One Deep Breath

Chapter Eighteen

Jolie's jaw dropped.

The thought of him taking her to the city had crossed her mind a time or two since his call; it was only a few hours away by car and that's where he lived so it wasn't exactly far fetched for her to guess. Having it confirmed excited her, she hadn't let herself think too much about any hypothetical locations and now a million ideas about what they would be doing in New York raced through her head.

"Is that okay?" Jesse faltered, another moment of self-consciousness breaking through his usually steady demeanor.

"Wait, seriously? We're going into the city? Are you kidding?"

Jolie felt like a kid on Christmas Eve. She loved the city and she'd only been a handful of times even though it wasn't far from where she grew up and resided her entire life.

"We should probably get there a little after six, depending on traffic. I need to meet with someone briefly at eight, I was just notified today. Right after I dropped you off, actually," he explained, still a hint of anxiousness betraying his features. "I'm glad you agreed to come with me otherwise I would have been annoyed at having to make the trip."

The sheepish look on his face made him look younger than how he typically carried himself, and Jolie's affection for him surged.

She couldn't stop the wide smile from spreading across her face and his face mirrored hers when he realized how excited she was.

"Oh my god I can't believe we're going to the city. Just popping in for the night. No big deal," she said with mock arrogance before letting out a laugh. Stopping abruptly she realized this was probably wasn't a big deal to him. "Err, I guess it probably isn't a big deal to you," she sputtered, embarrassed.

"It's a big deal," he shook his head in protest. "Maybe not the whole going into the city part, but having someone come with me. Bringing someone I like with me." He emphasized the word like, using Jolie's own words against her again, though this time she didn't mind at all. "This is going to be way more fun than it usually is for me."

His eyes were so sincere and the doubts Jolie felt earlier were erased. Jolie reached for his hand and squeezed it affectionately, causing him to smile at her before he interlaced his fingers with hers as they relaxed back into their seats.

They rolled through the small, snow covered downtown of the only place Jolie had ever called home before getting on the highway heading towards the city. She rarely left town so the idea of even just one night away thrilled her. Happiness pumped through her veins as she watched the small skyline disappear into the distance behind them.

"So three hours in the car together, huh? We're gonna learn so many things about each other," she teased, turning her attention away from the window and back towards Jesse.

"Oh I already know everything I need to know about you Jolie Snow," he said with a devious look.

"Yeah right!" she exclaimed back.

"Well let's see. You're gorgeous, obviously. But you're also smart and quick witted. You're either entirely too aware of yourself and the things going on around you or you have your head in the clouds, there's no in between. You're funny and playful, but only after you've settled yourself into a situation. And you've really only ever experienced living in one place your whole life, something that I think you might secretly hate."

Jolie stared at him, shocked.

"That was ...perceptive of you," she mumbled, unsure of how to react to that.