Page 47 of Between Here and There

Joshua

I’m standing outside Emily’s house, checking the time on my watch for the third—or is it fourth?—time in the last five minutes. I told her to meet me in twenty minutes, but it’s been thirty, and she’s still not out.

I hear the gate swing open, and I look up, ready to make a teasing remark about her tardiness. But when she comes into view…whoa.

I’ve called Emily beautiful more times than I can remember, but tonight…tonight, she’s breathtaking. She stands there in that dress, as beautiful as she said she would be, and it’s as if the world has paused just to admire her. The fabric hugs her perfectly, like a second skin that accentuates every graceful line of her body. It molds to every curve before cascading just below her knees, swaying gently with each step.

The neckline plunges in a V, the delicate knot at her neck sending soft drapes down her back. And when she turns, half of her back is revealed, leaving her rose tattoo peeking out. It’s teasing, like a secret she’s not quite ready to share, but it pulls me in, making me wonder, for the hundredth time, just how low it goes.

Her hair cascades in soft, effortless waves that catch the light, framing her face and adding to her radiant glow. Her makeup is subtle, except for her lips—bold and crimson, matching her dress perfectly.

I’m struggling to keep it together, but all I want, all I can think about, is leaning in and kissing her senseless, smudging that red lipstick until there’s nothing left. All I want is to take the little scarf off, leaving her bare from the shoulders up. Then, maybe I can unzip the red dress and watch the silky fabric fall down to her feet. And—no. Stop.

But stopping feels impossible because, damn it, Emily has never looked this good, and I’ve never wanted her more.

“I was expecting at least a ‘wow’,” she says, snapping me back to reality.

“You got something better,” I reply with a grin, “You got me speechless.”

She smiles, and her red lips stretch to show her perfect teeth. “You’re not too bad yourself,” she says, tugging lightly on my tie.

I adjust my tie, feeling a little self-conscious in my decent suit. As I offer Emily my arm, she loops hers around it, and I can’t help but feel a thrill at the connection. Thankfully, we manage to avoid any prying eyes from the village. Otherwise, we’d have to explain why we’re sneaking off on a date the night before such an important occasion.

“Where are we going?” Emily says as she steps into the car.

“You’ll see,” I say, closing the door after her.

I drive through the streets of Manila, the lights on the signs still flickering brightly.

The car pulls up to a street lined with trees, and I park near the only building in the vicinity. “We’re here,” I announce, stepping out and offering her my hand. She takes it, and together we enter the building.

“Fancy,” she says.

“Told you, only the best tonight,” I reply.

We make our way up to the rooftop, where a warm breeze meets our faces, and the sound of a saxophone drifts through the air, weaving its way into our surroundings. I push the door open, and the scene before us unfolds. Twinkling lights hang like stars above the intimate rooftop space, light reflecting on the patrons enjoying their drinks and the smooth tunes.

“Oh, wow,” Emily whispers. “How did you know about this?”

“I have my ways,” I say with a sly grin, but her skeptical look makes me laugh. “Fine. Yelp. It was on Yelp.” Thankfully, she doesn’t question it anymore. Because, if she did, she would’ve known that I started scouting for places nights ago, right after we talked about me taking her out.

We’re shown to a table near the edge of the rooftop, offering an unobstructed view of the city below. As we settle into our seats, I notice a few patrons glancing our way. Emily, ever perceptive, catches on quickly.

“Is there something on my face?” Emily leans in. I shake my head, looking at her perfect features inches away from me.

“Are you sure?” she adds. “Maybe something on my teeth?” She flashes her teeth. Again, I shake my head. “Then why are people staring? Can you check again?” She looks to her left and her right, giving me access to her entire face.

“There’s nothing on your face, Em,” I say, very slightly putting my fingers on her chin. I lean in, and we’re closer than ever. “Except that it’s so damn beautiful, people need to look at least twice.” I didn’t mean to say it like that, like I’m so mesmerized, but it’s true. She is so beautiful. Even I can’t look away.

She blinks, clearly caught off guard. Then, she scoffs, backing away with a playful smile. “Stop that,” she says, trying to shake off the tension, but I can see the faint blush coloring her cheeks.

“Stop what?” I grin, satisfied.

“That!” she points dramatically at my face, her eyes narrowing. “The seductive grins, the expert winks, and the master-level flirting! A girl can only take so much, Joshua,” she says, placing a hand over her heart as if genuinely overwhelmed.

I lean back in my seat, smiling as I cross my arms. “I’ll stop if you stop,” I say.

“What in the world am I supposed to stop?” She raises an eyebrow.

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