Page 43 of The Love We Make

“Here, let me.”

She backed away and muttered a thank you.

“So what is the plan Madison? Am I right? Are you panicking?” I zipped the bag and turned to her to wait for an answer.

“We are definitely doing this,” she said with resolve. “But I definitely panicked, Ethan.”

“You wouldn’t beyouif you didn’t.”

“I just…. I was at the game…. And it started to get real and feel real and I ran out of there to think and get my shit together.”

I slid my hands into my pockets and nodded, wanting her to continue.

“And I am probably still a little panicked, but I am ready. I paced this room seven hundred times and the first four hundred times I changed my mind back and forth. But the last three hundred times, I didn’t change my mind. I was steadfast in doing this. I was ready. I still am. I am freaking out but I am ready. So let's go.”

I smirked at her and pulled her into a hug. “Seven hundred? Is that an accurate number?”

She laughed into my chest, “More or less.”

I let her go and pulled my phone out. I shot a quick text to the driver I had hired. He was coming to get our bags and deliver them to the Four Seasons while Madison and I got dinner.

She wouldn’t want to get dinner, she obviously was in a hurry to get out of here, but I was giving her a proper date. Plus I was starving.

“Let’s go eat,” I grabbed her hand and led her from the room. We weren’t dressed for fancy and ostentatious dining. We were in shorts and t-shirts from the game. But in New York, fine dining was found in all forms, so I knew exactly where I was taking her.

“I don’t want to eat,” Madison predictably said as we walked from the hotel. The place I wanted to take her wasn’t far so I decided to walk while the driver took care of our bags.

“We need to eat, Maddy.”

“No, we don't. I am too nervous to eat.”

“Well, I’m not,” I looked down at her. “I just played a game and still have a full night of exerting energy ahead of me. I need food.”

Her face flushed when I mentioned exerting energy. A reminder of what was to come. Her slight nod was her only acknowledgment that she understood and agreed.

We made our way a few blocks before I stopped in front of a dive with blacked-out windows and doors. If you didn't know any better, you’d think this place was shut down, but I had been here before and knew it was literally a hidden gem in the city.

We walked in and were greeted by the hostess. I gave her my name and she nodded, taking us to a private booth that I had called ahead and booked.

The ambiance was an upscale and a low scale diner all at the same time. The lights were dim and the tables were lined with fine linen and candles creating a romantic glow. But everything else screamed dive bar—the graffiti on the walls, the loud grunge music playing.

We slid into our rounded booth and I got close to Madison. I wanted this to be more than a friendly meal. I wanted it to be a prelude to what I hoped was a night she would never forget.

“This is a great place,” she said after the waitress took our drink orders—waters and one shot of vodka each. Just to take the edge off.

“Yeah I came here with one of the guys once and it stuck in my memory. I thought you’d love it.”

She smiled up at me and I could tell she was already losing the earlier panic. After we took our shots and ordered a random tapas selection, the panic was gone. So I decided to push a little more. See how ready I could get her.

We started talking about a song that was playing and how she hadn’t heard it in ages when I slid my hand up her leg. She paused at my touch and her eyes widened.

I didn't move my hand, though. I gave her a smirk and took my hand higher.

“The countdown is on Maddy,” I whispered as I leaned into her ear. I could feel the goosebumps form on her leg and a shiver ran through her body.

“Is the countdown on or is the countdown over?” Her breath catching on her words.

“I’m not going to touch you until we are behind closed doors. Somewhere private so you are comfortable. But that doesn’t mean we can’t start acknowledging what is going on here.”

---