Page 59 of Something New

"Jonathan, is he okay? He seemed like he wanted to stay."

"Yeah, he loved it."

"I saw that money sitting in your room."

"Pretty dramatic on a plate."

I held his hands and stood in front of him, checking him out.

"You look amazing in all black, and you looked good in a mask," I said.

He smiled at me. "You think?"

"Yes, but you look good without it, too."

"I'm glad, because I'd rather be out of that thing. I'm so glad you were willing to leave. I would have been wound up all night, watching over you. I was going to do it, but, uhh."

"I might still want you to watch over me all night," I said in a soft tone.

"Don't worry," he said, with a smile.

"Do you love me?" I asked, feeling like I needed to hear it.

"Do you think I fly to other states and put on masks for women I don’t love?"

"So, yes?"

"Yes, I love you, Sadie."

"I love you, too," I said. "I don't deserve you, but I'm keeping you." I fitted his arms around my waist securely. "Food?" I added before he could respond.

"What about it?"

"Do you want some?"

"Like, out to eat?"

"Sure," I said.

"Are you up for it?"

"Of course, I am. I'm rescued. I'm excited. I feel great. None of those people know where I'm at or care that I'm gone."

"I could definitely go for some food."

I smiled. "I saw a diner that was open on the way here."

Chapter 20

It was the most glorious photograph I had ever taken.

My eyes blurred with tears and I shook as I pressed the button to trigger the shutter. I took several in a row, but the first one was the winner. I was in a diner, and I had climbed onto a neighboring booth to frame a shot of John-Michael and take a picture of him. I laid out on the bench seat, tucking my head beneath the backside of the adjacent table, and taking the photo from under there. It was shaded and mysterious in the foreground, and in the background, there were neon lights and all the curved lines, and vinyl and chrome of a diner.

The focus point of the photograph was John-Michael sitting in the neighboring booth with the remnants of our late-night breakfast in front of him. He was holding onto a cup of coffee and looking like a piece of art. He glanced at me with that perfect half-smile when I shimmied under the table, and I caught the perfect moment—the perfect smile. I knew I would never take another photograph like it. I was shaking as I went back to our booth and sat across from him.

"What?" he said, seeing my intense face. "I think I just took an amazing picture. I don't even want to look at it because I'm nervous."

"You're adorable. I can't believe you're working on your night off."

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