Page 55 of Under the Ink

“Like?”

“Like plan toonlydrink three beers or three shots and stop there. Then see how you feel.”

“It’s hard to pay attention in the moment. Did I already have three beers? Well, one more wouldn’t hurt.”

Because he was having fun. Hmm. “Do you need someone to boss you around?”

The grin on his face was hard to read, but they began walking across the street, so she couldn’t see his expression full on. “Are you offering?”

“Uh,no. That’s not the way it works here, right?”

He chuckled. “I guess—but I like the way you think. The next time we’re partying, maybe you could just nudge me if you think I’m getting ready to go past the point of no return.”

While she wasn’t going to say it, Naomi herself didn’t always know when to quit. It was usually sometime after she felt a little numb and lightheaded.

The point where she couldn’t feel…and remembrance had fewer emotions attached to it. And was that so bad?

“Yeah, sure.” Shifting her attention, she absorbed the city, taking it all in. Chicago felt quite different from New York in a way she wouldn’t be able to describe to anyone if they’d wanted her opinion on the matter. It wasn’t that she didn’t like it.

In fact, she didn’t know how she feltaboutit yet. She just wanted to get to stand on the shore.

When they got to Grant Park, they wandered north, seeking out the famed Millennium Park where they spent hours exploring—and she kept catching Sage staring at her, as if he were trying to capture some of her enthusiasm.

Thiswas fun.Trulyfun. Seeing new things—architecture, art, beautiful vegetation, the cityscape in the distance—being surrounded by throngs of people also appreciating what they were viewing and just being in the moment.

Was that what peace felt like?

She’d never seen anything like this place and she was glad she was enjoying it with Sage. He didn’t feel the need to talk or push her to go anywhere in particular. Instead, he was along for the ride. And she started wondering if she would have enjoyed it as much by herself.

WasSagethe equivalent of having fun to her?

No. It couldn’t be. They’d just happened to find an enjoyable place and they were appreciating it together. That was all it was.

At last, though, they made their way toward the lake, as Naomi realized that all the spots on the map Sage had put together for her couldn’t be explored in one day. So she’d have to come back to Chicago someday. Thus far, she didn’t think she’d want to live here. Visit, though? For sure.

When they got to the lake, she tried to hide her disappointment at first. Yes, like the ocean, she couldn’t see the other side, but there were boats everywhere. The docks were ugly, making it hard for her to see what she’d been dying to view all day.

They walked and walked and walked, Naomi all the while hoping to see a pristine view. Finally, she said, “How many people in Chicago own boats, for heaven’s sake?”

“By the looks of it, every fucking one.”

“No kidding.”

At last, they got to what Naomi thought might be a river entering the lake and they paused to look. Although there was plenty of daylight left, the sun was beginning to dip low in the west, warming their backs as they looked over the water. While there were still boats she couldn’t miss, there was at least an expanse of clear blue to gaze upon.

“That looks like a Ferris wheel over there,” she said, pointing.

“Sure does. What’s your map say? Wanna go there?”

“No. I think I’m good.” When she glanced back at Sage, his eyes had a dreamlike quality and she gave him a small smile. “I think I’ve seen enough.”

“Are you ready to head back?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Want me to get a car?”

“No. It’s not too hot anymore.”

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