“Our first official date?” I yelled after him before he could get to the stairs.
“Yes,” he yelled back, his voice angry. A shiver worked through my body.
“Where are we going? Can I ask?”
“No.”
“Where are you going? Can I at least ask that?” I was lucky he wasn’t looking back because my face was sporting the most ridiculous smile in the world.
“Out,” he snapped, making his way downstairs.
“Out? Where are you going? What about our date?”
He paused on the last step and finally looked at me. I was hanging from the rail, still in my underwear, face flushed and happy.
His gaze was piercing. “I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
“But why are you leaving?”
“Because you’re pushing me.”
My mouth dropped open.
“I’m pushing you?” I took a step down the stairs. “I didn’t say a thing.”
“Don’t come down here, Rose.”
I paused.
“I’m pushing you?” I started again. “How about you coming into my room and staring at me like that?”
“How did I—never mind. I’m waiting for you downstairs. I don’t trust you.”
I started laughing in earnest, so happy, happy, happy. I caught his lip twitch.
“Take as much time as you need. I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
“Okay. Promise I won’t be long. You can keep Steve company.”
“Yes. How did I not think of that? I’ll just go do that.”
When I couldn’t see him anymore, I shouted after him from my perch on the stairs. “What should I wear? What kind of date is it?”
“It’s a date—what else do you need to know? And I don’t care what you wear as long as you cover yourself up, neck to toe.”
I did exactly that. I wore a black dress that wasn’t too flashy. Short sleeves, open V neck, a relaxed fabric that gently hugged both my boobs and my hips and ended four or five inches above my knees. I roughly dried my thick hair and straightened my bangs because I wasn’t interested in getting a cold from walking out the door with wet hair on a snowy New York night. I did my makeup, focusing heavily on the eyes. I wore my thick black coat and wrapped my scarf around my neck, also donning my black leather gloves. Grabbing my cream ribbed beret from the top shelf of my closet, I put it on my head and walked out of the apartment in a hurry. I couldn’t exactly run yet because of my brain and nose thing, but I came close to it.
My heart jumping in my chest and my tummy filled with those excited butterflies, I felt like I was going out on my first ever date with a boy I’d had a crush on for years. It was a strange feeling being so excited about a simple date, but this was Jack Hawthorne, my pretend husband who knew how to kiss me exactly the right way. How could I not have been excited?
When the elevator doors opened, I forced myself to take smaller steps just in case Jack was waiting for me in the lobby. He wasn’t. I stopped in front of Steve.
“How do I look?”
He smiled at me and I beamed back at him. “As beautiful as ever.”
“Maybe I should tone down the happy a little?”
He let out a roar of laughter. “Don’t ever tone down the happy, Rose. It suits you well.”
I melted a little at his words. “You’re the best, Steve.”
He inclined his head. “So? What’s the special occasion?”
“My husband is taking me out for a date,” I said proudly.
“Lucky lady. That’s as special as it gets.”
“Oh, you have no idea.”
“Mr. Hawthorne said he’ll be waiting for you outside.”
“Okay.” I ran my gloved hands down my coat now that there was some unexpected nervousness trickling in. “Thank you, Steve. I’ll see you later?”
“I’ll be right here. Have fun.”
Saying a quick goodbye to the kind doorman who had become my friend, I walked out onto the street. It had started snowing again, adding to the snow- and slush-covered sidewalks. I looked up at the skies and closed my eyes, little snowflakes melting on my face, tickling me. I smiled. I felt so giddy and free. I looked around to find Jack and he was right there, on the left side of the building. He leaned against his car, right next to Raymond, studying me.
My heart soared at the sight of him, as it always did lately, and I truly felt like I hadn’t ever felt any happier in my life. I couldn’t help myself—I ran to his side just as he became alert and