“I was dreading tonight. Seeing you but not being able to have you,” I admit, running my thumb across her kiss–swollen lips.
“I had a plan,” she says, grinning up at me, contentmentbeginning to pool in her gaze as she does. She takes my hand, lacing her fingers through mine.
“Did you?” I think about the fact that, in another universe, I might never have gotten this chance with her at all.
“I was going to lure you into one of these shady closets. Use Jean as my proxy. Very secretive, very sexy.”
“Hmmm,” I hum my amusement, thanking the universe that in this one, I do.
“We could still go that route. We’re in the shady closet. You already kissed me.”
“Except you’re too drunk to even remember which closet we’re in,” I say, cradling her jaw. “Anyways, you’re exhausted.” She’s about to argue that she isn’t when a yawn swallows the intention, and she rolls her eyes.
“You just never want to take me at my word, do you?” she asks, reminding me of the inception of our deal as she snuggles deeper into my side. I feel her breath assume a restful rhythm, and when I peer down at her, I notice her eyes getting heavy. “I don’t want to go back out there.”
“Don’t. Stay here, with me.” I suddenly understand the whole ‘burn it to the ground’ impulse I’ve seen in movies, because fuck the donors, the gala, the whole deal. It would take an act of God to do anything but what she needed now.
“It’s okay,” she says, fumbling with her clutch before finding her phone. “I’m just gonna call a car.” I nimbly pluck the phone out of her hands, the thought of trusting her with anyone but myself right now making me uneasy.
“No. Sloane’s in the city—she can take you home.”
Her smile is so soft, so warm as she looks at me that I want to take a picture. Want this sight as one of those wallet photos I can pull out whenever I can’t be with her.
“Okay,” she says, not fighting me at all, shutting her eyes. “I’m just resting, okay? I’mnotsleeping.”
She sleeps and I hold her, memorizing the sound of her subtle snores, for too long. She’s curled against me, like a contented cat, relaxed without a worry in the world, and I want to make her feel like this always, if only she’d let me.
I finally fish my phone out of my pocket, checking to see if Sloane’s still at her art show around the corner.
I need a favor.
Sloane
duh I owe you for like eternity roomie
Thank you
I need you to take Gen home.
Sloane
Okay…can I ask questions?
Just come over to 60 State Street and meet me in the cleaning supply closet at the end of the lobby.
Sloane
Because that’s not suspicious at allllll
I huff an impatient breath, knowing I won’t hear the end of this when I get home later.
Sloane
On my way weirdo
Not ten minutes later, the door creaks open, light filtering in for a brief moment before Sloane closes it behind herself.
“Well isn’t this just the most wholesomelittle moment,” she whisper-squeaks, her shoulders pinching up in excitement.
