Page 30 of The Night the Stars Went Dark

“It’s what we do for those we love.” I shrugged as I handed her a menu. “Pick something because I have big plans for what we can do while we wait for it.” I pressed a quick kiss to her cheek.

“I bet you do.” She shivered as I pulled up the website and started tapping out what we wanted.

Chapter 19

Aspen

I don’t really know how to describe the last several days. Dreamlike maybe? After spending the night with Bryson, it all just kind of ran together. The next morning, we called his landlord and made an appointment to see the apartment above him. I was a two bedroom, so I could have a studio space to practice. I wasn’t sure how we were going to afford it, but Bryson said he’d figure something out.

I’d gone home after that and started packing. I had years’ worth of stuff, and only a week to get it to New York. Bryson had promised to come help give me a ride back. I hired movers because I did not want to figure out how I was going to get the piano down. When I had moved in, they lifted it from the back side of the building and came through the slider. I was guessing they’d go back out the same way.

“I guess it’s good I came early.” Bryson was standing in the middle of a pile of boxes in the living room.

“Yeah, I’m still not sure we have room for all of this.” I looked around at the sea of stuff.

“Your couch is nicer. We can use it and sell mine.” He shrugged. “Most of my things were hand me downs from friends or cheap thrift store finds.”

“It’s still a lot of stuff.” I sighed. “Help me bring these last few boxes out of the bedroom, and then we can go.” I wiped sweat from my brow as I weaved through the piles to make my way into my bedroom. The movers were coming in the morning, but I wanted to get back to the new place so we could start packing up Bryson’s things to move upstairs.

“What’s that pile?” He pointed to several suitcases and boxes I had separated and put in the corner.

“That’s what’s coming in the car. Some valuables and clothes for the next few days. I don’t want to lose or break anything in there, and I need clothes to wear until all of this gets there.” I laughed.

“I’d be happy to share a few tees, or you could just go naked.” He winked when I glared at him.

“I don’t see how we’d get anything done if that were the case.” I rolled my eyes. He was being cheeky.

“Let’s put that in the car, and then we can go. I wanna get started moving you upstairs tonight. Maybe we can even sleep in there.” I grinned. The idea of getting a place together that neither of us had technically lived in was exciting. I mean, I know Bryson had been living in that building, but he wasn’t in the same apartment, so that meant something, right? We were starting fresh and I for one couldn’t wait.

Bryson

Was this really happening? I watched her twist and stack boxes in my backseat as if she were trying to win a game of Jenga. The way her mouth twisted as she shoved at the cardboard was kinda cute. When she stepped back, part of the box was still sticking out, so she pushed the car door shut and then hip checked it. “There.” She announced. “Let’s roll.”

I shook my head as I made my way around to the driver’s side and climbed in. She turned to look at her building one last time before hopping in the passenger seat and slapping her hands against her thighs.

“On to the next adventure.” She grinned as she looked over at me.

“To the next adventure.” I put the car in drive and pulled away from the curb.

“Are we really doing this?” she murmured as we made our way out of the city. “I mean, I’ve been here my entire life.” She nibbled her bottom lip as she turned to look at me.

“I think this is good for you. A new start in a new place. You won’t have memories around every corner reminding you of the past. You can remember when you want to, not when your surroundings force you to.”

“You’re right.” She nodded as she turned back to look out the window.

With traffic, it took us several hours to get there, and when we did the city was full of life. A new show was making its Broadway debut this weekend and everyone who was anyone was getting a ticket. The block was bustling with excitement.

I pulled into the parking garage where I kept my car and drove to the third level to my reserved spot. “I have a dolly we can use to bring all this in. I rented one to move my stuff.”

“Have you already started?” She spun to face me, her mouth falling open.

“A little. It was supposed to be a surprise.” I shrugged sheepishly. I’d bought a new bed and moved it along with a few other things upstairs. I’d wanted tonight to be special.

We took the elevator to the street level, and then walked over to my building. I led us up to my place and grabbed the dolly. “You have to wait to see what I’ve done. At least give me that,” I begged when she started to pout.

“Fine,” she grumbled. We took the dolly back over to my car and stacked boxes on it. Then she clipped the suitcases together and we pulled our load back to my place. When we stepped in the elevator, I bypassed my apartment altogether and pressed thebutton for the new place. The elevator rose to the third floor and then stopped. When the doors opened, we walked down the hall and stopped in front of our door.

“Close your eyes.” I glanced back to where she was standing behind me. When she complied, I unlocked the door. “Stay there.” I walked in and placed the dolly out of the way against the wall. I went back out and reached for her hand. As I laced our fingers together, I led her inside. “Ok, open.” I released her hand.

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