Not only do we live at opposite ends of the country, but he has to find a woman from the right family. A woman with the right surname, the right connections, manners, and background.
I’m never going to be anything but a fantasy for Jack. And he for me.
I stare at the note. Maybe I should have gone right to LaGuardia. Why am I here writing love notes like some crazed teenager? I’m an adult, and my very real world is waiting for me back in Star Falls.
I go to crumple up the note, but somehow I can’t. Jack may never find the note, but I have to at least try to tell him that I didn’t stand him up. At least, not because I wanted to.
My heart sits heavy in my chest. I turn and slump against the wall of the restaurant.
Maybe it would have been better if I’d said no when Jack asked me to join him for a walk. It would have made leaving New York easier.
As I’m about to leave, a short guy in a baseball cap smoking a cigarette comes toward me. He pulls out a huge bunch of keys.
“Do you work here?” I ask.
“Sure do,” he snaps.
“I was supposed to meet someone here for breakfast. But I can’t make it. I was wondering if I could leave this note with you?”
He looks at me, one corner of his mouth lifted like he’s looking at moldy raspberries.
“Send ’em a text.”
“I don’t have their number.” I shake my head. “It’s a long story. But if someone called Jack comes in, could you give him this note?”
He rolls his eyes and snatches the note from my hand. “Sure.” He unlocks the door and goes inside.
My entire body sags as I watch him go inside. It’s like he’s taking my fantasy with him, crumpled up in his hand.
There’s no way Jack is ever getting that note.
SIX
Jack
Why the hell didn’t I get Iris’s number last night?
I’d been so thrilled she’d agreed to meet me this morning, so keen not to push her into letting me pick her up that I didn’t think to ask for her number. I’ve barely slept. I could have stayed up all night with her, just talking. Just holding her.
I check my watch. She’s only ten minutes late, but what if something’s happened to her? She’s not used to New York. And I sent her in a cab to Times Square! What was I thinking? She might be in a dumpster right now. Now I wish I’d insisted she spend the night at my place. I should have insisted we go back to her hotel, pack up her stuff and bring it all to my apartment. That way I would have known she was safe. I would have been sure.
I fist my hands and scan Central Park West for taxis, trying to gauge whether any of them are slowing down.
Where is she?
The minutes tick by. Soon it’s an hour after the time we’d agreed to meet.
The disappointment that she’s not coming weighs me down. I should never have let her go last night. I should have held on to her.
How could I have been so stupid?
My heartbeat starts to race, like an impatient fist banging on my chest. Should I go to Times Square? I could call our security team and get them to check the area. I could get them to find out where she lives. Iris…
She never gave me her last name.
Fuck. How could I feel so close to a stranger. So completely seen and understood by someone and not even know their last name?
I push my hands through my hair. I can’t stand feeling so helpless and out of control.
