One More Weekend (Sapphics in the City #5)

25. Sy

25

SY

I could’ve sat in that restaurant forever, asking Jenna all the ways in which we could do this, ways we could make it all work without losing our friendship in the process.

But the waiter set a check down next to me and there was no room for hesitation as Jenna’s hand darted across the table to pay the bill.

Grabbing the leather wallet, I slipped my card inside without checking the price. Geo had hooked me up with a good deal and I knew it wouldn’t be anything I couldn’t cover with another shift over the weekend.

“Bastard.” Jenna scowled at me as the check and my credit card were whisked away.

“No arguing.”

Once the card was back in my hand, a generous tip added to the bill, I stood from the table and offered Jen my hand. “We’ve got another stop to make. I didn’t take you here just to eat dinner on the first floor.”

With a shrug, Jenna gripped my hand and stood. “I would have been thrilled even if it was.”

She was sweet like that, always grateful for anything someone did for her – no matter how small. But she deserved all of it and I wasn’t about to miss my chance to do my share.

I watched her dress flow as she walked with me back to the lobby of the Empire State Building. It was easy to forget at the back of STATE that we were about to climb to the top of one of New York’s most iconic buildings.

Sure, it was a bit of a tourist trap if you paid full price. But if you spent the last decade making connections with all of the most important people in the city – the doormen, janitors, waiters, and cooks – you could unlock the true potential of even the most Yelpable locations.

When we approached the security desk again, the guard nodded to us, came out from behind the desk, and showed us to the bank of elevators. “You’re going to 102. There should be an usher up there to show you around if you want.”

He clicked the button for us, sliding open the Art Deco bronze doors of the elevator.

Holding the door for Jenna, I gestured for her to head in first. As she passed me, my eyes dropped to her ass, highlighted by the cut of her velvet dress and making my chest hurt. I’d known from the first moment I set eyes on her that she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.

And as we got inside the glass elevator, I still knew it was true.

I clicked 102 and let the doors close as I stood next to her. Taking off, the elevator rose faster than any I’d been in, even in the new luxury buildings with the same number of floors.

Behind us, the building broke from the dark building and opened instead to a view of the city beyond us.

“No wonder it’s glass.” Jenna gawked at the sight.

The sun was just falling in the sky, a warm orange glow casting over the city as we quickly flew to the top. The view of Manhattan from here was unbelievable, something I’d never seen myself.

As confusing as this was, Jenna had given me a great excuse to experience the city I’d grown up in a whole new light.

It wasn’t long before the elevator ding ed our arrival to the top floor.

As soon as we stepped out of the elevator, the usher smiled. “Welcome to the top deck. Please, take your time.”

I looked around, the place entirely empty. Having no idea how that was possible, I realized Geo probably told me when the quietest time to go was. It was starting to seem like all of the forces in my life wanted me to stop avoiding being alone with Jenna.

Jenna’s heels clicked against the black marble floors, a silvery, Art Deco design sprawled out across it. “Holy shit.”

Following behind her, I looked past her bare shoulders at the view. We’d made it just in time to see the sun set. On all sides, we were surrounded by glass and a panoramic view of the city. Downtown, the Freedom Tower glittered in the orangey-pink glow.

Turning on her stunning heels, Jenna looked uptown. Central Park stretched across the island, looking like a cozy forest at its heart as the sun scorched it.

“I’ve never seen it like this.” Jenna stepped up to the glass of the small observatory, as close as she could get.

From behind us, the usher lifted a finger. “Miss, you can step outside if you’d like.” They gestured to the door on Jenna’s right.

She smiled from ear to ear. “Wait, really?” It wasn’t until the option was unlocked that she realized there was a deck outside with coin-operated binoculars and a towering metal railing. Her gaze flicked over to me. “Can we?”

“Of course.” I laughed as I reached for the door, propping it open for Jen to pass me. As soon as we went outside a strong wind blew past us – a simple reminder of how high up we were.

The door closed behind us, leaving us in privacy as Jen went straight up to the edge. She gripped the metal railing in her hands and looked over the edge.

“Fuck, that’s high.”

My stomach churned at the thought. I’d been so excited to take her that I forgot I was a little afraid of heights. But I wasn't about to let Jenna look at this alone.

So I mustered all the courage in my body to force my tense legs forward.

Just walk to her.

As soon as the metal was within reach, I gripped it firmly. Closing my eyes, I forced a breath into my lungs as I tried to settle my heart rate.

Once I’d settled in, Jenna wrapped her arm around my waist and gripped the belt loop. In a low voice, she whispered. “I’ve got you.”

She does remember. I’d hoped she’d forget, but instead, I leaned back into her arm and tried to take comfort in her firm grasp.

“Look.” I pointed toward the horizon, drawing Jen’s eyes from my flushing face to the stunning sun descending behind the hills of the Hudson to the West.

It was a brighter sunset than I’d ever seen, lighting up the entire sky with each second.

Jenna sighed as she watched. Until she turned to look back at me, just a couple of inches below me. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I nodded, watching my chest heave with anticipation.

Breaking our eye contact, Jenna looked over the city. As the sun lowered, more and more lights flicked on in office buildings and apartments. All across the city, people were preparing for another night on earth.

And here I was, in Jenna’s arms on top of it all.

Unable to look back at me, Jenna swallowed hard. “Sy, about the other night.”

My entire body froze, unsure what to say. In all honesty, I had no idea what she would say. A part of me knew deep in my bones that she’d apologize and say it was for the best that we didn’t cross that line. She’d remind me that she was about to leave forever.

I knew what I wanted to say. I wanted to tell her the promise was stupid and I never should have made it; that I’d never wanted to make her uncomfortable but that she might be the only person on this planet who I felt like I could fall asleep next to ever again.

She turned to face me. “I don’t think it was a mistake.”

“What?” My forehead wrinkled as I looked into her eyes, and then to her lips, just inches from mine.

She let her hand move from my belt loop to my waist, resting her palm flat against the knit of my shirt, sending warmth straight to my skin even in the wind.

Releasing a deep breath, Jenna nodded. “I’ve wanted to kiss you from the first moment I saw you.”

My heart stopped beating when the words hit my ears. I’d been waiting to hear that since the second I said we should just be friends.

Looking into Jenna’s eyes, every fear I had about jumping in disappeared. Like she wasn’t about to leave, like I didn’t have to worry about preserving our friendship.

So I took the leap. I lifted my hands to her neck, letting my palm rest on the space just below her jaw, my thumbs cradling her chin. Moving forward, I pressed my lips into hers. Her body tensed as our mouths met.

Until she caught up, letting her grip on my waist tighten as she leaned into the kiss. Our lips melded together, no longer certain whose lips were whose. Instead, we just stood like that, letting our tongues tease each other.

After a moment of complete bliss, I pulled away. My eyes opened, meeting hers and an almost black sky.

Somehow, it was more than I ever could have wanted. My entire body felt like it was on fire as I looked into her eyes.

Jenna dropped her hand to mine. “Can we go home?”

My throat tightened. If we went home, I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop the pulsing excitement from taking over, from leaping in even further.

Maybe that isn’t the worst thing?

I nodded, taking us downstairs after thanking the usher.

Once we were back on the street, I stopped in my tracks before hailing a cab. I still wanted to make sure this was real, that we weren’t just being rash. A car ride would be too fast, so easy to keep our hands on each other.

I knew I wanted her. But I needed to make sure we both really meant it.

So I turned to Jenna. “How do you feel about a walk?”