passion. Or maybe it was my change of mindset. Whatever the case, rather than panic, rather than feel like I was choking on dread, I actually felt myself melt at his words, the familiar flutter of my heart that seemed to be reserved solely for him as I wrapped my arms around his waist and leaned into his chest. It was still far from the words that I was sure he wanted to hear, but in that moment, I hoped it was enough.
***
Our last stop inside the Market had been the bakery that my mother had wanted us to go to, a bakery that she and I had frequented back when I’d lived at home. They had the most amazing sandwiches, and everything was humanely grown and killed on local farms, which was an added bonus.
Since it was well past the lunch hour, I texted her to ask her if they still wanted food, told her that we were going to be late. Of course she’d understood and had told us to take our time, that she and my brothers would order something from the cafeteria. My guess was that the food seemed a little more bearable after a week of eating it, especially now that the worry over whether or not my brother would be okay had dissipated.
I still had no idea how long I would stay, or how long it would take him to recover, or if there was any permanent damage, but I knew my mother wouldn’t have encouraged me to take the day out if she thought there had been anything for me to worry about. And so, we had enjoyed our day, took our time at the bakery, eating our lunch with everyone else’s orders in tow. But now the sun was setting and the bakery would be closing soon. It was time for us to go.
With the flowers and everyone else’s food in tow, we left the bakery and the Market, only I started headed in the opposite direction of the parking garage where I’d left my mother’s car. Of course, Jace caught on quickly and questioned me as to where we were going, but I didn’t want to give my secret away, so I simply said “somewhere” and kept walking.
Within twenty minutes, we were standing beneath the Space Needle. With Jace standing behind me, his arms around my waist, we stared up at it, unable to see all the way to the top. Most people don’t realize just how big it is until that moment, until you’re standing beneath it, taking it in in all its glory. But what really gets you is the ride up.
“You ready?” I asked, turning at the waist to look back at him.
“For what?”
“To take a ride,” I answered, smiling, placing a kiss on his cheek.
His grin grew to epic proportions as he squeezed me before releasing me. “I was born ready, baby.”
We stood in line, purchased our tickets, and were on the next ride up in no time. This really was the best time to go, especially during tourist season. Everyone else was heading back to wherever they were staying, but little did they know, the best time to see the city from up top is at night. That was evidenced by all the “oohs” and “aaahs” coming from the few other people in the elevator with us.
I was used to the view and I still found myself transfixed, lost in the beauty of it all. But what really made it all so perfect was the way that Jace rested his chin in the crook between my shoulder and neck as he whispered in my ear. “Almost as beautiful as you.”
That seemed impossible to believe. I’d seen this view more times than I could count, but being a native meant I had a lot of pride for my city. And, honestly, it never got old. The twinkling lights from high up in the air. The way they sparkled off The Sound. And I’d almost forgotten, or I’d thought I had. But now, up there with Jace, staring out at the place I loved more than anywhere else in the world, it felt like it had always been that way, like he and I had always been together, like nothing had ever existed before him.
That was silly, of course, but you can’t change your heart any more than you can change the color of your skin. And my heart knew what it wanted; it probably had all along,
***
Our last stop inside the Market had been the bakery that my mother had wanted us to go to, a bakery that she and I had frequented back when I’d lived at home. They had the most amazing sandwiches, and everything was humanely grown and killed on local farms, which was an added bonus.
Since it was well past the lunch hour, I texted her to ask her if they still wanted food, told her that we were going to be late. Of course she’d understood and had told us to take our time, that she and my brothers would order something from the cafeteria. My guess was that the food seemed a little more bearable after a week of eating it, especially now that the worry over whether or not my brother would be okay had dissipated.
I still had no idea how long I would stay, or how long it would take him to recover, or if there was any permanent damage, but I knew my mother wouldn’t have encouraged me to take the day out if she thought there had been anything for me to worry about. And so, we had enjoyed our day, took our time at the bakery, eating our lunch with everyone else’s orders in tow. But now the sun was setting and the bakery would be closing soon. It was time for us to go.
With the flowers and everyone else’s food in tow, we left the bakery and the Market, only I started headed in the opposite direction of the parking garage where I’d left my mother’s car. Of course, Jace caught on quickly and questioned me as to where we were going, but I didn’t want to give my secret away, so I simply said “somewhere” and kept walking.
Within twenty minutes, we were standing beneath the Space Needle. With Jace standing behind me, his arms around my waist, we stared up at it, unable to see all the way to the top. Most people don’t realize just how big it is until that moment, until you’re standing beneath it, taking it in in all its glory. But what really gets you is the ride up.
“You ready?” I asked, turning at the waist to look back at him.
“For what?”
“To take a ride,” I answered, smiling, placing a kiss on his cheek.
His grin grew to epic proportions as he squeezed me before releasing me. “I was born ready, baby.”
We stood in line, purchased our tickets, and were on the next ride up in no time. This really was the best time to go, especially during tourist season. Everyone else was heading back to wherever they were staying, but little did they know, the best time to see the city from up top is at night. That was evidenced by all the “oohs” and “aaahs” coming from the few other people in the elevator with us.
I was used to the view and I still found myself transfixed, lost in the beauty of it all. But what really made it all so perfect was the way that Jace rested his chin in the crook between my shoulder and neck as he whispered in my ear. “Almost as beautiful as you.”
That seemed impossible to believe. I’d seen this view more times than I could count, but being a native meant I had a lot of pride for my city. And, honestly, it never got old. The twinkling lights from high up in the air. The way they sparkled off The Sound. And I’d almost forgotten, or I’d thought I had. But now, up there with Jace, staring out at the place I loved more than anywhere else in the world, it felt like it had always been that way, like he and I had always been together, like nothing had ever existed before him.
That was silly, of course, but you can’t change your heart any more than you can change the color of your skin. And my heart knew what it wanted; it probably had all along,
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