Page 55 of Notes About Vodka

He shrugs as I look up into his eyes. “What can I say, you turn me into a teenage boy again who can’t hold his load when his arms are around a beautiful woman.”

The city, school,Pianissimo, Sam, my worries, all the troubles fade away as I sag into Val’s hold, resting against his chest. The city lights twinkle around us as I just listen to the harmony of our hearts beating in time, together.

Chapter Seventeen

VAL

"Vodka flows like the Don River—strong, clear, and filled with stories waiting to be told."

The days since the Halloween party at Laura’s place have been a blur of constant thoughts about her. I can’t get her out of my head. Especially now I know how her eyes flutter and her lips purse when she’s coming all over my hand.

Every morning, I wake up with this single mission: find a reason—any reason—to see her. Even if it’s just for a few minutes.

Most mornings, I make a quick stop to grab her favorite coffee and head over to NYU whether I have class or not, ready to drop it off like I just “happened to be in the neighborhood”.

The way her face lights up when I hand it to her?It’s enough to make my entire day.

I find myself looking for ways to cross her path—wandering by her classrooms, hoping for a quick chat, or finding excuses to walk her to her next class. And yeah, I’ve even used the classic “needing help” with a project or “clarification” on notes, just to squeeze out a few more minutes with her.

I have even claimed joint custody of her calculator, only offering it back when she finally needs it. I’m kinda proud of myself for that idea, because late nights at work when we are closing up,Laura often likes to calculate just for fun. Double checking the till or even adding up beats in her head to a song she’s humming or practicing.

Every time we’re close—when my hand brushes her arm or I rest my hand on her back as we navigate a crowded hallway or I’m helping deliver trays of food to her tables—it’s electric. There’s this spark, this feeling like every nerve is suddenly awake, and it makes me realize just how much I need her in my life. I can’t get enough of it.

When we’re both atPianissimo, I position myself close every chance I get. Sometimes it’s just to lean in, make a joke, or whisper something that’ll get her laughing. Those small moments—when our hands touch or I get to help her with something—are everything.

I still sneak notes to her, but now they contain more about how I feel about Laura and how beautiful she is. I find new places hide them around her apartment when she’s not paying attention, or just leave them in one of her books.

Warning about Laura, be careful which books you open because I read one of her fantasy novels and I was surprised when not one, but two men were waking her with kisses. Up there and yeah, down below.Does Laura like that kind of stuff?Hmmm…

I could get down with waking her with kisses but sharing?Nope. I don’t even like the current situation, but I can be patient.

Laura leaves her replies on the edges of my classwork aftershe reads it for grammar or in my pockets where I only find them after I’ve done the laundry.

I’ll forever wonder what she was rambling on about in those tufts of lint I have to pull off my clothes.

Every corner of the city is starting to feel like it holds some memory with her now—places where we've shared laughs, quiet talks, even just the spots where we’ve hung out between classes or on our days off.

The other day, she even let me drive her scooter while she sat on the back, holding on tightly as I sped around Central Park before we went back to my place for the night. I cooked dinner, cuddled her on the coach, and then snuggled her into my bed when she fell asleep.

We haven’t gone any further than the Halloween party, but soon. I know it. She’s ready.

It’s painfully obvious now, but the more time I spend with her, the deeper I fall. The deeper I know she is falling.

She’s already become such a huge part of my life, and every effort I make to be near her only shows me how much she means to me. And I’m ready to make sure she knows it.

The buzz of my phone jolts me from my dreams of Laura.

It’s a notice from my landlord—my lease is going up. I scan the message, feeling a knot form in my stomach. I can afford the place as it is as well as the garage for my Mazda, but now I’m faced with a rent hike that I can’t ignore.Well, this is getting a bit too expensive now.

I text Laura, needing to do something to clear my mind.

Me: “Hey, want to go on a ride today?”

Her reply comes quickly,

Laura: “Absolutely, let’s do it.”

We meet up in the late afternoon. Her face lights up when she sees me. She’s wearing a pair of knit shorts and a long sleeve pink sweater covered in flowers. The neck is long enough that itdrapes off her shoulder, revealing a patch of freckles that catch my eye.

---