After twenty-five blocks in the cab, Jared hopped out on 50th Street and began running east across midtown Manhattan. Leaping and sprinting, he dodged commuters and shoppers on the sidewalk, ignoring the cacophony of car horns and angry taxi drivers pushing through the tight streets of the city. When he finally reached the corner, his green and purple plaid shirt was untucked, his tie loose and crinkled, and his styled hair now crazy and windblown. Jared could barely breathe after running so hard.
“You ran all the way from Chelsea?” asked Shai, leaning back with one of his polished boots against the brick wall.
“No,” gasped Jared, doubling over and putting his hands on his knees. “Just from the west side.” He gulped and inhaled another breath. “Didn’t want to miss you.”
“I wouldn’t leav
