“You stayed,” I say, surprised.
“I figured you’d want to dig through these after your day was over. I didn’t want you messing up my system.”
Her tone is light, the anger from yesterday gone completely. It’s almost like the last twenty-four hours didn’t happen and it’s another late night. Just the two of us.
“So should I wait to call the Chinese restaurant or just place the order now?”
“Absolutely not. You still owe me pizza!”
I hold up my hands in surrender. “It’s just pizza, Kylie.”
“Maybe to you.” She sighs. “But I’ve been so busy helping you out that I’ve been slacking on my touristy to-do list. A girl has priorities, you know.”
“You’ve never had New York pizza?” I gasp.
“Is that a bad thing?” Kylie asks with a playful smirk.
I fully walk into the room and toss my bag onto my desk. It’s not long before I’m grabbing her hand and yanking her out of her manilla folder.
“Get up. We’re leaving.”
“What? Where are we going?” she stammers.
I look down with a smirk. “To the best pizza spot in town.”
* * *
“Areyou sure it’s okay for us to be out like this?” Kylie shuffles beside me on the sidewalk as we make our way towards Sal’s.
“If the viper queen wants to make an appearance, let her.” I shrug. “I’m taking my assistant out for pizza. Nothing too glamorous in my opinion.”
“True.”
She is so cute when she’s nervous, the small fidget of her hands along the hem of her sweater giving her away. Her shoulder brushes against my arm, and a zap of electricity flows through me. This is the first time that we’re going out since dinner with Jax and this time we’re all alone. Does this count as a date? I know that I just told Kylie not to worry, but as she continues to electrocute me with her touch, I can’t help but wonder.
“Here we are,” I sing, presenting the busted storefront.
Kylie’s eyebrow raises with concern. “Are you sure this is the place?”
“What, did you think everything in New York was like Fifth Avenue?” I laugh, holding the cracked door open for her.
The smell of pizza wafts onto the sidewalk, and Kylie doesn’t hesitate to walk inside. Score one for Johnathan. The place is only big enough for a handful of tables and chairs. Two giant brick ovens that sit side by side take up the rest of the real estate. Kylie looks around like a kid at Disneyland. Is this really her first time in a pizza shop?
“Johnnyboy!”
I turn to see Sal walking toward me, his apron covered in flour. “Hey. What are you still doing here this late?”
“I can’t let these new kids handle everything.” Sal laughs. “Got to do things to keep the old mind right.”
“I hear that.”
Sal’s smile falls a little. “I’m sorry to hear of your father’s passing. He was a good man.”
Sure he was. I politely nod and point at the slices in the window. “Give me two cheese slices to sooth my sorrows.”
“You got it.” Sal’s eyes trail over Kylie. “And for your girlfriend?”
“Oh, no. I’m not his girlfriend,” Kylie stammers. “I’m his assistant.”