“Got a kid’s birthday party to go to,” says Rob. “And I think Denise wants to go look at new couches or something.”
“So big plans, in other words.”
“The biggest.”
“Well…have a good one,” I say, standing up and pushing in my desk chair.
“Thanks,” he says. “You too.”
And although he grins at me, and gives me a friendly slap on the shoulder as I walk past him, I still feel like he’s suspicious of my so-called personal day.
He knows something’s up.
I mean, the dude’s been my best friend for ages.
There’s no way he’sthisoblivious.
Somehow,Chloe looks even more beautiful when I see her again. I feel like the luckiest guy in the airport—actually, the world—when I walk off that plane and see her waiting for me.
“It’s so good to see you, Austin,” she says, hugging me tightly. I’m practically lifting her up off the ground.
“You don’t even know,” I murmur into the soft fabric of her shirt. People stream around us in the airport as we continue to hug. And when I angle my mouth to hers and kiss her, she presses herself even harder against me. A passerby hoots and Chloe laughs against my lips.
“I think we better stop,” she says, pulling away. “Or we’re going to give everyone a show.”
“Damn it,” I growl. “Fine.”
We go over to get the rental car I reserved and then start driving away from the airport. Part of me wants to drive straight to her apartment and carry her into her bedroom and show her how much I’ve missed her. But as we’re driving, I hear the grumble of Chloe’s stomach and am reminded of my own hunger, too.
“Where’s your favorite place to eat?” I ask.
She barely has to consider the question. “There’s this Japanese place I love that’s not too far from my apartment. We could go there. They have fantastic sushi.”
“Sushi it is,” I say.
Twenty minutes later, I’m holding the door open for Chloe and we’re stepping inside the restaurant. It’s cozy and small, and we’re greeted by a friendly woman ferrying a pot of tea to a table.
“Sit anywhere you like!” she sings out.
Chloe and I scoot into a booth in the corner and pore over the menu, deciding to split a bunch of different kinds of sushi and other little plates.
“I feel like I should give you a warning,” says Chloe. “I can pack away a lot of sushi.”
“I like a girl with an appetite,” I say, nudging her foot.
“You do, huh?” She smiles. “Even one that eats you under the table?”
Our banter is interrupted by the woman from before coming over with tea.
“Complimentary,” she says, setting it down, shooting us both a smile. “Such a cute couple.”
“Thank you,” says Chloe, her face brightening. She picks up her menu. “I think we’re ready to order.”
Over our meal, we talk more about the photography project Chloe’s working on for school. I talk about work a little, but not too much—because talking about work inevitably brings Rob to mind…and how I lied to his face by not telling him that I was coming to see his sister. Anyway, I’d much rather just sit here and listen to Chloe.
Chloe eyes the last piece of sushi on one of our plates—a perfect piece sitting there alone.
“I already ate my fair share,” says Chloe, nudging the plate in my direction.
