Chapter 1
His brown eyes stared deep into my soul. A soft smile replaced his straight lip. A warm, large hand caressed my cheek - followed by a deep chuckle.
“What’s so funny?”
All signs of mischief gone, “Nothing,” his eyes wandered down to my lips. “You’re just too cute, Mia.”. He placed a soft kiss on my cheek. An indescribable tingle in my stomach blossomed, my whole face in heat. My arms circled around his shoulders, his arms met my waist. The whole world stood still — 10 Things I Hate About You on the TV seemed to freeze, the couch beneath us felt like jelly. Slowly picking me up, he placed me on his lap. My legs on his side. And at that moment my heart skipped a beat. “I love you, Max.”
He smiled. “I love you more.”
Max and I started as friends. I met him when we were freshmen in High School. I picked him to be shy, studious, and quiet. Well……I was wrong. Max was an introvert, yes, but, he was funny, mischievous, extremely warm, and comforting. It wasn’t until our senior year of high school that he asked me out for prom and, the rest is history. I went to Australia for college, and he stayed in New Jersey. 4 years of long-distance was tough but, now we live in New York together, both with stable jobs and our terrier, Cabbage.
Yes, we named our dog, Cabbage.
He is my best friend and the love of my life. I couldn’t live without him by my side.
We finished watching the movie and decided to get ready for bed. “You go first,” I said, walking to our floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Skyscrapers, bright lights, dozens of yellow taxis, and bustling streets.
How did I end up in NYC?
I initially wanted to start my career as a financial analyst in London. Max was ready to move with me. It wasn’t until he was offered a higher position as a marketing executive in New York that I decided to drop London and move with him. In the distance I could hear the shower running, Max humming to Bruno Major’s Home. Despite leaving my offer in London, I was working as a stockbroker on Wall Street — pretty exciting if you ask me. Even better than I have Max with me through it all.
Deep in my thoughts, I felt an arm snake through my arms to circle my waist. Max.
“Babe, why are you staring out the window?” He said with a chuckle, followed by a soft peck on my cheek.
Fresh shampoo and aftershave. I closed my eyes to inhale his scent.
“Nothing,” I replied, with a grin. He let me go, “Mhmm…Alright. Get in the shower.”. Without a moment of thought, I chuckled, gave him a quick peck, and walked off to the shower.
