A drink with the stars

2.

We reached Kate's apartment in no time, we were either both in a rush to spend more time together or it was the icy night that was nipping at our heels, chasing us off the streets. We burst through her door, my face red and sore as the heat of the room brushed my cheeks. I pushed the door closed behind me and Kate walked over to me, taking the bag from my hand and setting it on the kitchen bench. Her apartment was small but well furnished, her little cat Nino came trotting over to Kate and she bent down to smother him in little kisses. I walked over to Kate and her cat cautiously, bending down to stroke the little kitty. His sweet face rubbing against Kate's hand as he turned to me, and I reached out to let him give me a little sniff. Kate stood up, "Say hi to Morgan, Nino," Kate said as she walked into the kitchen, she busied herself getting out two wine glasses, she paused looking for something, her back to me as I walked towards the kitchen, letting Nino frolic back to wherever he had emerged from. I stopped at the two tall stools that were at the small kitchen island, wondering whether to take a seat or not, so I just stood, arms at my side and then I stuffed my hands in my coat pockets, thinking it looked less awkward. "What do you usually drink with the stars?" I asked, Kate turned, a bottle of wine in her hands. "I've probably done enough swaying this evening," I said, pointing at the bottle with a laugh. Kate sniggered, "You don't have to have any," she said softly, "I mean we don't have to." Kate was almost quiet, and I felt I had offended her, so I shook my head, "Kate," I said with a smile, "that's my attempt at comedy." Kate relaxed her face into a smile, and I collected the two glasses from the bench, Kate's eyes lingered on mine for a moment and she the turned to the direction of her couch, it was a small beige and white pattered two seater, "Grab the blanket Morgan?" I picked up the knitted blanket that was draped over one side of the couch and carried the glasses in my other hand, unsure of where Kate wanted to have a drink, but she was already back out the front door, I followed and she pulled the door closed behind me, motioning for me to follow her and she pushed through as set of doors to the stairs, following them upwards, signs on each level advising we were on the way the the roof.

As we climbed the last step and opened the final door, the winter greeted us again and I gasped, it was so cold, but that wasn't what took my breath away, it was the fairy-light covered roof, festoon lights trailed across, strung up from tall poles at each corner, and plants decorated the space, and there was a collection of chairs, perfect for laying in and perfect for staring up at the stars. I stood still, looking around,  "It's great huh?" Kate stated, I hadn't realised she had stopped too but she was looking at me, gauging my reaction, standing close to me, cradling the wine bottle and smiling. "It's gorgeous," I responded, "it's cold, but gorgeous." Kate chuckled and led me towards a couple of chairs, they were banana lounge type chairs, and as I sat down I realised they were actually pretty comfortable and Kate pushed her chair closer to mine before she lay down taking the glasses from me and placing them next to the wine she had already placed on a small table that was next to her. Kate took the blanket from me, flipping it out and over us, and paused as she looked up to the sky. I smiled at her, in so much disbelief at my first evening in New York, and then followed her gaze up into the sky. "It's beautiful, isn't it," Kate stated, her eyes not leaving the vast sky above, I looked back down at her, and suddenly my jacket was warm enough, my cheeks no longer cold and the knitted blanket felt like a weighted one, and suddenly I felt comfort. It washed over me like warm summer rain, and my heart pounded, each beat felt so loud and I was convinced Kate could hear it. Another beat, this time it rung in my ears and I panicked as Kate spoke, and I was sure she was going to ask me if I heard something, but she didn't. "You feel okay enough for a wine Morgan?," Kate almost whispered, as though she didn't want to scare the stars, as if they were only out for us, as if this night and this sky and it's stars were meant for only us. I nodded, and held out my hand as Kate opened the bottle, poured us both a glass, handing me one, her fingers brushing mine, and I was sure she lingered on them more than she needed, and I felt myself blush as I looked back up the the sky.