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“Iwant to take you on abike ride and apicnic tomorrow early morning, before work.” Iforced asmile, hoping it would convince her. “What do you say, the three of us?”
She shook her head, rubbing the spot in the middle of her eyebrows. “I’mjust going to accept that you’re random.”
Itilted my head, my smile feeling more genuine when she curved her lips up.
“Okay, we’ll leave for the BlueBikes station from here at 7:30 AM. We both love avocado sandwiches for breakfast.”
Relief washed over me, and Iblew out along breath. “Thank you. Iswear Iwon’tlet you down again.”
“Cool.” She brushed her hair behind her ear and reached for the door.
As if pushed by an unknown source, Ilunged forward, cupped her delicate cheeks, and kissed her. The slow, smooth pace of our lips matched the light touch of our tongues. Nothing about this would have led to sex, and nothing about it seemed all too friendly either.
And yet Iheld her there, not recoiling. Ished myself of the anxiety that drove me to make the wrong decision yesterday. Isavored the feel of her soft skin and inhaled the sweet perfume that surrounded her.
After afew intoxicating moments, she placed her hands on my chest, pushing me gently.
Igroaned, releasing her.
“Good night, Zach.” She reached for the door again, this time disappearing behind it.
The morning after, I’dbeen up even before the crack of dawn, restless as the day that preceded it. Imade myself coffee, got dressed in along pair of black sweats and amatching T-shirt, and strolled to atwenty-four-hour café to get exactly what Laura instructed. And coffee. Who didn’tneed coffee?
My heart roared in my chest when Laura left the building wearing asports bra and tight yoga pants. “Good morning,” Isaid, choking on the phrase.
“Morning.” Last night’sanger had dissipated and Laura beamed at me, switching places with avery grumpy Olivia. The shorter sister stomped down the stairs, hugging her arms to her body.
“It’snot good and sure as shit not morning,” Olivia grunted, her arms crossed over her midsection.
Laura and Iexchanged glances and Ihad to avert mine to the pavement to stifle alaugh.
Laura, as her sister, spoke what was on her mind, “First, language. Second, think of it as part of your training, all those early morning flights.”
Olivia groaned loudly, “You’re taking this whole bootcamp thing to another level. I’mpretty sure this is one of thoseWe’ll cross the bridge when we get therecases.”
Laura snickered and pulled her sister’sponytail. “You’ll survive.”
During our walk to the bike station, Iwatched the houses we passed by. The blinds on most of the windows were still shut, and apart of me envied the people who could sleep in. Since my college days, I’dbeen grinding with either papers, exams, or eventually work every single day of the week. Ibuilt my future through the hours of hard work, and Iwouldn’thave had it otherwise.
Because it earned me days like today.
We headed toward the river where Ihad my lunch breaks, taking the public route on the dock overlooking the water. The trees provided shade from the strong sun, and the river’sbreeze, albeit weak, was refreshing.
“Jeez,” Olivia sighed as she sat down on the blanket Ibrought for us. “Is this an old person’ssick idea of fun?”
Unable to suppress my laughter any longer, Ilet it out, joined by Laura. Her laughter lit up her entire face, her eyes, her bright red cheeks.
“You guys are so weird.” Olivia took abite from her food. “If this is what adulting looks like, I’drather stay in high school.”
“To be young and delusional,” Laura said, finding it even funnier than me laughing at her sister’smisery. She braced her stomach and rolled to her side, cracking up. Ilooked at her and smiled. She looked free.
Even when her laughter died out, the wide grin remained on her face. Somewhere along her tumbling to the ground, astrand of hair freed itself from her ponytail and glued itself to her cheek. Itucked it behind her ear, reveling in the touch of her soft, damp-with-sweat skin.
She sucked in air, her smile wavering as our eyes found each other. Suddenly the whole world blurred apart from Laura. Every freckle, every tint of blue and green in her eyes, the fullness of her lips, they were sharpened, sculpted, accentuated.
Beautiful.
“Ahem,” Olivia cleared her throat. “Thought we were supposed to eat, not to—”
