Times Square(18)

You know that saying about how fast life moves? That in the blink of an eye everything can change? It's true. I've spent the last year stuck, so to say, and these past two weeks it feels as if my life is moving faster than a New York minute.

Probably because it is. A promotion and a new guy. Crazy.

And not just any guy. The perfect guy.

One who makes me smile.

One who makes me shelve my skepticism.

One I might be falling in love with.

I know it's only been a couple of weeks. I know it sounds insane and like I should use more caution. But it feels right. It feels like everything is coming together. Meeting Max feels like the reason I came to New York. I mean, I know the reason I came to New York was Brad. But when that went south, I stayed. I persevered though a shitty year at work and a tight budget. Through self-doubts and questioning if I should have gone back to Iowa with my tail between my legs where I could have at least afforded my own apartment and a car. But I didn't. I stayed and meeting Max is more than a reward for staying. Max is like the answer to everything happens for a reason. Like all roads led to him. So cheesy, but I don't know how else to explain it.

I'm still smiling when I walk through the door after work on Friday and the entire time I get ready.

"You're seeing the new guy again tonight?”

"Yup," I reply with a big grin on my face.

My roommate Allison—the part-time fit model—is sitting on the couch in our apartment watching me get ready at our kitchen table-turned-vanity.

"Where are you going?"

"We're having dinner with his sister. Some Indian restaurant that she loves and Max tolerates."

"His sister, huh? Serious stuff." Allison looks up from her phone with interest, my love life suddenly becoming more interesting than her social media. "Didn't you just meet this guy?"

"Yeah, a couple weeks ago. But what can I say? I like him."

"I like him too," Allison comments.

"You haven't met him." I turn to her in confusion, mascara wand halfway to my lashes.

"I like that he keeps you at his place all weekend. Last weekend you were gone, Delaney flew home for someone's wedding and Bridget was on a multi-night leg with the airline. I took a ten-minute shower on both Saturday and Sunday and pretended I lived alone. It was glorious." She sighs happily.

"Did I tell you Max has two bathrooms?" I finish with the mascara and apply my fade-resistant lipstick.

"Two? Marry him."

"I know, right?" I nod. "But all joking aside, I really like him."

"Well, if you like him I like him too," Allison says from the sofa, where she makes a big production of stretching out and hogging the entire sofa. "I think I'm gonna watch a movie on my laptop tonight. Without headphones. Bam," she boasts as she kicks back.

I laugh because I know what she means. When you have roommates you spend a lot of time with headphones shoved in your ears so you're not disturbing the others. "Enjoy your movie with the added soundtrack of the neighbors downstairs having sex and the ones across the hall fighting."

"Oh, I will." Allison claps her hands in glee. "Neighbor noise equals bonus soundtrack," she says while scrolling through the options on her laptop.

A minute later Max arrives, the buzzer from the front door announcing his arrival. Allison hops off the couch before I've even set my hairbrush down and hits the release, allowing him into the building. Then she opens the front door and leans into the hallway waiting on his arrival like a little sister about to check out her sibling’s big date.

"You're way too excited about my social life, Allison," I comment.

"I'm bored. Sue me," she retorts.

I'm about to ask her why she's home for the second weekend in a row, as it's not like her, but Max is here so I slip my feet into a pair of sandals and fasten the straps while introducing them.

Allison takes an instant liking to him, meaning she grills him for info.

"What are your intentions towards my friend?" she asks exactly one heartbeat after introductions are made.

Max laughs and I roll my eyes. I don't have to tell Max she's joking because she can't keep a straight face herself, bursting into a fit of giggles the moment the words are out of her mouth.

"Sorry, I don't know where that came from," she says between giggles. "I just channeled my dad for a minute there."

"Well, rest assured, I've only the kinkiest of intentions towards Lauren."

"Lucky bitch," Allison mutters and we all laugh while I grab my purse.

"Don't forget your stuff," Max tells me as I raise a brow in question. "Weekend bag? I'm not bringing you home," he murmurs into my ear as he pulls me close and kisses the spot just under my ear.