Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 147545 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 738(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147545 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 738(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
“We will definitely be seeing Times Square.”
“Yay!” I flash him a big smile. “This is an awesome surprise date. Thank you so much.”
He chuckles. “It’s barely even started.”
“And already awesome,” I state.
He points at a shop up ahead. “Let’s stop in here to grab a couple of bottles of water. We still have a bit of a drive before we get into the city.”
I’m buzzing as I follow him to the airport shop. I’m already tempted to buy souvenirs, but I know we might see cooler stuff once we get into the city, and if not, we can always stop in one of these shops on the way home.
Once we have drinks, Tor leads the way to our ride. It’s another car service, and it takes a good half hour or so before we actually get into the city. When we do, I’m glad someone else is driving because traffic is crazy. The sight of so many skyscrapers is definitely exciting, though, and gets me right into metropolitan mode. I’m glued to the window, watching the city sights as we pass by.
It becomes clear why he said we will definitely be seeing Times Square when I realize we’re driving right through it. At first, I figure we just have to pass through to get to our hotel, but then the driver pulls up to the curb.
I look over at Tor.
“This is it,” he tells me.
“We’re staying right in Times Square?” I’m stunned as the driver opens my car door for me. I grab my purse and slide my legs out, and between the lights and the noise of the city, it feels like I’m stepping out of the car and into another world.
I feel smaller somehow as soon as I set foot on the sidewalk. I always imagined coming here someday. I’ve seen plenty of pictures over the years, but actually standing here on a sidewalk in New York City… everything feels more immense in person. More real. I spin around, taking it all in.
Tor climbs out after me, touching my shoulder in passing as he heads around to the trunk to grab our suitcases.
I can’t believe I’m here.
I can’t believe I’m here with Tor Walters.
I breathe in the air, and well, that’s a mistake because the city doesn’t smell amazing, but I still can’t help smiling at the fact that I’m standing in Times Square when mere days ago, I thought my life was over.
Tor leads the way into the hotel, and I follow, taking in every single bit of it. I open my purse and grab my phone so I can take pictures. I want to remember all of this forever.
I follow him to the check-in desk and hang back while he pulls out his wallet and gets us settled in. He tells the lady that he has something to pick up, so we wait while she goes to get it. She comes back with two garment bags and hands them over with a smile. He thanks her, grabs his suitcase, and we head to the elevators.
“What’s in there?” I ask.
“Something for the evening portion of our plans,” he says evasively.
I smile. “Oh, really?”
“I figure we’ll get settled in our room, then we’ll head down and check out Times Square. There are a couple of places I know we’ll stop, and you can let me know if anything else happens to catch your eye.”
“Can I see what’s in the garment bag? This whole day is a surprise. Surely, I can have a peek at one of them.”
“Of course you can. Tonight.”
I shoot him a look, but I can’t stop smiling, so it probably doesn’t hit very hard.
That’s okay.
Tor scans a room key and pushes the door open, and I follow him inside.
Our room is nice and clean, and it has a king-sized bed, which I’m sure we’ll enjoy later. We’re on a high floor, and when I walk over to the window, I can’t believe the view of Times Square. Maybe I won’t love the bright lights tonight when it’s time to sleep, but I love them right now.
Since Tor wanted to settle in, we unpack a little. I put our toiletries on the bathroom sink, and Tor hangs up the garment bags and plugs in our phone chargers.
As I walk back into the main area, I say, “You know, since we’re only staying overnight, we probably could have fit everything in one suitcase.”
“We definitely could have,” he agrees. “But I didn’t know how much shopping we’d end up doing today. The extra space is so we can take things back.”
“Ooh, good call.”
Once we’re done checking out the room and putting stuff away, Tor takes my hand, and we head back downstairs.
The city is so alive as soon as we step out onto the sidewalk. I’m immediately overwhelmed—but in a good way. I don’t know where to start. “Which way should we go first?” I ask.