Page 69 of Sparks
We finally pulled back. My eyes were probably crinkled as heck because I was smiling so big. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“I know.” We stared at each other until people started bumping into us. “Come on.” He took my hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Then he leaned down and grabbed his pack, slinging it over his shoulder despite how huge it looked.
We walked hand-in-hand out to the shuttle, where we leaned close and laughed quietly, unable to take our eyes off one another. And then to my car where he tossed his bag in the back seat and climbed in.
He stared at me with a goofy grin as I spoke, waving my hands all around in my excitement. “Let’s go to dinner in Hoboken. And I know it’s chilly, but we can take a walk on the Hudson afterwards and look out at the city—”
Shawn’s hand slipped under my hair and took the nape of my neck, pulling my face to his. Our lips met and my body did not hesitate. I nearly came out of my seat trying to get closer. I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him back, our mouths moving. He wasn’t as aggressive as I imagined he’d be as a soldier. His kiss was thoughtful and gentle.
I didn’t want to stop but we heard voices and saw two flight attendants from another airline walking in front of my car, chatting away. They both stopped when they saw us, and I let Shawn go.
He chuckled. “That sounds nice. Let’s go.”
When I got on the road we twined our fingers together, leaving me to drive one-handed.
“Gotta admit,” he said. “I’m impressed and kind of turned on by how aggressive a driver you are.”
“I haven’t even honked at anyone!” I said.
“Yeah, but you’re weaving in and out like it’s nothing.”
I shrugged. “You should see me parallel park.”
He laughed. “Ah, that’s hot.”
I smiled the whole way to the restaurant. It was like a dream. We ordered our vodka drinks and dinner, laughing at his stories from Japan. He held my hand from across the table. I gazed at him as he spoke, as if I would gobble him up if I could.
“You’re so cute.”
“Nah, cut that shit out,” he said, making me giggle.
After dinner I had one more drink to two of his. He insisted on paying, and I didn’t fight it. And then we took our walk. It didn’t last too long because the wind coming off the river was biting.
“Now where should we go?” I asked, feeling suddenly shy.
“Do I get to see your apartment?”
“You want to?” I asked.
“Heck, yeah. I want to see it all.” He grinned down at me and I kissed him again. Our foreheads touched, and I was lost to him. So lost.
He tugged my hand and we sped-walked back to my car, and then to Jersey City. When I parked, he peered through the window with wide eyes.
“This is your street?”
“Yep.” I waited nervously to see what he’d say.
“Man, this place is…the real deal.”
“That’s one way to put it.” I laughed. “Let’s go in.”
Shawn was fascinated by every little thing. The code box to get into the building. The three flights of stairs. “You do this every day?”
“Sometimes several times.”
Inside the apartment we were greeted by the same squeals that I’d departed to. Holly, Rhea, Willa, and Sydney were all there. They each shook his hand as I introduced them, then sent me thumbs-up and winks when his back was turned. He was all smiles as I showed him the closet-hall, then our room with my pallet, the bunkbed room, and the passion pit.
“This is the infamous passion pit?” He peered into the tiny room with a look of awe. “Hey, it kind of smells good.”
