Chapter 35 #2
At the end of the ride, when my feet are back on the ground, I realize I smiled the entire time. The shoulder harness loosens, and we stand and look at each other.
“So?” Miles watches me.
“Can we do it again?”
He laughs. “We can do it as many times as you want. But . . . maybe dinner first?”
I nod. “Definitely.”
“Okay, good, because we’re moving into the non-touristy part of the night.”
“Ooh, I’m intrigued.” I loop my hand through Miles’s arm, and he pulls me close as we leave Navy Pier and pick up dinner at
a small local market. He called ahead, and our order is waiting for us in two large brown paper bags.
We walk a few more blocks, then Miles stops in front of a tall, nondescript brick building that’s a little less sleek but
far more charming than the ones surrounding it.
He walks up and rings a bell by the door, and a few seconds later, I hear the buzz letting us know the door is open. In the
lobby, there’s a man at a counter who gives Miles a wide, conspiratorial smile, then tips his hat. “Good to see you again,
Mr. Westbrook.”
“Good to see you, Charlie,” Miles says. “Everything good to go?”
“All ready and in working order.” Charlie tips his hat in my direction. “Ma’am.”
I smile, unsure what we’re walking into but oddly excited to find out. I follow Miles into the elevator, and as the doors
close, he gives Charlie one more nod before turning to face me. “I wanted to show you a spot in the city that most people
don’t know exists.”
“Hidden Chicago?” I say as the elevator dings with every passing floor. “Ooh. I like it.”
It all feels like a delicious secret, and when the doors open, I realize we’re on the roof. In a garden. Surrounded by plants
and flowers and twinkle lights.
On one side is a seating area with velvet cushions and strands of white lights strung in swaths overhead.
At the center of the seating area is a makeshift table, created out of empty crates that have been screwed together for an interesting, eclectic look.
In the distance is the most stunning view of the Chicago skyline I’ve ever seen.
Miles walks over to the seating area and starts to unpack containers of food while I stand there gawking. It’s like we’ve
entered a secret space, one where we’re really and truly alone while the city below buzzes and thousands of people move through
their lives having no idea that we’re here.
“I know you’re all about trying new foods, but tonight we’re sticking with classic deli fare.” He glances up at me. “I know
the owners of the deli, and I wanted to share some of my favorite things with you.”
I walk over to where he’s standing between the table and a stack of velvet floor cushions. “You designed this space, didn’t
you?”
He kneels down beside the table, then looks at me. “Maybe.”
I take a long beat to appreciate it.
He continues, “The owners of the building are artists. And they wanted to create something warm and inviting right in the
heart of the city. Like an escape from the madness.”
Chicago is all clean lines and crisp visuals, but this space—it’s entirely different. The opposite of neutral, it’s filled
with rich jewel tones and contrasting pops of color.
“It’s amazing,” I say, still trying to take it all in.
He motions to a mustard-yellow cushion on the opposite side of the table. “Sit.”
When I do, I realize there’s a sheet strung up, creating what looks like an outdoor movie screen. “Are we going to watch a
movie?”
“If you want to,” he says. “Or I have some favorites from my vinyl collection.” He nods over to a record player and a stack
of records. “I wanted us to have options.”
“You put a lot of thought into this.”
“I really wanted to get it right.” He hands me an empty plate, then takes one of his own. “And I’ve been planning it for a
while.”
I smile at the thought. “For how long?”
He pulls a face. “Since Roger?”
“Roger!” I bark out a laugh. “I almost forgot about him.” I pick up a sandwich and set it on my plate. “Or maybe I blocked
it out.” I meet his eyes. “But Roger was my first app date. That was weeks ago.”
He scrunches his nose. “Every time you went out, I thought about how it should be me going out with you.”
“And you still took this long to admit it to me.” I shake my head, feigning disappointment.
“And to myself, honestly.” He pulls a face. “I can be pretty dense. Plus, I had some issues to figure out. It was Zoey and
Ava, actually, who finally talked some sense into me.”
I go still. Because it’s a big deal to know that his daughters—and mine—approve of this. When you lose your partner and you
have kids, they become the most important thing in the world. “What did they say?”
“They pointed out that I’m happiest when I’m around you,” he says. “And that you’re worth the risk. They also said their mom
sucks, but that was a whole other conversation.” He laughs softly.
“I can’t wait for them to meet Amelia,” I say. “I hope they all get along.”
The corner of his mouth twitches. “I have a good feeling.” He pulls a Dr Pepper from the bag and sets it in front of me, along
with a few bags of chips. “Options.”
He’s thought of everything. Covered everything.
I take a bag of potato chips and open it. “When I first moved here, it was barely spring, and on the nice days I noticed all
the people out, like they’d been cooped up for months and just needed to feel the sun on their face.”
“We were cooped up for months,” he says. “There is nothing like sunshine after a Chicago winter. It turns fifty degrees and we’re
all out here in shorts.”
I laugh. “I sort of think this whole experience of dating was like that for me. I had to go through the harsh winter of Roger
and Barry and pervy old Freddy to really appreciate this.” I look at him.
He shakes his head. “I hate the thought of you dating any of those idiots.” He leans across the table and brushes my hair
away from my face, letting his hand linger on my cheek as he studies me with a quiet, burning intensity.
“Are you sure you want to do this, Miles?” I ask, because I suddenly feel like I need to give him a way out if he wants one.
“We can stay friends. We’re good friends. We can still go on coffee walks and—”
“I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life,” he says, silencing me.
“I’m only bringing it up because—”
He stops me. “From the second I met you, I knew I was in trouble.” He inches closer. “I’ve been really good about keeping
everyone at an arm’s length, but you? You made me want something more.” He tips my chin up and draws my gaze. “When I look
at you, I imagine the rest of my life. It’s not big or flashy. It’s easygoing and peaceful. It’s long walks around our neighborhood
on Saturday mornings. It’s slow cups of coffee in our bathrobes. Trying new restaurants, hanging out with our girls, maybe
getting a dog? It’s all of that and everything else.”
My eyes fill with tears, and I have to blink to keep them from falling.
I take his hand in both of mine, tracing the line on his palm with my thumb. “You make me feel safe, Miles, and I didn’t know
if I’d ever feel that way again.”
He closes the gap between us, pulling me close as he takes my face in his hands and kisses me softly, tenderly, like he’s memorizing every second, so I do the same.
I move in closer, the warmth of his body radiating straight through mine, as I give myself over completely to the euphoria of falling in love.
Falling in love.
So. This is how that feels.