Page 7 of Babydaddy To Go

He doesn’t move, so I turn to go, raising one hand in farewell. The handsome man grins then.

“Can I get your number?”

Excitement pours through my veins.

“Yes!” I practically shout. My cheeks redden. “I mean, sure. No problem.”

Nate laughs, throwing his head back to reveal perfect white teeth.

“I liked walking with you. If you ever need someone to do touristy things with, I’m your guy.”

“Really?” I ask. Maybe the Big Apple is a charmed city where dreams reallydocome true.

He grins.

“Yeah, of course. I may have lived here my whole life, but there are still things I’ve never done. In fact, I’ve never been to the Met.”

I giggle.

“How is that possible? Doesn’t everyone go at least once? And it’s free to boot, right?”

He shrugs.

“I guess it was never on my list. It’s weird to think about it, but living here means I don’t notice as much of the cool stuff there is to do. For better or worse, you get used to things.”

I giggle again.

“Well, I don’t know about that, but I’ll happily go to tourist stops with you. I’m dying to get to know the city. My program only lasts a year, and I plan on using every second while I’m here to explore.”

“We’ll do it together then. But first, let me get your number before I forget.”

I recite the ten digits for him to enter into his phone. I hold up my dead cell for him to see.

“I’d ask for yours, but I’d have nowhere to put it. Text me so I can save your number?”

“Done,” he says. “By the way, do you want to have dinner with me tonight?”

His abrupt question surprises me, but my answer is immediate.

“Um sure.” Wow, things really do move at lightspeed in the city.

Nate smiles, flashing that impish grin again. “Excellent. I’ll pick you up at five?”

“Um sure,” I stammer. And with that, the handsome man is gone before turning around to wave.

“Don’t bring any moose!” he calls.

I giggle again, turning to go into my new apartment. Of course I wouldn’t bring moose to dinner. Or does he mean I should bring moose to dinner? Who knows? I’m stunned at the quick turn of events. I just got asked on a date in my first hour in the city. This truly is the land of opportunity, especially for a girl who doesn’t know much about men.

But first things first. I drag my suitcases up the two stairs and down the hall. If I’d stayed with Nate on the sidewalk any longer, I might have never come in. My door opens easily with the key my landlord mailed. The apartment is expensive, but it came fully furnished, thank god. There’s a lumpy sofa and rickety dining table, along with a bright orange plastic chair. Only one chair, not two.

But it’s fine. There’s only one of me, after all. I plug my phone into a socket, and plonk down on the sofa, my head still whirring. But then I leap up in a frenzy. I’ve got a date tonight with the most gorgeous man … and I can’t wait.

3

Nathaniel

Iwas supposed to spend my day going over the menu changes at my restaurants for the next couple of weeks, but it was impossible to concentrate after dropping Alyssa off at her apartment. So I futzed around for a few hours at the restaurant, making a nuisance of myself while terrorizing the sous chefs and making the bus boys laugh. Hey, it’s all part of the job.