphere could change by traveling only ten streets always fascinated me. I’d worked around this neighborhood for years and always loved it. The streets were less crowded, and the vibe was more laid-back than corporate.
I’d suggested lunch on the rooftop so that we could enjoy the sunshine. After spending all that time at the beginning with legs sore enough not to want to even walk to the bathroom, I savored what felt like the new privilege of pain-free joints, at least for today.
Plus, the frosé machine behind their bar dispensed a sublime frozen concoction of rosé wine and vodka.
“I don’t hate your office. Why would you think that? It’s in a great location, and you said you didn’t need to worry about much space, right?”
“There are only five of us.” He shrugged and perused the menu. “The office is really just a home base for the moment to pick something up before we see a client. We’ll probably never be there at the same time, but”—I had to hold back a laugh at his adorable sigh—“it’s fine. Just not what I’m used to.”
“It’s different from your office suite in Charlotte, yes.”
“I didn’t have an office suite. It was just a regular office.”
“Right,” I said. “Aregularcorner office with big windows, a couch, and a sick view. This is more functional since you said you’re all mostly remote, but it’s not bad. No lush greenery when you peek outside in this office, but you’ll manage.” I patted his hand, glancing at my menu to make sure they still had the cheese plates I was dreaming about. Steroids still kicked up my appetite and I tried to keep it in check most days, but today was a special day and I’d spread as much Brie as I wanted on a cracker with no guilt.
“Greenery?” He snickered.
“You know what I mean. You lived there a while. I’m sure you miss it.”
“I do and I don’t. I’ll miss the agreeable weather in a couple of months, I’m sure.”
“I’m sure the women will all missyou,” I teased.
“No,” he chuckled, taking a sip of water. “I wasn’t attached enough to anyone to make them miss me, especially since the only all-nighters I had were with work the past few months.”
“Something you’re not doing up here.”
“I know, I know.”
