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“To make sure you don’t die of boredom?” he suggested.
Her lips twitched. “It’s nice,” she said again, softer this time, and he had to look away to stop himself from staring too hard.
“Well, I’m glad you like the view, ’cause this stretch of the greenway is only about four and a half miles, so we’ve gotta do a few laps this morning.”
Lydia hummed in approval, settling back into her form. They slowed a few times, long enough for Lydia to snap photos of various parts of the skyline that piqued her interest as they passed the Manhattan Bridge and then the Brooklyn Bridge. But all Luke could think about was the blush in Lydia’s cheeks and how genuinely she’d saidit’s nice.
Jules’s words from earlier rushed back so fast it almost made him breathless. If he could navigate all these complicated and messy feelings, if he could figure out what they meant, maybe this thing between them would get to be beautiful.
Seventeen
Lydia
“You’re packing up?” Erik said, frowning as he poked his head into Lydia’s office.
“I know you’re getting older, but that’s usually what the end of the day means,” Lydia teased. She’d had her fill of tedious reviews and client meetings today; she was more than ready to meet with Luke and squeeze in her short run. Months ago she never would have voluntarily taken herself to the gym after work, but that’s apparently who she was now.
“Watch it,” Erik warned. “I’m the one who writes your year-end review.”
Lydia grinned, unplugging her laptop charger from the wall. “Why? What’s up?”
“Projects wants to know if you’re available to stay late to finish up some work for a client,” Erik said.
“Projects has an entire team to pick from. Why are they poaching from yours?”
“Jack said something about an eco-friendly design consult.”
That was odd. Those things usually came across Erik’s desk in a briefing, which he then delegated down to her. Why hadn’t she seen a briefing on this? And why would Jack be asking for her specifically? They’d hardly spoken since Kirsten revealed that the entire leadership team was gunning to make partner.
“So, can you stay?” Erik asked.
“I can’t actually,” Lydia said. “I’ve got nine miles to run with my trainer.”
“That sounds like a lot for a Tuesday.”
“Believe it or not, that’s a short run. They used to only be like three miles, but I’m just so amazing now,” Lydia deadpanned, “that my trainer knows I can handle more.”
Erik narrowed his eyes playfully. “Sounds like you’re trying to tell me something.”
“Only that I’m capable of learning and growing.” She’d done nothing but improve her running technique, steadily closing the gap on the miles she had to run for the marathon. She wanted to be able to put the same energy into her actual career.
“And?” Erik said, waiting for her to finish.
“And maybe that would translate into my job if Poletti’s would actually approve some of our project proposals.” Lydia had realized that having all her proposals red-lined meant Erik was also sitting on the sidelines. They were both filling their days with the tasks other departments didn’t want to do: completing feasibility studies and financial analyses, preparing bidding documents, organizing material cost breakdowns.
“You know if it was up to me—”
“This whole place would go green?” she said.
He smiled softly at her. “You’ve got the skills, Lydia. And a lot of potential. Never doubt that.”
She rolled her eyes at him. It was nice to hear, of course, but she’d rather have a project of their own to prove that.
“I’ll tell Projects that you can’t stay then?” Erik confirmed.
“Do you know what client it’s for?”
“Jack didn’t say. He only mentioned that you should meet him in the conference room,” he said as they exited into the hall. “If you can’t stay, then you can’t stay. I’ll let him know.”
