Page 30 of Always

“I don’t know,” Anika said. “We’ve been out a few times. God, I feel like I’m in high school. I like him! Is that what you want to hear? Yes, I like him.”

“Oh, youlikehim,” Gwen said. “Wow, somebody book the Waldorf, I hear summer wedding bells. Shelikeshim!”

“Quit busting my balls,” Anika grumbled.

“Liking is for puppies and ice cream cones,” Gwen persisted. “You’re talking about a man who looks like a walking cologne ad.”

“Yes, he’s hot,” Anika said, “and romantic, and clever, and all those things.”

“But...?”

“There’s no but,” Anika said.

“It seems like there’s a but.”

“Well...I’m just not entirely sure I trust him. It could be a cultural thing. You know, he’s intense, and slightly dramatic. So maybe it’s just a worry that he might be exaggerating.” Anika shrugged. “Or else it could be my own issues.”

“Hmm,” Gwen said. “Well, it’s got to feel real.”

“That’s right,” Anika said. “That’s it exactly. It’s got to feel real.”

Then, to change the subject, she said, “What about you and Blaine? Hannah said we’re all going riding together over the long weekend.”

“Oh god,” Gwen rolled her eyes. “He can be a complete idiot. But he does have those other skills we were talking about.”

“I’m not surprised,” Anika said. “Dentists have to be good with their hands.”

“Right,” Gwen said, “and let me assure you, he’s an excellent dentist.”

* * *

Anika hadn’t toldGwen that she had another date with Marco planned for Wednesday morning.

Marco picked her up outside her building bright and early Saturday morning, driving a red vintage Camaro she hadn’t seen before.

“New car?” Anika asked.

“One of my dad’s,” Marco said.

As always, he waited at the passenger side to open her door for her.

He had refused to tell Anika his plans, only giving her that mischievous smile and promising that she would like the surprise.

She supposed he was taking her for breakfast, or maybe a walk—she had already steeled herself for the fact that she would probably be late to work. But Marco didn’t seem to be staying in the city at all, heading north across the river and out of Manhattan.

I’m definitely going to be late,Anika thought. She’d have to text Gwen. They were meeting someone from the Charities Bureau that afternoon to get their certification updated.

As Marco drove further and further out, the road became more deserted. Anika couldn’t think of anything in this direction outside the city. Definitely no brunch places.

“Where are you taking me?” she laughed, half confused and fully curious. “I feel like you’re about to murder me.”

“Haven’t you been out here before?” Marco asked.

“No,” Anika said.

“It’s an airfield,” he said, “for private planes.”

“Bennet likes to spend, but even he wasn’t crazy enough to think we could afford our own jet,” Anika said.

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