36
Luke jogged down Park Avenue, Zeke by his side. The setting sun streamed down 41st street and caught the orange and red leaves of a maple tree growing out of a grate in the sidewalk. It wasn’t a forest, but it was still pretty.
He’d taken to staying in the city a couple of nights a week at Moto’s Soho apartment. He was a long way from a self-proclaimed New Yorker, but he had adjusted to the crush of people and even found some things he enjoyed about the place.
He’d bought season tickets to the Knicks, determined to figure out what the hell Summer had found so appealing about that team, and considered inviting her to the season opener.
But he didn’t.
He’d left that door wide open and she hadn’t walked back through it. Not a whole lot he could do about that one, and he certainly didn’t blame her after everything they’d been through. But he missed her every morning and every day and at least once at nighttime, and he wondered if he’d ever reach a point where he didn’t.
He slowed to a walk as he neared the HERO Force office, the smell of hot pretzels and fall leaves on the air, and rounded the corner onto Fifth Avenue, taking the dog through the brass and glass doors and straight through the lobby to the elevators.
Look confident and carry a clipboard.
Zeke sniffed furiously at the ground, the fur on his back standing on end. He looked at Luke and barked once. “What’s the matter, boy? You smell something?”
Zeke went to the closed elevator door and tapped his paw twice. “What’s in there?” He had no idea what the dog could be smelling.
Zeke barked again.
Luke shot a look at the doorman, who glared back. “You’re going to get us in trouble.” He had a deal with the manager of the building, but it didn’t include a loudly barking German shepherd going berserk in the lobby.
The elevator doors opened and Zeke ran inside, whining excitedly.
“Okay, okay, we’re going.” He got in, the doors closing behind him. Zeke jumped on the doors, scratching. “Get down! What are you doing? You know you can’t do that.” The doors opened at the HERO Force offices and the dog took off running, reaching the end of the hall and turning right.
“Aaagh!” yelled a woman’s voice, followed by laughing.
Luke walked to the end of the hall, not believing what he heard. There on the ground was Summer, having clearly been tackled by Zeke, who was licking her and jumping excitedly.
“Hi,” she said, smiling.
“Hi.”
She tried to get up and he reached out a hand to help her. “I think he’s happy to see me,” she said.
“What are you doing here?”
“Uh, well…” She smiled nervously. “I’m actually here to see you.”
“Yeah?” He took a half-step closer. Her eyes went to his mouth. “What about?”
“I took that job in Atlanta.”
“Did you?”
“Yeah. And it’s good. It’s really good.” She bit her lip. “I was thinking you might really like it there—”
She wanted him to come with her. He’d damn near given up hope. He hauled her tightly against his body.
She was laughing. “There are trees and buildings and all sorts of stuff.”
“Buildings, huh? I love it already.” He kissed her, turning her around to press her against the wall, his body touching hers from head to knee. This woman was more than he knew he could have. She was everything.
“I love you, Luke.”
He lifted his head, staring into the eyes that had haunted his dreams since he’d last seen her face. “You do?”
“Yeah. Do you still love me?”
“Does it look like I still love you?”
“It does.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “It really does.”
His throat worked. “Then I guess I do.”
She hit the back of his head. “You want to move in with me?”
“Can I bring my dog?”
“I was talking to the dog.”
He burst out laughing, resting his forehead against hers. “I’m so damn happy you came back.”
“Sorry it took me so long.”
“It’s okay. You took as long as you needed, right?”
She nodded.
“And not a moment more?”
“Yes.”
“Then your timing is perfect.” He hugged her tightly and exhaled completely. The woman he loved was home.