Page 60 of One More Weekend

I bit my lip, nervous I’d overstepped. “But your name is on it, so if you end up finding a roommate, you could keep staying here and keep the rent-stabilized. It was the best I could do but management doesn’t know I’m leaving so you’ll have to keep that secret to yourself.”

“That’s not fair though. It’s too expensive. That’s the whole reason you’re moving.” Sy shook her head.

I squeezed her wrist. “Well, it’s the no job, high rent, expensive city combo that’s too killer. But I’ll have a job at my parents’ firm next week and no rent so I’ll have some wiggleroom. Besides, they’ll probably pay for most of my groceries anyway.”

My chest rose and fell quickly, worried Sy would be offended.

But when Sy lifted her head from her hands, she just wrapped her arms around me and hugged me. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I smiled at her and pulled away. “I just love you and I want you to know how much I appreciated your attempts to make me fall in love with New York again.”

Sy scoffed, “Yeah.” Checking her watch, Sy threw her bowl of food in the fridge. “We’ve gotta get moving, we’re gonna be late.”

“Late for what? Casual karaoke?”

All Sy could do was nod and point to the door. “You have an early morning tomorrow, I don't want to keep you out all night.”

As I rose from the couch, I had a feeling Sy had something else planned. But I wasn’t about to ruin her final surprise for me.

So I put on my sneakers and walked out the front door for a night out for the final time. The thought hit me like a ton of bricks to the heart.

I’ll be back. I have to come back.

40

SY

I still hadn’t processedmy shock at Jenna’s lease surprise by the time I was pulling open the street-level entrance to Winnie’s Bar.

“Thanks.” She nearly whispered as she passed me and headed up the stairs.

Even though I knew it was bad, I let my eyes peek up at her long legs and the short skirt covering her ass, my throat tightening as my body set on fire.

I threw open my phone and shot off a quick text:

Coming up.

Just as Jennawas about to open the door to the bar, music playing just beyond it, I placed my palm on it and stood just a few inches away. It was an attempt to buy us a few seconds and an excuse to get close to her again.

I lowered my voice to a low rumble and looked down at her blue eyes. “I really appreciate the lease. It means a lot to me. So I won’t stop saying thank you.”

Smirking, Jenna smacked her hand into my chest with a wink – breaking the tension for both of us. “You’re welcome, dweeb.”

It was the kindest thing she could do, kill off my illusions that we were more than friends.

I grabbed the door handle and pulled it open for her, letting her walk inside to a collection of cheers.

“Surprise!”

Her jaw dropped. “What?!”

There, in our favorite karaoke spot, were all of our friends and everyone who had made New York special for Jenna over the years. It was the least I could do for her. Without Jen’s charisma, I would’ve been friendless and living in some dump with twelve roommates in Bushwick.

Jenna moved around the bar, hugging and greeting all of her friends.

Making my own rounds, I slowly made my way to the bar and ordered two drinks. I put my card down for the tab and made my way to the list at the end of the bar where I put in a final duet, my song for Jenna, and a pick of my own for her.

By the time I was finished, Jenna had finished saying hi to her guests and found me in the crowd.

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