“I’m sure you’ll be back. We’re just starting on the Angelica Building, and Huxley is going to want you to oversee things. This won’t be the last time you’re here.”
“Good. I have so many more dessert places to try. I should start a dessert Instagram. I could call it Mint to Be, like a play on words with my podcast.”
“Or you could call it Lick Me Till Ice Cream.”
My eyes level with his playful ones. “That was a JP comment.”
“Try all you want. You can’t knock that out of me.” He winks and stands with me. I grab the plates and he grabs the rest of the tamales and refried beans we didn’t eat.
“I wouldn’t want you to change. I like you as you are,” I say while we walk back into the penthouse and head toward the kitchen.
“Ooo, what movie is that from? I feel like some girl made me watch it.”
“Bridget Jones,” I answer.
He snaps. “That’s right. I recall Bridget wandering around onscreen in short skirts, correct?”
“Of course that’s the part you remember.”
He just shrugs, and together we put away the food and fill the dishwasher with the rest of our dishes. When we’re done, I lean against the counter and fold my arms over my chest. “I had fun tonight. You’re pretty helpful in the kitchen.”
“I make a thing or two.”
“Well, I should get to bed, where I can shamelessly avoid any stretchy elastic around my waist so I can better breathe through the tamales I consumed.”
“Babe, save the dirty talk for the bedroom.”
I chuckle and move past him. “Good night . . . Jonah.”
“Hey,” he calls out, causing me to spin around. “I have something for you.”
“Please don’t tell me it’s your penis or something deranged like that.”
“First of all, my penis isn’t deranged, it’s regular . . . remember?”
I laugh.
“And no, I actually have a physical thing for you.” He walks toward his suit jacket, which is draped on the back of a dining room chair, and reaches into the inside pocket. He pulls out a small bag and hands it to me. “I saw this and thought of you.”
“Oh, it is a real thing?”
He laughs. “Yes, it is.”
I open the tiny blue bag and pull out something long and hard. When I realize what it is, a tsunami of swoon hits me all at once.
“You got me a magnet?”
He sticks his hands in his pockets. “Yeah. I wasn’t sure if you’d found one yet. I remember you saying that you get one for every city you visit. But since we leave soon, I thought it might be a nice memento. But if you already got one, we can just leave it here, or—”
“I haven’t bought one yet.” I stare down at the magnet. It reads San Francisco along the bottom, with the skyline and Golden Gate Bridge at the top. It’s cute, bubbly, and colorful, something I would pick for myself. “But this is so perfect.” I move my thumb over the lettering.
“Seriously, if you don’t like it, I can get something different.”
I shake my head and take a step forward so I can press my hand to his chest. “This was so thoughtful and kind.” Our eyes connect. “Thank you.” I move in closer, loop my arm around him, and give him a hug. His arms fall around me.
“You’re welcome. Hopefully, you will have more to add as your business grows.” His hand rubs up and down my back.
I don’t pull away.
I don’t want to.
I grip him tighter instead, pressing my cheek to his chest.
“I really hope so.”
And for the next minute or so, we remain like that, hugging each other. From the outside looking in, it might seem awkward, two people simply hugging in the middle of the common space, but right now, it feels right. It feels like I belong here, in his arms, protected by his strength, cared for by his heart. This. This is what I’ve missed so much since not having a boyfriend. Touch. Every time I watch Jeff swallow Mom in a hug, I feel so incredibly grateful to him, because he gave her confidence back in his hugs. Showed her that she was a desirable woman, not a single mom. And the longer you go without incidental touches, something I’ve gone without for so long now, the more you long for them. Hugs. A brief kiss on the forehead. Holding hands. Fingers stroking your cheek. I miss that terribly. Even though I can’t expect JP—Jonah—to provide those things, he has been. And I’m going to miss that when I go back to my apartment, back to living on my own.