One Deep Breath

Chapter Nineteen

By the time they were rolling into New Jersey it had fallen dark. Jolie and Jesse were huddled together in his reclined seat, laughing together over funny gifs and videos on her phone.

Jolie almost didn't notice when the lights got brighter and the buildings grew taller. Glancing out the frosted window when she felt them slowing down, she did a double take when she realized what she was looking at.

Climbing off Jesse's lap she wiped the fog off the window and stared out into the city lights ahead of them.

"We're almost there!" she squealed as he watched her fondly.

"Well it's going to disappear in a sec, so take in the view now."

"What? Why?" she asked, looking back at him. He nodded up towards the front of the car, and Jolie turned her attention to the road ahead of them. The entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel was straight ahead of them.

Jolie tensed, her body going rigid. The thought of going underground made her pulse spike, stirring her anxiety that she had otherwise almost forgotten about that day.

Noticing her unease, Jesse pulled her back onto lap, wrapping his arms tight around her waist.

"Scared of a little tunnel are we?" he whispered into her neck.

She shook her head, unsuccessfully convincing either of them.

Engulfed in the darkness of the tunnel suddenly, with the soft glow of lighting passing them by as they were driven through, Jesse tightened his grip around her.

Snuggling back into him, the flash of panic that had flooded her was replaced with a fiery heat rushing through her limbs.

She wanted so badly to turn around and kiss him in that moment, and her preoccupation with their bodies pressed together made her heart race in a different way, a welcomed way.

"Don't worry, there's not much traffic so we'll be out in sec. Look."

He pointed ahead and a moment later they were emerging out into the hustle and bustle of New York City.

Shifting her attention back to the window but not wanting to remove herself from his hold, she took in the busy streets, the yellow taxis, and the people bundled up walking in a hurry to wherever they were going outside their window.

Their driver maneuvered through the traffic, making his way further into the heart of Manhattan.

"Terrance can you take Sixth to 59th to Park? I know it'll be slow but we have a tourist with us tonight," Jesse asked over her shoulder to the driver.

"You got it."

Jolie glanced up at the driver she had almost forgotten about, wondering if he drove Jesse around a lot, and whether Terrance was his first or last name.

"So have you been here before?" he inquired.

"I have but it's been a long time. I was young."

"Well Radio City Music Hall is up here on the right, we're going to pass it in a second. Same with Rockefeller Center.  And its kind of hard to tell but a block over that way is Times Square."

"You're like my very own personal tour guide," she mused, still taking in the city as it passed her by. He pointed out places they could go and things she might find interesting as they moved slowly through the crowded streets. They drove along the southern corner of Central Park before turning down Park Avenue.

Just as Jolie started wondering what it would be like to actually live on a street like Park Ave the car slowed down, pulling over in front of a pretty black awning leading to the entrance of a huge building.

Jesse pushed the door open and Terrance appeared, helping her down off his lap and out on to the street. Jesse tossed Jolie her coat, which she slipped on immediately while Jesse did the same and Terrance grabbed their bags from the back.

"Thanks. Can you please be back here at 7:40?" Jesse asked as he took both his and her bag from Terrance. Terrance nodded and disappeared back around the SUV.

Jesse led Jolie inside, a doorman letting them into the building. He punched a code into a keypad next to the second set of doors, which led them into a big open lobby. To their right was a desk manned by a security guard who straightened immediately at the sight of Jesse.

"Good evening Mr. Bennett."

Jesse gave him a polite nod before leading Jolie past the main elevators and around the corner to a separate set of elevators. Jesse had to enter another code before it whizzed to what Jolie assumed was the top of the building.

When the doors opened and they stepped out they were standing in a stunning foyer staring at a set of white doors. Unlocking them, Jesse led them inside.

Even in the dark Jolie saw how big the room was, especially for somewhere in New York City. When he hit the lights Jolie took in the dark wood floors, cream walls and crown moldings. It was extremely open, even more so than the penthouse from the night before, with two story high ceilings and a grand staircase leading to a second floor. The kitchen was way bigger with a two-tier island and barstools where you could eat or entertain. Across the living room was a pool table and a dartboard. The front and sidewalls were basically just glass, looking out onto the city.

Shrugging out of her coat and dropping it with her purse on the couch, Jolie walked straight to the windows to check out the view, taking in the city. She was staring straight out into Central Park with the bright lights of all the buildings outlining the dark park's perfectly rectangular shape. Off to the left she could see the bright glow of Times Square and the top of the Empire State Building. She wondered how high up they were.

"This was what I wanted to show you," Jesse told her, joining her by the windows.

"This view?" she questioned, recalling how he had told her earlier that he had something he wanted her to see.

"Mhmm. You seemed so amazed by the view yesterday. I thought maybe you'd like this one too."

When she tore her eyes away from the windows she found Jesse studying her instead of the picturesque scene in front of them with an unreadable expression on his face. She wondered if he had ever been with someone like her before, someone who wasn't used to fancy galas, fabulous penthouses and sky-high views.

She got the sense that he felt unsure of himself with her at times like this, when it was apparent that he lived a privileged life. She realized it was possible that she looked as overwhelmed as she felt sometimes, and if maybe that's why he seemed apprehensive.

"You do realize the only place I can take you to is to my second story dorm room, right?" Jolie toyed with him, hoping he would crack a smile.

It worked. He gave her the grin she was already in love with.

"I'm sure you're dorm room is very nice," he teased, reaching for her hand.

"I like it. Doesn't have this view though," she said as she pulled him closer to her.

"I'd only be looking at you anyways," he murmured, reaching his hand up to cup her face.

Her breath hitched as he lifted her chin, holding her stare before crashing his mouth down onto hers, kissing her for the first time that night.

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