My stomach filled with tingles as we lookedback where the East River met Manhattan. Leaning on the rail, welooked out at the Empire State Building. The air smelled crisp,fresh, and I breathed it all in.
“Can you think of a more romantic place thanthis?” I sighed.
A mischievous grin spread across hishandsome face. “In the interest of making this the best momentever, I’m going to agree. But I reserve the right to show you aplace I think you may find just as romantic if not more so.”
I bit my bottom lip and glanced at him. “Iwill definitely need to see this fictitious place one day.”
Sure, I’d seen masses of pictures of thecity, maps, and even live satellite aerial shots of New York, butthat was nothing compared to having the cold, windy air hitting myface as I looked out over the city. And I was with Jeremy.
“This is seriously amazing.”
He stepped back and took a picture of me onhis phone. I crossed my eyes.
“Hey! Give me at least one decent one,” hechided.
It made me nervous. He’d have this pictureof me forever. I wanted it to be a good one. I tried to smile, butI’m sure my nervous energy made it look more like a smirk.
He laughed. “Did you just catch a whiff ofsomething gross or what?”
I tipped my head back and laughed. Hesnapped a picture.
“Hey!” I yelled, putting my hand on myhip.
He snapped another.
“I reserve the right to delete any pictureyou take today.”
He shook his head and mouthed the words, “Idon’t think so.”
I reached out for the phone, and he held itaway from me. A girl with a ponytail came up to us. “Do y’all wantme to snap one of both of y’all?” she asked sweetly. Her Southerndrawl was thick, and she wore an “I Heart NY” hoodie. Obviously atourist.
“That would be awesome,” Jeremy said.
We made funny faces for the first picture.Then we made stone faces. After that, he smiled at me, and I heardthe camera click. We both looked at the camera and smiled for thefinal one.
“I hope you like them.” She handed the phoneback.
“Thank you. I’m sure we will.”
“You two make a cute couple.”
To that, neither of us replied, but heatcrept up my neck.
I pulled out my phone and snapped a pictureof us that was sure to only get a small section of our faces. “Nowthat’s a fine picture,” I said, looking at it on my phone and thenshowing it to him.
“Here.” He took the phone from me with onehand, and his other rounded my hip as he pulled me close. I suckedin a deep breath and a heavenly heat spread through me.“Smile!”
And I did. I couldn’t help it. It wastotally involuntary. My cold nose was no longer cold, and as hesnapped away, a rush of warm liquid settled in my gut. I leaned myhead on his shoulder and laughed. The moment ended much tooquickly.
We continued across the bridge, and hepointed out Wall Street, the Manhattan Bridge, and the manydifferent skyscrapers. We didn’t talk much after the picturesession, but instead enjoyed every sensation that came to us.
“Do you feel it?” he asked, stopping, at apoint where Governors and Staten Islands were visible.
“What?”
“The energy? The wonder?” His eyes scannedthe area.
“Yes! And the beauty.” I threw my hands inthe air, unable to contain my excitement.
He looked at me, his eyes sparkling. “Yes.And the beauty.” He touched my face, his fingers tracing my jaw,and I took a sharp intake of air.
I wished with all my heart he would tell methere was no reason we couldn’t be together, that we could haveanything we wanted. But I knew it couldn’t be.
His brown eyes hit mine, and I knew he waslamenting the same thing. His hand dropped from my face, and helooked away.
I took my water bottle out of my jacket andheld it up. “To us never having to work on a case without eachother.” He pulled out his own bottle and raised it to mine. Ismiled and tapped my bottle to his.
“Here. Here.” The way he said it made methink he didn’t believe it would happen.
I continued to grin and took a drink. It wasokay if he was losing faith. I had enough for both of us.
We were at the end of the bridge, and madeour way to the Brooklyn Bridge Park that was bustling with peoplegetting pizza and even ice cream. We walked along a trail, joggersand bikers whizzing past us. Children, all bundled up, played onthe playground and the sky above the East River caught my eye as ahelicopter entered the space. Jeremy pulled out his phone andlooked at it.
“What would you say if I told you we wereabout to go on another adventure together?”
“I’d scream out with joy.”
“Really? Well, get ready then.”
The beating blades of the helicopter gotlouder and louder as it neared. While all the people around usscattered to avoid the pounding wind, Jeremy and I moved out onto awide grassy area.
Two cables fell from the sky, and both Aceand Halluis waved to us from the belly of the chopper.
“No way, Jeremy! This is too cool.”
Jeremy handed me one of the cables. He tookthe other. We stepped into the foot loops, and the cables rose. Ileaned my head back and gave the loudest scream of excitement I’dever given.
Let the adventure begin.
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