"A junior chef?" I cock a brow. "You have the qualifications for that now."
"I do." She brushes her hand across her shoulder. I can't focus. Her tits are bouncing under her thin shirt.
She stares at me in expectation. She wants me to say something that isn't related to how luscious her breasts are. How did this conversation fall so off course so fast? It's no wonder I didn't make partner. I have little focus.
"Nathan." She snaps her fingers in front of my face. "I can get the job if I want it."
"You need to take it, Jessica." I reach for her hand. "I want you to take it. I'm so proud of you."
She pulls the glass from my hand and places it on the coffee table. I want to complain. I should complain but she's so lost in her own accomplishments right now, that I can't.
"There's just one thing." The words trail over my forehead as she crawls into my lap. "It's not at Axel NY."
"What?" My hands glide over her thighs. "Where is it?"
Her hands jump to my face, tilting it up so she's staring right into my eyes. "I was going to turn it down because of the partnership."
"Fuck the partnership. I didn't get it." I inch my hands up her waist. "Where is it, Jessica?"
"We won't move unless you want to." Her lips hover next to mine. "We have to decide together."
I'll go anywhere she goes. I'd follow this woman to the farthest reaches of the earth if it meant I could wake up and look at her face every day for the rest of my life. "Tell me where it is."
"Boston." Her lips glide over mine. "Let's move to Boston."
Chapter 26
"I'm starving." I reach to grab the soft pretzel from her hand. "Why didn't we meet at a restaurant for a sandwich?"
"You told me to meet you here, Nathan." She takes a drink of lemonade from the straw. "I have to get back soon. Today is my last shift."
I nod as I look into the distance. "Give me more of that pretzel. I haven't eaten all day."
She hands the rest to me and I shove a big piece into my mouth. "Did you flirt with the pretzel guy today?" I ask before I swallow.
"I do every time I get a pretzel."
"He likes you." I wink at her and she smiles back.
"He fucking loves me." She purses her lips together before moving her hand up to push the hair away from her face.
It's windy in Central Park today. I haven't told her how much I'll miss this bench. It's a special place for me. I'm not one to drone on about sentimentality but Jessica is teaching me that small moments can offer a lot of memories. I need those. I need to start focusing on our future together.
"I should get back soon." She inches forward on the bench. "Do you want me to bring something home from the restaurant for dinner?"
I shake my head. "Not tonight. I'll cook."
She giggles loudly. I stare at her, watching as she pulls her hand to her mouth. "Nathan, you can't really cook."
"You never let me try," I counter. "I want to cook for you tonight."
"Why?"
This is it. This is the moment I've planned in my mind for weeks on end. My life is going to change the moment I do this. Everything will be different. Everything will be perfect.
Her brow furrows. "I shouldn't be late getting back. I mean they can't fire me or anything, but I don't want to screw up anything with my new job at Axel in Boston…. I don’t think I …"
I don’t hear anything else she says. I can't. All I can hear is my heart pounding out a beat that is telling me to just do it. I have to do it. I turn towards her before I slide from the bench and onto my knee.