smiled.
He then moved his face closer to hers, and it was like time stopped as his lips touched hers. She felt sparks going around her body like this moment is something that she’s always waited for.
She kissed him back softly, and for a couple of seconds there, it was like nothing really mattered anymore.
“Take it easy, lovebirds!” Joey’s voice brought them back to reality. It was funny how they didn’t notice that his truck actually stopped already, and they were then at the parking area near Chinatown.
Karlie rolled her eyes as she and Colin were prompted to break apart. She caught Joey’s eye and for a second there, she thought she saw the first few glimmers of jealousy—but maybe, she was wrong.
Colin jumped out of the truck first and helped Karlie go down, too. “Thanks.” She muttered and smiled.
“So…” Karlie said, and she wiped her hands on her ripped jeans. “We’re here.”
“You bet we are.”
Joey led the way and Karlie and Colin apparently just couldn’t get their hands and lips off each other, never minding whether people saw. Maybe, that was the whole point of this adventure, Karlie thought. Maybe, they needed to forget about norms and all these things that people impose on them and just be who they wanted to be.
Of course, she also couldn’t help but appreciate the fact that it was as if they were already in a different realm. Chinatown’s in New York, but it didn’t feel like New York at all—except for the weather.
They were surrounded by shops of every kind—fruit stands, fish stores, and lots of piñatas and Chinese lanterns. There were restaurants, too, of course, and they made sure that they tried at least a dish in each one. They had the famous for being infamous Soup #5, some stir-fried noodles and vegetables, and dim sum. By the end of it, they were full but made sure they still had space in their stomachs for some pasta and gelato as Little Italy was also close by.
Colin asked them to wait for him as he wanted to buy some fruits and those fish snacks for his little sister at home, so Joey and Karlie waited for him by the pick-up truck.
“So…” Joey told Karlie as they stood close to each other while there was a throng of people surrounding them. “You couldn’t get your hands off each other, huh?”
“Jealous much?” She teased.
He laughed. “Can’t blame him.” He said. “You really are something.”
“I am something, huh?” She quipped as she looked at him and ran her index finger over his lips.
“Yeah,” he muttered. Both of their hearts were now racing with the excitement of it all. He looked her in the eyes and touched her cheeks. “Mind if I kiss you?” He asked.
She didn’t answer. Instead, she leaned forward and kissed him instead. She didn’t know how long they stood there and kissed each other until they heard Colin’s voice teasing them.
“Okay, lovebirds…” He quipped and laughed. “Uhm…Come on now?”
Joey and Karlie couldn’t help but laugh. It sure wasn’t the most normal situation, but it was good for them. It was good because, for the first time in a long time, Karlie felt like she didn’t have to worry about anything, and she had her boys to fend for her.
And for now, that was all that mattered.
“Come on,” Joey said, “Colin, you can drive the car. I’ll sit with Karlie.” He said, giving her a knowing