One More Weekend (Sapphics in the City #5)

23. Sy

23

SY

Straightening the collar of the emerald green, knit button-up, I cleared my throat.

Just about two weeks after our near-kiss, I was still struggling to keep any space between Jenna and me. Of course I wanted her, all I wanted was to feel her lips on mine. Deep down, I knew I’d craved it from the moment I’d laid eyes on her.

But she was leaving, something she’d made abundantly more clear by the day. At this point, she was starting to make plans with moving companies and her parents.

As I checked my hair in the mirror and brushed off the black trousers, I couldn’t help but worry the almost kiss, or my rejection of it, had been part of her motivation to get the fuck out of here.

I took a deep breath. She’s not petty like that. This is about work.

Tapping my phone screen, I realized it was time to go. Normally, I struggled with punctuality but this was not a date I wanted us to be late for.

So I threw open my bedroom door and smiled. “Ready?”

As I stepped out, Jenna stood from the couch. Her velvet dress cascaded down her body as she rose, drawing my eyes down her outfit.

In loose curls, her light brown hair fell down her back and left her collarbone exposed in the A-line cut. My breathing grew rapid as I looked down from her chest to her breasts to her waist, hips, and finally her legs.

“Wow. Jen.”

Tucking a hair behind her ear, Jen shrugged. “You said fancy.” Her cheeks flushed from my compliment, sending my mind spiraling.

Clearly, she didn’t hate my attention. She was sober as cold winter air, eliminating that explanation from my list.

Then she saw my outfit. “Jesus. You look…”

“Are you sure? I worry it’s too casual.” I bite the inside of my cheek, hoping to hide my own flushing face.

Moving closer, Jenna nodded. “Definitely. The shirt is hot and makes you look really tall and broad and the trousers are perfect.”

The conversation itself wasn’t anything different than we would have said months or years ago. But I felt like every word meant something new.

Walking to the front door, I slipped on my black, leather loafers and shoved my keys and wallet into my pocket. Jenna’s matching velvet heels clicked against the wood.

On my knee, I looked up at her. My throat tightened as she towered over me.

How the fuck am I supposed to make it all night?

Shaking it off, I rose to my feet. I was still just an inch or two taller than Jenna – even in her four-inch Jimmy Choos.

I pulled open the door and let Jenna head out in front of me.

Once we were on the street, Jenna waited for me to tell her what direction we were headed. But instead, I stepped off the curb and held out my hand.

“What are you doing?” Jenna laughed at my gesture.

Feeling her eyes on my slender, veiny hands, I looked over my shoulder as a yellow cab slowed in front of me. “Getting us a cab.”

Scoffing, Jenna walked closer and smacked my shoulder. “These are way too expensive, we can just Uber.”

I shook my head, popping open the door and holding it for her. “Nope. This is the New York way for a New York date.”

Doing as she was told, Jenna hopped inside. Before she could try to slide over, I closed her door and ran around to the other side.

“I could’ve slid over.” Jenna rolled her eyes.

Winking, I chastised her, “Ladies don’t slide.” Then I turned my attention to the driver. “34th and 5th, please.”

The cabbie nodded and hit the gas. “You got it.”

And just like that, we were off.

Looking over at Jenna, I saw her mulling over the location. “That’s too far East to be Penn Station or Madison Square Garden.”

“Yep.” I smirked, waiting for her mind to catch up as the cab soared up Bowery and then Third Ave.

But then her mouth opened and I knew she’d made the connection. “Are you kidding?”

“Nope.”

Just as it connected for her, the cab slowed to a halt in front of the iconic Empire State Building, the art-deco skyscraper towering above us as Jenna’s head tilted back to look up at it.

We hopped out of the car after I paid the fare.

“This way.” I guided Jenna inside, grabbing her hand to make sure I didn’t lose her in the throng of commuters heading home after work. Hopefully, she wouldn’t notice that my palms were clammy.

I pushed the revolving door which opened into a massive lobby, gray marble stretching up from the ground to the ceiling. The floors, a speckled terrazzo, had a satisfying click under Jenna’s heels as we made our way back toward the bronze and aluminum desk at the far end of the building.

“Sy, this is insane.” Jenna lowered her voice.

Shaking my head, I smiled as I approached the doorman. “Hey, we have tickets for STATE and then to go up. I’m Geo’s friend.”

From over my shoulder, I watched Jenna’s eyebrow raise as the guard nodded his recognition. “Hell yeah, this way.” The guard left his coworker to man the desk which he guided us to a back entrance of the restaurant on the main floor.

Once we entered, a hostess guided us to a table under my reservation.

As we took our seats, the hostess smiled and looked between us. “Geo is one of our favorites here so please do not be shy about ordering anything you like.”

“Aw, thank you.” I nodded as she departed and left Jenna and me at our private table at the back of the restaurant. It was easy to forget what time it was back here, no sun to help you guess. Instead, soft orange lights hide behind columns of bronze.

Jenna covered her face with her hand as she laughed. “Sy, what the actual fuck? How are you doing all of this?”

Shrugging, I reached across the table. “I have connections in high places.”

When Jenna put her hand in mine, I gave it a light squeeze. My chest tightened at her touch, all of the magic of that first night flooding back as I looked over at her.

“No, this is way too expensive.” Jenna scoffed when she flipped open the menu.

“Seriously, trust me. Geo put us down as VIPs, we’re barely going to pay.” I tried to ease her mind. Of course I couldn’t be sure what the bill would look like, but when a woman like this gets dressed up like that , you buy her the world.

Or at least as close as you can get.

When the waiter arrived, I smiled up at him and placed our drink and appetizer orders. We settled on Crispy Calamari and a Burrata and Eggplant dish along with two Orangecello Cosmopolitans.

While we were waiting for our food, Jenna bit her lip. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to repay you for this. You’re doing all of this for me just to leave.”

Breathing out, I met her crystal blue eyes. “Jen, I don’t know how to tell you that this is the closest to repaying you I can get for being my rock for eight years. I’d never have had the courage to strike my own path without you. And if all I can do in return is show you this city in all of its hidden and touristy beauty, I’m honored to do it.”

I felt my heart racing in every inch of my body. Who knew how much longer she would let me get away with saying shit like that before she called me out?

But until she did, I was going to get as close to the truth as I could without spilling my guts on the floor of this bougie restaurant.