Page 12 of About That Rule

CHAPTER5

LAGUARDIA AIRPORT WASbustling, so it was easy for Nate to people watch while he waited for Samantha’s flight to land. The tourists were the easiest people to spot. Most clutched tightly on to maps and were looking around like someone was going to mug them at any minute. The locals abruptly pushed past the people slowing them down in pure New York fashion.

“Nate!” Samantha hollered in his direction as she walked toward him. She only had a carry on with her, a pink cotton duffle bag with white and yellow flowers all over it. It was something he loved about her. She was low-key and didn’t pack more clothes than the minimal she needed but had some flare with the giant dandelions on her bag.

He grabbed the bag from her and threw it over his shoulder. She yanked his arm and dragged him over to the wall so they weren’t in foot traffic.

“Do you plan on spending all weekend in the airport?” he teased while she pulled out her phone to take a selfie. If somebody else were people watching, Samantha would have immediately been tagged as an out of towner because she was taking pictures in the airport.

She looped her arm around his neck and pulled him closer so they were cheek to cheek. “I’m capturing our marriage, duh. Pretend to be happy like we’re trying to work on things.”

Click, click, click.She took a handful of pictures before putting her phone away.

“Okay, grumpy pants. Let’s head to your apartment.”

He mumbled he wasn’t grumpy, but she was either ignoring him or didn’t hear him between her constant chatter of everything she wanted to do over the weekend.

They got into a cab and headed to Manhattan when she nudged him. “What happened to my fun partner in crime? And if you say lack of sex, I will punch you in the balls.”

“Ouch.” The taxi driver shuddered when he heard her threat.

She pointed to the driver. “Exactly. I get the past two weeks haven’t been your normal MO, but can you pull an Elsa and let it go for the weekend?”

“Did you just reference Disney in the same sentence as my sex life?”

The taxi driver laughed. “Impressive.”

When it came to Samantha, nothing surprised him. She was a walking ball of energy and smiles. It was hard to be in a shitty mood around her because her cheerfulness was contagious.

“Sure did. Come on, for my sake, can you not be all moody?” She swept her dark brown hair over her shoulder. “Puh-lease.”

He crossed his arms and sternly responded, “Fine, but we’re only going to one tourist trap this weekend.”

She agreed all too quickly. They arrived at his apartment, and she jetted out of the taxi, hopping up the steps of the building while Nate paid their fare.

“Don’t let that one get away,” the driver told him with a head tilt to Samantha.

Nate finally laughed, more so at the situation. “Trust me, I couldn’t let go of her if I tried.”

He went into his building to find his wife. By the elevator, Nate saw Samantha gabbing with one of his neighbors who lived on the same floor as him, Brenda, a woman in her forties who was married with two children. Whatever Samantha was telling her made her laugh.

Samantha caught Nate watching them, so she waved goodbye to the woman and walked over to him.

“If you’re making me take the stairs, I get two tourist attractions.” Samantha sounded serious as she lifted her nose in the air.

He guided her back to the elevator. “I won’t risk it. What were you and Brenda talking about?”

“I was letting her know we were having a party tomorrow. She’s bummed she can’t make it. Her husband is traveling and she promised the kids a movie marathon.”

He shook his head. Not even ten minutes in his building and she was already making friends.

“Smart move telling her about the party so she won’t get pissed if we’re too loud.” Nate pushed the number fifteen button to get to his floor.

Once they were inside, Nate stopped suddenly, not knowing where to put her bag. He had a two-bedroom apartment, but he used his guest room as an office. It was more affordable to set-up something at home than to rent office space. His crew met him at the houses they remodeled, so he never saw reason to spend the money for space in a building for an office.

Now, though, another place to sleep wasn’t an option. It wasn’t like they hadn’t shared a bed before, but in the past, it was always as friends. Would being married be any different?

“What?” Samantha put her hands on her hips and stared at him. “What are you thinking?”