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My legs weren’t quite working, even though I wanted to throw myself at them.
Ben reached me first, flashing a dazzling smile. “You started this party without us, Elevator Girl?”
Tino pushed me off his lap, and I landed in Ben’s arms. He swept me into a tight hug, lifting me off the ground.
“Hey, Benny. Can’t believe you’re here.”
He set me down gently and brushed his knuckles against my cheek. “Wouldn’t have missed it.”
Off to his side, my eyes locked with Jude’s. He stood back, hands in the pockets of his wool military jacket. Heat suffused my cheeks, and I was transported to the elevator once again. We’d spent the last six weeks emailing and talking, but I was shy and unsure all over again. It seemed he was the same way.
I took a step toward him at the same time he took a step toward me.
“Hey, Jude.”
He took his hands from his pockets and hooked a finger in the belt loop of my jeans, pulling me a step closer. “Hey, Stripes.”
“I thought you weren’t coming,” I whispered.
“There was not one single, solitary chance I’d miss my shot to be with you.”
I leaned into him, my palms on his chest. “I don’t feel barf-y.”
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “That’s good. Does that mean I can kiss you?”
Instead of answering with words, I slid my hands up to the back of his neck and pulled his face down to mine, crashing into him. Jude’s arms wrapped around me, crushing my body to his and crushing his lips to mine. We were standing in the middle of a sushi restaurant and should have pulled away, but when his tongue swept into my mouth, time and place ceased to exist. The rush of feeling that hit me wasn’t something I’d prepared for or planned on.
This was right.
This was whatI’dbeen waiting for.
Tino smacking my ass was the only thing that broke us apart. “Get a damn room.”
I smiled into Jude’s mouth. “We should probably sit down.”
He smiled back and dipped in for another kiss. “You’re not sitting in his lap anymore.”
“Obviously.” I wove my fingers with his and pulled him to the empty bench on the other side of the table. We sat pressed tight against each other, thigh to thigh, hip to hip. Every set of eyes landed on us the second we sat down. Except Heather. She only had eyes for Nina, which made me like her more.
I waved. “Hi.”
Tino shook his head and poured himself some more sake. Ben’s brow furrowed before it smoothed out, replaced with his easy, affable smile. Laura had her chin resting on her hand, bottom lip between her teeth, as she scanned us both. Nina wore a big, goofy grin on her face. I may have shown her some of Jude’s less personal emails, so she was well aware of how into him I was.
“Looks like you’re going to have a happy birthday,” Laura said with an edge to her voice. Her eyes flicked to Jude’s before she returned her attention to me.
“Uh, yeah. I’m having a great birthday.”
“And there’s one more surprise, so buckle up, birthday girl,” Nina said.
“I’m not sure I can handle anymore.” I patted my chest. “My heart must have irreparable damage from the last few minutes.”
“You’ll take it, and you’ll like it,” Nina said.
Platters of sushi were brought to the table. Everyone picked up their chopsticks, choosing pieces, and I sat back and watched. Aside from Nina, I hadn’t known any of these people existed until a few months ago. And now they’d all come up to Philadelphia to celebrate my exit from my teen years. It was...unexpected. Overwhelming.
Jude bumped my shoulder. “Not hungry?”
I turned to him. Our faces were so close, I could smell the saké on his breath. I liked being that close to him.
