He reaches over and covers my hand with his. “Shana Price, I remember every second we’ve been together.”
Warmth fills my cheeks. “I can’t say the same.”
His laugh is deep, rumbling through the air from him to me. Soon, I’m laughing too.
“That’s what makes it special.”
“I mean, I know what happened,” I explain, “because you told me. And well, the holes in the memories from that first night aren’t as large as they were the morning I woke.”
He releases my hand as the waitress returns with a large glass bowl of frozen hot chocolate overflowing with whipped cream and complete with two straws.
“It’s huge!”
Trevor looks at me and grins. “It’s taking everything within me not to say what I’m thinking.”
I waggle my eyebrows. “Oh, come on. That’s what she said.”
“I only care about one she. Hopefully, one day I’ll learn what she says.”
“Shall we?” I point toward the frozen hot chocolate.
“I’m ready whenever you are.”
As I move forward, pursing my lips over the straw, I wonder how long we could take this conversation before we were too inappropriate for some of the young patrons sitting nearby.
“It’s thicker than I thought,” he says after a few drinks. “You really have to suck.”
I can’t take it anymore as I grab my napkin and hope I won’t spit frozen hot chocolate through my nose as I laugh. It’s contagious and soon we’re both sucking and laughing and dropping terrible double innuendos. Somehow, we manage to finish our hot chocolate and each eat some lunch.
Once we’re finished and extremely full, Trevor asks, “I’m hoping I can occupy more of your afternoon?”
I was hoping the same thing. That’s why I told Stephen not to wait up for me. Before I can answer, Trevor goes on.
“It’s a nice day out there. Have you had much of a chance, with the fashion show and all, to see the city?”
“I’ve had no time.”
His head tilts a bit. “Well, my lady, do you have time now?”
“I’m free until work tomorrow...Wait, I don’t mean...”
Trevor reaches for my hand and lifts it to his lips. “Then let’s go see the city.”
Chapter Fifteen
Shana
The sun has risen higher in the blue sky. Once we’re past the growing waiting crowd, Trevor starts to head west, and I hope I know where he’s taking me. “Are we going to the park?”
“Unless you want to stop at Bloomingdale’s?”
“Only if we can both try to buy the same gloves.”
“You don’t need gloves.” He retakes my hand. “I’ll keep your hand warm.”
Even though that wasn’t what I meant and he totally missed the movie reference, I like his alternative.
The city is alive with people hurrying from here to there. On corners, the music of street performers fills the air, temporarily masking the sounds of traffic. It’s New York City and I’m finally glad to be here.
“You know,” I say as we near the park, “it’s nice not to worry about the fashion show any longer. It’s done. Now only time will tell.”
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw you up there.”
I shake my head. “What are the chances you’d be there?”
“Probably about the same as being in that bar the night before the wedding.”
“Serendipity.”
Trevor nods.
“You know,” I say, “if you would have called me recently, you’d have known I was going to be here in New York.” I’m not sure what made me say that, but the words are out and I can’t take them back.
Trevor leads us to a bench near the entrance of Central Park. Once we sit, he says, “Phones are funny things. Mine rings too.”
“Oh, I deserve that.”
“Can I be honest with you?”
“I’d prefer you never be dishonest with me.”
He squeezes my hand. “You scare the shit out of me.”
“Me?”
“You, Shana Price. I told you something about me the night we met. Do you remember?”
“I do, but I’m not sure that was truthful.”
“I promise it was.”
“You said you are awkward around women?”
“That’s it.”
“Do you remember what you did after you told me that?” I ask, hoping he does.
Trevor doesn’t answer; instead, he leans toward me until our lips touch.
On a warm afternoon with people milling about, the world disappears. It’s not the fervent explosion of last night.
It’s more.
It’s sunshine and freshly cut grass, bicyclists and horse-drawn carriages. It’s a walk in the park and sharing a giant frozen hot chocolate. It is the careful tending of a fire, the diligent care that is needed to keep the flames burning, their intensity growing with each moment we’re together.
When our kiss ends, we both stare into one another’s eyes. Finally, it’s Trevor who speaks.
“That was what I did. Now, do you remember what happened next?”
I take a deep breath and close my eyes. “Can we please forget that part?”
“Nope. Never. When it comes to you, I don’t want to ever forget a second. And I want to keep learning. Tell me something about you that I don’t know.”
“I love New York pizza.”
He shakes his head. “No way. Cop-out answer. Everyone loves New York pizza. It’s the best in the whole world. Tell me something else.”
“Well, I have family in Illinois who would wholeheartedly disagree. Chicago has pretty good pizza, too.”
“That age-old debate was obviously settled from your first answer. Chicago’s pizza is deep-dish. Real pizza comes from New York.”
I grin as I take a second and decide to tell him something that even I’m unsure about, something I don’t want to admit. “I’m afraid that I messed up my chances to get the job in ladies’ lingerie. I don’t regret what I did, going onstage. The show had to go on. But now I am afraid.”
“What’s the worst thing that can happen if you don’t get it?”
I swallow, thinking about his question. It’s a good question. I like that his response isn’t false reassurance. Instead, he’s making me think about the possibilities. “I guess the worst thing is that I don’t get to move back here...and we will be apart again.” I don’t say the last part.
“Don’t you like London?”
“I do. I really do. I think I’m a little lonely.”
“How can you be lonely with Stephen? He seems like when he’s not upset, he could be a lot of fun.”
I scoff. “He’s even fun when he’s upset.”
“Is he helpful?”
“Yes. He’s the best at...well, most everything.”
“I was wondering if he could help me with something.”
“Stephen? My Stephen? What do you need help with?”
“I was wondering if he could help decipher a text message I received last night.”