Chapter Twelve Jude
Chapter Twelve
Jude
First things first: We both need a shower.
(Not together, of course—though Veronica is so staggeringly gorgeous even in her current state that I wouldn’t object if she offered.)
And after that, we need to figure out where we’re going tonight.
It being Valentine’s Day means a place like Alinea is out of the question, as most great restaurants have been booked out for weeks, but truthfully, we could sit in her living room for the rest of the night talking, and it would be perfect.
Still, I want to take her out. This entire situation feels unreal to me; the woman I’ve been romantically pursuing over email is the same beautiful neighbor I’ve been wanting to ask out for months.
I want to mark this incredible coincidence, to celebrate the serendipity of it, to wipe clean the misunderstanding she marinated in all week.
We need to mark this with something more than takeout and couch time.
That said, it’s still midday, and I wouldn’t mind hanging out here for a bit more catching up in person, but Veronica shoos me out, telling me to give her an hour and she’ll meet me in the lobby.
I want to kiss her before I leave. It feels like I should, like we need to punctuate the end of this absurd moment with something sweet and acknowledging—but she closes the door with that wide smile and a wave.
Dizzy, I turn to the stairs, jogging back to my place, feeling as though my pulse has been transformed into a skipping record.