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The moment my sneakers hit the wooden boards of Navy Pier, I feel a breeze from Lake Michigan sweep across my face, cool and fresh. The sun is still high, casting golden light over the water and turning the waves into scattered bits of sunlight. The scent of popcorn, cotton candy, and grilled food hangs in the air, making it feel like a fairground dream.
Trayvon's laugh pulls me in, warm and familiar. He's got his arm slung casually around my shoulder, and my heart does this fluttery little thing it always seems to do when he touches me. I glance at him, and the way his eyes squint when he grins just makes me melt.
"I missed this," I say, nudging my head against his shoulder. "Us. Out. Doing stuff."
"We needed it," he says, giving my hand a squeeze. "Life's been busy."
And he's right. Between my job, his clients, and the general chaos of life, we hadn't had a day like this in weeks. It already feels like it was worth the wait.
We stroll along the boardwalk, arms linked. Colorful banners flap in the breeze, and a street band nearby plays a jazzy rendition of a familiar pop song. Kids run past us chasing seagulls, their laughter high and bright. Everything feels alive.
"This place really is something on a Saturday," I murmur, scanning the crowd.
Trayvon chuckles, the sound smooth and deep. "Chicago's always been good to me," he says. "Especially when I'm walking it with you."
The Ferris wheel towers ahead, its lights just starting to blink in the early evening sun. I nudge him with my elbow. "Want to go up?"
"You sure you won't freak out halfway up?" he teases, giving me a mock-serious look.
"Please. I'm the brave one in this relationship."
He raises an eyebrow. "Oh really?"
We buy tickets and board a gondola that swings gently as we step inside. The wheel starts its slow, steady climb. As we rise above the pier, the city opens up in every direction with steel and glass rising behind us, water shimmering ahead. It's breathtaking.
I scoot closer to him, watching the horizon stretch out in every direction. "It's kind of unreal," I whisper.
He wraps an arm around my waist. "You are."
I turn to look at him, my heart skipping like a skipped rock across the lake. "You're laying it on thick today," I murmur, even as I lean into the warmth of his body.
"At least I mean it," he whispers near my ear.
The Ferris wheel pauses at the very top. For a moment, it's just the two of us and the city. I hear the distant hum of the crowd below, feel the wind tug at my hair. His hand finds mine again.
"This view's great and all," he murmurs, "but it's nothing compared to you."
"You're so corny." I laughed while trying to play it cool. My cheeks heat up as I look down, smiling into the collar of his hoodie.
