Adam's List(68)

After a tour of the NBC studios in which the magic of Saturday Night Live is forever ruined when I see the miniature stage, we head to the top of the Empire State Building for Adam’s first panoramic view of the city. He’s thoroughly impressed, and takes his time drinking it in while I’m busy finding a spot against the building that doesn’t make my head and stomach spin.

I feel the building swaying beneath me like it’s far too high to stay upright. For some reason I don’t remember being so terrified last time I looked over the city. My knees grow weak when I have a sudden bout of vertigo.

“How are you doing?” Adam holds his hand out with a sly grin. “Come over here.”

“I can see perfectly fine from here.”

“We can’t check it off the list unless we do it together.”

I finally give in, taking his hand. He leads me closer to the glass before wrapping his arms around me. I swoon with the familiar comfort of him, and forget about the terrifying depths below. The aerial view of Manhattan is spectacular, allowing for a stunning shot of Central Park one way, the Empire State Building and various skyscrapers in the other. The beautiful, blue sky stretches above the city, a slight haze of pollution drifting just below the scattered clouds providing a temporary relief from the relentless sun. It’s mind blowing to see the hundreds of building structures jetting into the sky, and realizing they’re all filled with residents of the city going about their daily lives.

As the wind pushes my hair away from my face, I realize how much I want this. I want this to be my life so badly that my heart aches. The excitement that New York City provides and the promises of Adam always at my side.

Adam’s breath is warm and staggered against my ear. We stand like this for a long time, my hopes for any future together still staggering on the unknown, but knowing I can’t give Adam up, no matter the price.

“I could stay up here forever,” he whispers.

We brave the subway system back to Murray Hill, successfully finding our way to the neighborhood without getting lost, mugged, or murdered. For a Midwestern girl with minimal big city experience, I consider it a great accomplishment. Adam grabs a twelve pack of the most expensive beer from the convenience store around the corner before we return to the brownstone.

I sip on a beer as we stroll down the sidewalk leading to the brownstone. Two guys on bikes pass down the center of the quieter, narrow street. An older woman meanders along the sidewalk with a little black poodle that eagerly sniffs everything it sees. Three doors down from our place, a few middle aged couples have already gathered outside a little Italian bistro for an early dinner, their laughter light against the warm air. The smell of freshly cooked pasta drifts out the open door, making my stomach wild even though we just stopped for cannoli just an hour ago.

The charming neighborhood fills me with an inner peace that I thought I’d never feel again. I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is about the area that stirs so much emotion in me, but it feels like home. Taking a deep breath, I grin to myself.

“Look at you,” Adam says when I reach for the gate. “You’re beaming. You really love this city, don’t you?”

I gaze into his eyes, feeling my smile stretch even further. “It’s pretty amazing, right?

I think I could totally live here one day.”

We’re interrupted by a young guy with a high and tight haircut wearing an athletic tank top and gym shorts, his tattooed biceps glistening with sweat. With a clean-cut face, he’s the type who could be accepted into the military by stereotype alone. White headphones strung around his neck blast hardcore rap.

“Hey! You must be the ones renting Sal’s place for the next couple weeks,” he greets us with an accent straight out of the Bronx. “I’m Theo. I live next door.” He offers me his big, sweaty hand.

I take it, giggling. “Jewels.”

“Sorry,” he says, reclaiming his hand to wipe it on his shorts. “I just ran a 5k to blow off some steam.”

“Aren’t you ambitious,” I answer.

His bright white teeth sparkle when he grins at me. I’ll admit the guy is crazy hot, but he’s also the type to sprinkle steroids on his breakfast cereal and crash beer cans with his skull. Not nearly half as alluring or naturally gorgeous as Adam.

Adam sticks his hand out to our new neighbor. “Adam.”

While the two guys pump hands and size each other up, I perk to life. “Wait. Are you the one with the couches and twinkle lights?”

Theo’s green eyes sparkle down on me when he drops Adam’s hand. “My ex-girlfriend decorated it. I just haven’t taken the time to tear it down.”