“Fuck no,” I scoff, tossing the phone to the other side of the couch. “That moment needed to be documented for posterity.”
“Fine,” he mutters. “Just don’t show anyone.”
“If I can’t show anyone, how am I going to wear the T-shirts I’m getting made with that picture silk-screened on them?”
“You’re joking.”
I smile sweetly at him. “Am I? Or will that be what I’m wearing next time you see me? I’ll leave you to ponder that because I really do have to get home to change if I want to properly caffeinate and get to work on time.”
“I’ll caffeinate you and walk you home.”
Pushing up to stand from the couch, I shake my head. “You don’t have to do that. My coffee cart guy will miss me if I don’t show up on my way to work, and I just live like five blocks away.”
Jordan stands with me. “Well, he’ll just have to miss you, Jo Jo, or you can pay him a visit for your second cup of the day. And I’m walking you home. No arguments. It’s five blocks and an avenue, and the West End to Amsterdam walk is a long one.”
I roll my eyes. “How very chivalrous of you. Are you making me coffee and everything?”
“You bet. I’ll make you the very best coffee you’ve ever had.”
And he does. Half an hour later, we’re strolling the Upper West Side, as it wakes up to a warm summer morning. Much to Jordan’s amusement, I’m still wearing my donut pajamas with my pink Converse, and much to mine, we’re both walking with open ceramic coffee mugs since Jordan didn’t have to-go cups.
“Explain this to me like I’m five years old. How can someone who requires as much caffeine as you not have to-go cups for coffee? How do you take your caffeine with you?”
He shrugs, pulling my rolling suitcase with one hand while he takes a sip of his coffee with the other. “I always drink my first cup of coffee at home and get my second on the way to work.”
“You’re telling me in two years you’ve never once needed to take coffee with you when you leave your apartment?”
“That’s what I’m telling you.”
“Super weird.” I shrug and take a sip of my own coffee. “It’s kind of deliciously dangerous, walking down the street and freely drinking from an open mug. Free mugging, if you will. We could start a whole new movement. No one would ever need to-go cups again.”
Jordan snorts out a laugh, and it’s the freest sound of delight I’ve ever heard from him. “Put that on a T-shirt instead of my horrified face.”
I turn to him as we come to a stop outside my brownstone, and I dig around in my tote for my keys. “You know, J, I just might.” I open the door, and we climb the four flights of stairs to my apartment. When we get to my door I turn to Jordan. “I’m not done with my coffee, so I’m keeping this mug. I’ll give it back to you next time I see you, but this is the best coffee I’ve ever had, and I want to finish it.”
“Deal.” He drops his hand from the handle of my suitcase and hesitates like he’s trying to decide how to say goodbye. After what looks like a brief argument with himself, he steps forward and wraps his free arm around me. I wrap mine around my waist, feeling his warm body under my hand and smiling into his chest when I feel him press a kiss to the top of my head.
“Have a good day at work, Jo Jo.”
He steps back and I grin at him. “Save a lot of lives today, J, and don’t forget about Dippy’s scarf. He needs an outfit change.”
“I wouldn’t dare. And I don’t know if I’ll save a lot of lives, but I’ll definitely take out a bunch of appendixes.”
“Well then, do that well, and I’ll see you when you get off.”
“What’s next for the J’s Summer of Fun?”
I grin at his assumption that we’ll be hanging out when he’s done working. “How do you feel about roller coasters and funnel cakes?”
He furrows his brow in thought. “Amenable.”
“Good answer.” I turn and unlock the door to my apartment, pushing it open and rolling my suitcase inside.
“Wait, aren’t you going to tell me what we’re doing?”
I turn and smother a laugh at the disgruntled expression on Jordan’s face. “I’m sure not. That would ruin the surprise. Have a good day, J. Thanks for the best movie night of all time.”
“Anytime, Hurricane.” The grin he flashes me before he turns and heads down the stairs hits me right in the chest and the clock starts in my head, counting down the minutes until I get to see his face again.
