Simple Complexity

Part 6

Erin smiled, 'Yeah, that would be great.'

'Any cuisine in particular?'

Erin scrunched her face a little, 'Maybe we could just grab a pizza? Sit and look at the city lights?'

Josh nodded, 'Excellent choice.'

They chatted softly as they walked, heading towards the Hudson River Park, perusing pizza parlours on the way, settling on a large margarita, which Josh carried as they reached their destination.

The night air was breezy near the water but not too cold and they sat together on a bench, Erin loving the start to such a casual date. They laid the pizza box between them, and Josh opened the lid, offering Erin a slice before taking his own.

'How's work been,' Erin asked, looking at him as he chewed, and he nodded.

'Good, I've got some students that I want to tutor this week, some truly gifted ones, I'd actually really like for you to meet them, have them pick your brain.'

Erin nodded with a smile, 'That would be great, I'd love to.'

They talked and laughed, the light slowly fading, and the night crept in, Josh smiling at her, although it seemed tinged with nerves.

Erin looked away and over to the lights of the city, she ate her pizza silently, not opting for a third slice when Josh offered. She pulled her legs up onto the bench, hugging them.

'You ever wonder what other people are doing?' Erin said softly, looking towards him, his eyes focused out into the city too.

'Meaning?'

'Like so many things are happening right at this very moment, millions of different things, billions.'

Josh chuckled, 'Like what?'

'Well, we are here on a date, someone is probably reading a university acceptance letter, someone is being proposed to, a baby is being born,' she tuned to him, 'so many incredible, wonderful things.'

He nodded noticing the blissful smile on her face.

'Someone could maybe be falling in love.'

She turned to him, meeting his eyes and then she looked away, back to the lights.

'We are nothing in this universe, this tangle of stars,' she said, looking down to her hands, 'so insignificant.'

'I don't think you're insignificant,' he said softly, 'not to me.'

Erin smiled to herself, 'That's very romantic.'

Josh moved the pizza box to his other side, and Erin slid closer to him, his arms around her and she leaned into him. They were silent, the lapping of the water almost sounding like a timer to Erin, it's rhythmic pattern soft. Josh leaning into her, laying soft kisses to her neck and she turned to him, pulling his lips into hers and they kissed gently. His hand finding the back of her neck and he pulled her closer, their kisses salt laden from the pizza but neither seemed to care. The feeling in the pit of her stomach suddenly returned, growing, it knotted, and she tried to push the sense aside, deepening their kiss, pulling away moments later.

Erin still had her hands on his face, and she stroked his cheeks with her thumbs, their eyes locked and she leaned into kiss him again, it was deep and almost a little needy.

'Josh?' Erin whispered as she pulled away, her heart pounding, it was almost beating in time with the lapping water. Thudding, rhythmic.

He nodded; his eyes wide, almost eager as to what she was going to say.

'Dance with me?' Erin said at the same time Josh murmured, 'I love you.'

'Oh,' Erin said, turning away quickly, her heart still thudding, and she could almost hear them, and there was a silence between them, only the lapping of the water continuing its own beats.