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I motion toward the direction of the subway station, my hand lifting in a half wave. “Hope you don’t work too hard this weekend, Steven. I was mistaken in thinking you didn’t have any friends, but you obviously do. Have some fun. Relax. I’ll see you in the office on Monday.”

I turn away before he can respond, my heart still twisted in knots, a quiet sadness seeping through my skin as I realize the farce this friendship ever was, something I’ll never be able to hold up my end of the bargain because the only person who’ll end up getting hurt will be me.

Because it’s always the woman.

Perhaps Mom felt the same way with Dad.

“Wait.” Pounding footsteps sound behind me before I feel the warm clasp of his hand on my shoulders and he turns me to face him. “Let me give you a ride home.”

“You don’t need to. I’m pretty sure it’s out of your way.”

“It’s fine. The gentleman in me doesn’t feel comfortable letting you go home by yourself at this late hour.

It’s no trouble.” He drops his hand from my shoulder and steps back, once again putting space between us.

His hand balls into a fist before relaxing by his side once more.

“Do it…for me, then. So I can sleep knowing my friend got home safely.”

My nostrils flare and I wet my lips. The wings flutter inside me and while my mind wants to say no, my heart won’t let me do so. “Fine. Just so you can get a good night’s sleep and get rid of those panda eyes.”

Steven huffs out a satisfied hum and leads me back to The Shed and after a few minutes, a valet pulls up a sleek, dark luxury sedan I’ve seen only in the movies.

Steven opens the door and I slide into the passenger seat, my fingers trailing over the buttery soft leather, my nose inhaling the crisp new car smell mixed with a hint of eucalyptus coming out of a small oil diffuser on the dashboard.

It is night and day compared to the gust of warm, humid air on the subway platform, tinged with the stench of sweat and urine, while one waits for the train to arrive.

I shuffle my feet on the carpeted floor, my fingers twisting nervously in my lap as Steven goes around the car and slides into the driver’s seat. I feel out of place in this vehicle, but as soon as he sits next to me, the air stills, and the gnawing uneasiness recedes into the background.

Relaxing into my seat, I give him my address and he quickly sweeps us away into the night, and expertly maneuvers the car on to various side streets and shortcuts, heading toward a neighborhood he’s probably never stepped foot in before .

I glance out the window, admiring the way the bright colorful lights of the city blend into streaks of rainbow, the world moving at a lively pace outside, but at this moment, I’m cocooned in this sphere of silence and peacefulness with the only man who hasn’t disappointed me yet, and someone I’m inconveniently drawn to.

We pause at a stoplight, and I stare at a billboard in the distance, which advertises, “See the world at your fingertips. Your dreams and story begin now.”

Turning to Steven, I ask, “Is there any place in the world you want to visit but haven’t yet?”

He cocks a brow at me and purses his lips, his fingers tapping on the steering wheel.

“I haven’t given it much thought before, to be honest. The traveling part is not the challenge.

It’s the taking time off from work that’s more difficult.

” He shrugs and asks, “What about you? Anywhere in particular you want to go that you haven’t been before? ”

I snort. In the span of this confusing night, Steven would inadvertently highlight how different we are, then somehow tow me back in by showing me how none of it matters.

“I actually haven’t traveled internationally before.

I’ve only flown on a plane twice…one of which was a long time ago when my mom’s ex-boyfriend flew us all to Hawaii for vacation.

I was a little kid then and remember little of it other than how excited I was when I saw the clouds outside the airplane window and how awesome it was to swim with the dolphins and fishes. ”

Smiling, I lean back, thinking of the fuzzy memories of Uncle Bobby dancing with Mom on the beach while Taylor and I splashed our feet in the waves. Life felt wonderful then. Perfect even.

The other time I flew on a plane is an unpleasant memory, and I shove it away. The old ache resurfaces in my chest…the wistful longing I’ve tried to bury over the years.

“That was a good trip.” I smack my lips and release a stale breath.

“But if I get to go anywhere now…perhaps after I get my full-time offer at Pietra, ahem …” I clear my throat sarcastically, only to be met with deep chuckles which cause goosebumps to prickle in the back of my neck, “the first place I want to go to would be Paris.”

“Hm.” He turns on the blinkers as we approach the rundown neighborhood of my apartment, and I brace myself for the look of shock and disgust to appear on his face. “It’s a beautiful place. Definitely worth a visit,” he says as he takes another turn, the car slowing as my apartment lies ahead.

We pass by a group of teenagers smoking weed on the doorsteps, neighborhood kids I’ve watched growing up over the years.

I feel the curious stares and whispers as the car stops.

Steven tenses, his bearings alert as he walks around to open my door, every inch the well-mannered gentleman in which he was raised.

“I’ll stay here until you go inside.” He stands by the car as I walk up the steps of my apartment, wedging myself between Tony and Jimmy, who let out a loud whistle after I pass by them.

“Landed yourself a rich one, Gracie? Just like your mama?”

I roll my eyes and take out my keys. “Oh shove it, Jimmy, or the next time I bake cookies, you won’t get any. And that’s my boss, you dumbass.”

Sliding my key in the lock, I turn around, finding Steven still standing there like a dark knight, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes sharp and watching every movement from us, as if he’s ready at any second to come to my rescue if anything goes awry.

My heart skips another beat and I smile before waving at him.

“Go home, boss. I’m good here.”

He gives me a terse nod and motions me in with his hand, apparently not satisfied until I’m physically inside those double doors.

My chest warms at his protectiveness, and I step inside the building, my eyes adjusting to the bright fluorescent lights of the stairwell, which flickers intermittently. I turn around, seeing him frowning before slowly getting back into his car and driving away.

Later that night, after I washed up and changed into my sleep shirt, I walk to my bedroom window to close the blinds before I go to sleep.

Looking up at the brilliant dark skies, the stars still glimmering brightly as they did hours before during my walk on the High Line with a mysterious man who doesn’t speak a lot, but holds so much inside him, I’m comforted I get to shoulder his burdens for a moment…

albeit only by walking alongside him under the darkness of the night.

A star streaks across the sky once more, and the pounding renews in my chest. I make the same wish I did standing next to him then.

I wish he would find true happiness and let his soul fly.