Page 31 of The One Where They Fall in Love

*

As much as I try to throw myself into being interested in Henry, I find myself more enthusiastic about planning my next New York City adventure with Oliver. My Oliver Cole Elle-ter-vention is in full effect.

The other day, when Oliver told me he didn’t like bugs, my instinct was to scoff at him. But I didn’t. Because I could see that his concern was genuine. I thought back to Oliver’s apartment and how immaculate it was. Coupled with the fact that he can’t wind himself down without hitting the treadmill at 6 a.m., and the brief conversation we had about his family, I’m starting to think that what I assumed was stress from ahigh-pressure job is actually a lot more complicated.

As big and intimidating as he is, Oliver doesn’t give off amacho manattitude. He’s kind, funny, and sweet. The custom pair of earplugs on my nightstand and his spoiled dog are proof of that. He has quirks, but who doesn’t?

I know anxiety takes a lot of forms, and is different for everyone. I wish I could come out and ask Oliver what his triggers are, but I don’t want to push too hard. I want him to trust me enough to show me that side of him. Now that we’re friends (which the me from a few weeks ago would never believe), I want to understand what goes on in his head. And I’m not sure if he’s ready to share that with me yet. Which is why I think yoga will be perfect for him.

We’ve been to the Highline, Hudson Yards, Chelsea Market, pretty much any non-touristy New York places I could think of over the last few weeks. But I think tonight’s expedition is going to be my favorite.

“Hey, before I forget—” Oliver says as we walk towards the West Side Highway. “Can you watch Thor next Sunday when I go to my parents’ house?”

“Only if you say please,” I tease.

“Yeah right, like you would actually say no to spending the day with my dog.” He matches my expression and for a moment, we’re locked in awho knows who betterstare off. Oliver wins when I look down at Thor. He’s got me there. When my gaze meets his again, he chuckles. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

“Why don’t you take him with you?”

“It will be quicker if I take the train to Long Island rather than renting a car and driving out there. And I can’t take him on the train,” he explains.

“Then sure, I can watch him.” I lean down to scratch between Thor’s ears. “What’s the occasion?”

“My mom’s birthday,” Oliver replies on an exhale. “Can’t get out of it.” I’m about to ask why he would want to, but he changes the subject. “So, where are we going?”

Thor and I met him at the hospital at the end of his shift. He was pissed about it, having just worked fourteen hours, but I refused to listen to his complaints. He can be out one more hour before crashing into bed for the night, and it might actually help him sleep. It’s the first day shift he’s had in a while, and the change in time frame is wearing on him. I can see it on his face.

He’s still in his scrubs, which honestly, I’m not mad about. It’s a good look. He told me these are clean ones he put on in the locker room, not ones he wore around patients. I didn’t ask, but he told me all the same. He’s very conscious of germs like that.

“Pier 97. It’s going to be beautiful tonight, and I think you’ll love it.”

“And why did it have to be tonight? Why couldn’t it be a day when, I don’t know, I didn’t just keep people alive for seventeen million hours?”

“Because, youwhiner, seeing a New York City sunset is a rite of passage. And tonight’s is supposed to beepic.” I resist the urge to put my arm through Oliver’s so we can walk down the street in tandem. Friends don’t do that. Friends just walk next to each other. “It can feel a bit dark around the city sometimes,” I continue. “And it’s good to remember that there’s a beautiful world out there, one that doesn’t smell like garbage.”

“And the sunset helps us do that, how?”

“By reminding us that we’re small in the grand scheme of things, even though this island feels like a world within itself,” I say, looking up at the sky.

“Very profound, Miss. Yogi Master,” Oliver says, nudging me with his elbow.

“That’s not yoga. Just my obsession with looking up. Stars, sunsets, they’re my thing.” I shrug.

“How come?” he asks, following my gaze up to the sky.

I let out a calming breath before responding. “I love when I look up at the sky and I’m reminded that we’re on a planet with ten billion people, in a universe that is bigger than we can even imagine. I like the perspective.”

I get a bit of a pep in my step as I talk. Oliver grabs my shoulders and pulls me closer to him so I don’t collide with another person while I’m preaching about my sky theories, but even after they’ve passed he doesn’t let go instantly. It’s another movement that feels so natural. I try to remain as casual as possible when he finally releases me, and fall back into a natural walk, as if that didn’t just happen.

“Plus, I’ve always loved astrology,” I add, trying to hide the hitch in my voice from the unexpected contact. “If we ever leave the city, I can show you how I go full nerd on my Sky View app.”

“Do I want to know what that is?”

“It’s an app that lets you hold your phone up to the sky and see all the constellations!” I whine. I can’t believe he’s never heard of it. “And when the planets are visible, it is so cool!”

“Wow,” Oliver says, feigning sarcasm. He pauses for a moment, before adding, “How come you’re so interested in that kind of stuff?”

“How come you’re so interested in the gym?” I challenge, mimicking his question. I can’t tell if he’s being sincere or making fun of me.