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I kissed her then and we made out like horny teenagers the entire ride back to the hotel, not caring that the driver was probably watching us in the rearview mirror.

“This was the perfect day,” I told Jenny later that night as we cuddled in bed, arms and legs tangled and bodies slick with sweat from a particularly vigorous round of lovemaking.

Somehow every time we had sex it was better than the time before. I might not be the most experienced person, but I knew enough to know that didn’t always happen. It was like Jenny and I were totally in sync.

“It was a good day,” Jenny responded sleepily. “We’ve had several good days actually.”

“We travel together well,” I agreed. “We’ll have to do it again. Maybe next time I’ll have my license, and I can help with the driving.”

Jenny stilled, and I had the idea that she was holding her breath. “Next time?”

I turned my head, trying to see her expression in the dark.

“I know we agreed that this was just a vacation thing, but the truth is, it feels like more than that to me?” I ended with a questioning note, not sure if I was crazy.

Jenny paused so long I thought she wasn’t going to respond. Finally she said, “I know, baby. I feel it too. But when we’re back in the real world, we won’t fit together. Our lives are very different.”

“Well I’m changing my life now,” I reminded her. “We can make this work if we both decide to try.”

She rubbed my arm as she responded, “Let’s play things by ear, okay? Let’s not make any promises to each other that we’re not sure we can keep.”

I said, “Okay,” but that didn’t mean I agreed with her. I was finally taking control of my own life and embracing the things I loved. I loved Jenny, and while I knew it was too soon to tell her, it didn’t make it any less true.

Jenny

“Ican’t believe they have all this here,” I said, staring in wonder at Monet’s Water Lilies series in the gallery. “It’s so beautiful.”

“It really is.”

My stomach growled, and when I checked my watch I realized that we’d been here at the Art Institute for almost five hours now. The bagels and schmear we’d had at a coffee shop this morning had burned off hours ago.

“Are you hungry?” I asked.

“Always,” Blair joked.

“Why don’t we catch a taxi up to Navy Pier? We can have lunch there and then ride the Ferris wheel.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to spend more time here?” she asked. “I’ve never seen you look so enthralled before.”

Because you haven’t seen the way I look at you when you’re asleep, I answered silently.

“No, I think I’m ready for a break. I’d love to come back here some time though.”

“You and me both.”

Navy Pier was one of Chicago’s most visited attractions. The former military site had been transformed in the mid-1990s into a cultural site with shops, restaurants, rides, and exhibits. The taxi let us off near the entrance and we linked hands, checking out the dining options.

“This place has deep dish pizza,” Blair said. “We should have lunch here. Everyone always says if you go to Chicago you have to get deep dish pizza.”

It was long enough past the lunch hour that we were seated right away. After learning that it would take about forty-five minutes for them to cook our pizza, we ordered a plate of calamari and a salad to share while we waited. Under the table we played footsie and whenever there was a lull in the conversation we quietly stared at each other like lovesick fools.

I would have been revolted if it wasn’t me.

Last night Blair said she wanted us to see each other back in Seattle. To try to have a relationship. Her words had made me both excited and terrified. I wanted the same thing as she did, but Blair was incredibly naïve if she thought it was going to be simple.

I frowned as I remembered I hadn’t heard back from Pops.

“What’s the matter?” Blair asked.