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“That’s good to hear,” I reply, giving Sophie a wink.
She laughs inaudibly, then turns her attention toward Don who is deep in tour guide mode telling us about the history of the building and the architecture. I’ve already heard it, many times, so I opt for watching Sophie listen to him. What I see is pure joy.
When we get to the seventieth floor, Don escorts us out to the open-air deck. Still holding my hand, Sophie tugs me forward, but I indicate for her to go ahead while I hang back with Don for a minute.
CHAPTER12
Sophie
The sun is so bright, I have to shield my eyes as I look out on New York City. The Empire State Building stands directly in front of me, but more than the iconic building, I notice the smaller ones. Apartment buildings with hundreds of windows. I’m still overwhelmed by the number of people that live here. That I’m one of them now.
The Statue of Liberty looks tiny, anchored miles away in the Hudson.
I move around to the other side, taking in the views of Central Park, where minutes ago Hunter and I were running. He finds me there.
He’s got a sweatshirt and baseball hat in his hands, both adorned with Top of the Rock logos, clearly from the gift shop inside.
“For you.” He holds the sweatshirt’s head opening for me to push through. Once I’ve gotten my arms in, he lifts my ponytail to feed it through the back of the cap, then adjusts it onto my head. “Better?”
“Thank you.” I smile.
“It’s part of the package.”
I laugh.
For a moment, my insides feel all squishy with his sweet gesture.
But then I remind myself who Hunter is. This is easy for him. It’s clear from his apartment, his company, and his family, Hunter has expendable income. And connections. He could do this for any woman he was seeing. Or secretly having sex with. For all I know, he might have a standing private tour set up on Sunday mornings. The Hunter Cartwright special tour. I’m sure Don has seen a parade of women come through with Hunter.
I try not to let that thought ruin my experience. I’m the one reaping the benefit from it today and I want to enjoy it.
“Is it everything you hoped it would be?” he asks.
“It’s amazing. I imagine when it’s filled with people, it’s a different experience. You didn’t have to do this.”
Hunter shrugs. “I wanted to.”
“I feel bad now because I was so grumpy with you earlier and you had this planned the whole time.”
“That’s okay. I think we both know what that was.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “What?”
“Jealousy.” His voice is like gravel next to my ear. “Were you jealous, Sophie?”
I want to keep my laugh light, but it comes out flat, defensive even.
“No. I just don’t want to be taken advantage of. Just because I’m younger, doesn’t mean I’m naïve.”
“Does it bother you that I’m older?” he asks.
“Not really. For what we’re doing, it doesn’t matter. Does it bother you?”
“It was a reason I told myself to stay away from you. That we’re in different places in our lives. But you’re right, for what we’re doing, it doesn’t bother me.”
I nod and look back out at the view.
“The park is gorgeous. So green. I’m used to the desert, everything being beige and sandstone.”
