“What are you feeling for dinner? There’s a good sushi place down the street,” I asked her as we made our way to the elevator. I had been meaning to mention it to her.
Madison grimaced slightly. “I’m not really feeling sushi,” she told me before stopping in front of the elevator.
I hit the down button next to the elevator door before giving her a surprised look. Sushi was usually an automatic yes for her. “Since when are you not up for sushi?” I asked her.
Madison shrugged as she walked into the elevator. “Just not feeling it,” she replied before shooting me a teasing wink. “But I am feeling you.”
I rolled my eyes playfully, unable to help the laugh that broke from me. I put my arm around her shoulders, drawing her close to me as the elevator headed down to the first floor.
“What are you feeling? Anything. My treat,” I said, wanting to pamper her tonight.
“I’m not very hungry. Maybe something light,” Madison replied.
She seemed a little off lately, but I chalked it up to the stress that she had been dealing with lately. Every college student was suffering right now, especially seniors about to graduate. At least everything would pay off soon. There was no other feeling like walking across that stage.
“I know a place that does small plates and appetizers,” I said, leading her out of the elevator and out of the front door of the building. I paused outside, gazing up as light flurries danced through the air. My breath puffed in front of me in a faint cloud as the cold air surrounded us.
“Now, this is romantic,” Madison laughed as she playfully twirled around under the falling flurries. A few adorned her hair as she peered up at the dark shy.
I took a moment to just watch her, feeling my heart pound heavily in my chest. She was insanely beautiful to the point that it nearly took my breath away. I couldn’t believe that I was actually with her. Somehow, I had landed the perfect girl. She put up with my attitude and even fixed it a little. She was a little miracle worker.
“This definitely feels like one of those Hallmark movies,” I smiled as I tucked my hands into the pockets of my black coat, fighting against the chill.
Madison stopped twirling and turned to face me with a warm smile on her face. “Then you know what happens when snow is falling,” she said as she cocked an eyebrow at me.
I chuckled and stepped closer to her, quickly understanding what she was getting at. I placed my hand on the small of her back, pulling her closer as we huddled on the sidewalk close to each other. Cars sped down the street near us, snow crunching under their tires as it continued to fall. I cupped her cheek and pulled her in for a sweet kiss, feeling the light flurries fall on us from above. Admittedly, it was kind of romantic.
Madison placed her hands on my sides, smiling into the kiss. She then pecked my cheek playfully before pulling away. “Now, we had our Hallmark moment,” she told me.
“Was that your plan all along?” I teased her as I opened my eyes. Even if it was cheesy, it was cute that she wanted to share this moment with me. We were certainly enamored by each other.
“Of course,” Madison replied before stepping away from me. “Show me this small plates place.”
I joined her side, leading her down the sidewalk to head farther into the city. As the snow fell all around us, I still didn’t feel all that cold with her right next to me. She warmed me through and through, lighting me ablaze with a desire that I didn’t even know existed in such an intense form.
Business had been my passion for so long. It still was, but the determination and excitement that I got from her were on a whole other level. She invaded my mind, drove me forward. I didn’t know what our future looked like, but if things continued how they were, I was going to remain the happiest man on the planet with the perfect girl on my arm. I couldn’t think of anything better than that.
Chapter 23
Madison
I woke up the next morning feeling far different than last night. Tyler and I spent last night celebrating my successful presentation, and it was one of the best nights of my life. What struck me was that nothing extraordinary happened, but I was so happy the entire night. I danced around under the flurries with him. I laughed during our small dinner. The night ended with us beneath the sheets, connecting in ways that I could hardly wrap my head around still.
As much as I wanted to bask in my memories, I couldn’t lay there for another second before scrambling out of my bed and rushing to the bathroom. I threw myself over the toilet just as I threw up last night’s dinner, kneeling on the tile of the bathroom floor. I gripped the sides of the seat, shuddering as my strength was sapped.