This was so incredibly fun. I couldn't remember the last time I'd been on any sort of scavenger or treasure hunt, which made me realize... I really needed to get out of my studio more.
"Amidst the city's towering spires, the garden hides where love inspires," I read. "So this is it, the final clue, I'm guessing."
"Do you think this key really unlocks the rooftop door? It seems a bit old-fashioned, don't you think?"
The man had a point. "I guess we'll find out? And how on earth do we even get there? And what if other people have the key too? We need to haul ass just in case."
He laughed. "Yes. Definitely haul ass."
Three
Astrid
He made short work of the narrow space, and before I knew it, he was holding aside the curtain of lights for me again as we made our way back into the massive ballroom.
This time, we bypassed the stairs, instead finding an elevator to take us to the top of the building. We were quiet as the floors ticked past, a strange energy encompassing me all of a sudden.
This was weird. Incredibly weird.
Was I delusional to think that I could hook up with a complete stranger? Other people seemed to have no problem doing it, but it felt a bit forced to me, so odd and awkward.
It was a strange time to realize I craved some romance along with the physical. I needed to know a person, inside, to get a feel for their heart, their mind, their way of thinking. Despite how attractive this man was, I suddenly didn't know if I could go through with it. And an equally valid point was, did he even want to have sex with me?
My sister Annalise's voice rang in my head. When I'd worried out loud to her about this very point last week, she'd said, "Of course he'll want to have sex with you. He's a guy."
It almost made me laugh right then and there in the elevator like a total dork, but I successfully smothered it. At least I hoped so.
We finally arrived, and the doors slid open to reveal a hallway. Straight ahead was a door that looked like it led to a stairwell, and sure enough, there was a small sign on it that said rooftop access.
Phantom—that was it. I couldn't do the phantom thing, so I was just going to go back to calling him mystery man. It was a little boring to keep repeating the same phrase over and over, but there was nothing else I could do.
Anyway, mystery man gave me a significant look as he dug the key from his pocket. "The moment of truth," he murmured.
Goodness, the nerves whipping around in my stomach were unreal.
I put a hand on his arm, stopping him. "So tell me, what happens if it works? What happens if we actually win this thing?" What a stupid question for me to ask. Why had I even opened my mouth?
He looked at me, his lips parting in a devilish grin, making my breath catch. "We dance, love," he said.
His smile was contagious, making me a bit gushy inside, and I found myself calming down.I could do this. Maybe not the sex part—I'd worry about that later—but definitely the dancing part.
Returning his attention to the key, he inserted it into the knob. While I held my breath, he paused, drawing out the drama, giving me another tiny hint into his personality. So he liked to tease a little apparently.
Just turn the knob already, I said in my head, not wanting to voice my impatience out loud.
As if he could hear my thoughts, he finally turned the knob, and lo and behold, the door opened for him.
I squeaked with excitement, not just that we'd won, but that we'd also get to check out the rooftop garden that so few people had ever seen. What a privilege, and how I couldn't wait to brag about it to my sisters.
That stunning smile firmly in place, he made a gesture for me to go ahead, and I didn't hesitate. I rushed up the steps to find yet another door, this one unlocked fortunately. I shoved it open, mystery man reaching across to assist, and my breath escaped me once again.
The sight in front of me was stunning, like something out of a dream or romantic movie. The rooftop was filled with lush greenery, nearly every bit of it decorated with string lights, glowing lanterns scattered across the stone floor and a beautiful view of the city's lights finishing off the scene.
"Wow," I whispered at the top of the stairs, too stunned to move forward.
He whistled. "Wow is right."
It was pure magic, enchanting, a word I didn't get to use very often.
