“Wow,” I breathe. “New bucket list item unlocked.”
“I’ll remember that,” he says, winking as he wraps his ankle around mine under the table.
After dinner, we stroll through the city, weaving back and forth through the main thoroughfares and quaint back streets until we end up on the Riverwalk.
The sun sets on the horizon, peeking through the slots of towering skyscrapers as the Navy Pier ferris wheel rotates slowly in the distance. I know this night will end soon because Connor goes back to work tomorrow. It’ll be like every other night for the past several days when we get back to his apartment, full of kisses and…other things. Yet, he still manages to surprise me. Mid-stride, he pulls us to a stop and gently nudges my back against the railing. The sound of the river drifts beneath us as he takes my face in his hands and kisses me into oblivion.
“I’m sorry it took me so long.” His lips glisten from our kiss, thumbs stroking my cheekbones.
“What do you mean?”
“Tonight. Tonight should have happened three years ago.” He kisses me. “I’m sorry.”
“Do me a favor.” I clasp my hands behind his back.
“Anything.”
“Stop apologizing.”
On our way back to his place, we stop for ice cream, which I enhance by adding the peanut butter M&Ms I had stashed in my purse, despite his huffs of disapproval.
He said earlier that M&Ms were the way to my heart, and he wasn’t wrong. But there’s another way and I’m not sure he realizes it entirely yet.
Him.
Chapter Forty-Three
I GUESS WE’RE SUPPOSED TO EAT FAJITAS NOW
Connor
The office isa ghost town for the first two hours, but it’s exactly what I needed to get caught up after four days out of the office. Now that my colleagues have begun to file in, the sound of ringing phones, friendly chatter and fingers pecking at keyboards creates a dull murmur outside my office door. I’m still sifting through my inbox when my boss’ assistant informs me that Mr. Driskill wants to meet with me this afternoon.
The last time we spoke was nearly a week ago. He was open-minded to my attempts to smooth over any tension surrounding my breakup with his daughter. However, though he’s a fair CEO, he’s also a family man. No matter how you slice it, I’m not his favorite person right now and this impromptu meeting that I have no context for has me feeling even more unsettled.
Thankfully, elbow deep in back-to-back phone calls and overdue team meetings, I’m quickly distracted.
I’ve just come up for air close to lunch time when my phone pings.
Gretchen
I’d like to clarify the terms of our thermostat agreement.
Me
Proceed.
Gretchen
I’m currently sitting at a delightfully cozy 72. You should try it sometime. It’s glorious.
Anyway…
Is the expectation for the apartment to be 70 degrees when you walk in the door, or can I crank it down when you get here?
Me
Hmmm…
