The street had turned dark, and flickers of lights surrounded them from the street signs above. Mason stood closer as her giggles subsided.
‘You are so beautiful,’ he said. ‘You deserve to see this city in style.’
Katy’s heart pounded as she felt his breath hit her face; she could feel her clit pulse between her legs as they stared at one another. Was he about to hail a taxi to start cruising them through New York?
Suddenly, Mason turned and let out a loud, high-pitched whistle, making Katy flinch and cover her ears. Just like magic, a young man cycling a rickshaw emerged out of the traffic and came zooming towards them.
‘After you, please.’ Mason gestured for Katy to step onto the tiny vehicle, which had bright, fluffy pink seats and a glittery roof.
‘You’re serious?’
‘Deadly!’ He held his hand out for her to step in.
Katy paused and grinned. ‘Where are we going?’ she asked.
‘Central Park, please, buddy. And you can take the scenic route,’ Mason instructed the driver, then sat back, pressed tightly against Katy.
‘Welcome to New York, Katy,’ he said and pressed his soft lips to hers. Their first kiss was just a slow peck, but Katy could feel the passion sizzle between them. The chemistry, the undeniable connection. Mason had captivated every bit of her mind, body and soul, and knowing she would only get to spend this one night with him made it all the more special.
The rickshaw took off, and the two jolted forward in fits of laughter as the driver wove in and out of traffic, scuffing by cars and trucks and the occasional bus, squeezing in between them all. Katy gazed out, mesmerised by the sights. She pointed and gasped as she spotted the Empire State Building glowing in the distance, while at every turn, a new dazzling sight came into view.
‘I love watching you take it all in,’ Mason said, his dark brown eyes observing every expression on her face.
‘I just can’t get over this. I mean, I’ve obviously seen New York in movies, but not like this. I love everything about it,’ Katy admitted. ‘Thank you,’ she added, squeezing his hands in excitement.
‘No, thankyou,’ Mason returned. ‘You’re the bright light I needed tonight.’
Katy tilted her head and they stared at one another, taking in every inch of the other’s face. She had just met him, yet there was a sense of comfort and trust between them she rarely felt. It was like she’d known him for years. Then suddenly a loud banging burst out of the rickshaw, as Estelle’s ‘American Boy’ began playing loudly for all of New York to hear. The driver turned, giving the widest grin, while Katy erupted into song, singing at the top of her lungs.
After twenty minutes and a cheesy tourist playlist, they finally reached Central Park. Mason paid the cyclist, and they hopped off. Adrenaline was pulsing through Katy; she was wide-eyed and relishing her night, no sign of jet lag yet. The park was quieter than the bustle of the city streets. A cluster of horse-drawn carriages were parked up on the road, their drivers calling them over to take a ride.
‘We’re better on foot,’ Mason explained as he gently guided Katy by the waist into the park. Small lanterns glowed magnificently, lighting the winding paths, and couples leaned close together on benches, whispering in the night. Ancient trees and dark ponds surrounded by quaint rowing boats sat proudly against the backdrop of skyscrapers and glass towers. Katy took it all in.
‘Oh my God! This is where they come inHome Alone 2!’ she screeched, spotting the exact bridge that the pigeon lady frequented.
Mason laughed hard. ‘It is! So many movies have been filmed here. I suppose I take it for granted. I like it best down here.’ Mason grabbed hold of Katy’s hand, steering her down a set of grand stairs.
At the bottom, he paused and turned to her.
‘I can’t believe I only get you for one night,’ he admitted.
Katy let out a puff of defeat. ‘Tell me about it. This is the best date I’ve ever had! We can keep in touch, though. I mean, Glasgow isn’t too far away.’ She rolled her eyes.
‘Will you be coming back to New York if your meeting goes well?’ he asked.
Katy shrugged. ‘Honestly, we have no idea. I have my own PR agency with my friends, and we were randomly invited out here because of an article the press back home wrote about us. We don’t have any details of what will happen next. It all depends on how tomorrow goes.’
Mason nodded. ‘You must be pretty good at your job for the press to do a piece on you.’
Katy blushed, not wanting to go into the details of how they’d created a website to facilitate women getting revenge on men, inspired by the fact that a man had dumped her while he was still inside her.
‘And .?.?. er .?.?. what about your work?’ she asked, keen to swerve the line of questioning.
‘Boring. Finance.’
She tilted her head, happy to hear more, but then suddenly realised they were standing under a grand arched underpass.
‘Wow,’ Katy whispered, hearing her own voice echo back. Beyond that, she could hear the ripple of distant water as she wandered through the ancient tunnel, her fingers tracing the walls in delight.
