“What?” I asked. “I’m good at making up stories.”

She burst out laughing. She shook her head as she scooped up my bag and shoved it against my chest. “I was joking,” she said, motioning to the third door on the left. “We’re on track three.”

My backpack felt way too light without my gear in it as I slung it over my shoulder and followed her to the line outside track three. Glancing up, my eyes popped when I read where the train was headed. “New York?”

“Yep.”

“You’re taking me to New York?” I asked again as the line moved forward.

“Yes.” She handed the ticket-taker her phone, and he scanned two barcodes on her screen before waving us onward.

Dumbfounded, I hurried behind her as she scanned the train cars, reading the letters aloud.

“B!” she squealed after we’d all but sprinted to the front of the train. She climbed the small set of stairs, turned right, and then plopped down into a double row of seats. Patting the seat next to her, she grinned up at me. “Or do you want the window?” she asked when I hadn’t moved.

I shook my head, sinking beside her.

She leaned back against her chair, stretching out her long legs. “Wait till you see what we’re doing when we get there.”

“Wait,” I said, shifting to face her, our knees brushing. “We’re not just seeing New York City? We’re actually doing something specific when we get there?”

She chuckled. “Of course.”

“Damn.” I leaned my head against the seat, never taking my eyes off her as the conductor came over the speakers, talking about the stops and lunch and drink options.

“What?” she asked.

“I’m not used to losing.”

“You don’t even know what we’re doing yet.”

I raised my arms to indicate the train that now pulled out of the station. “This is enough to put my silly arcade night to shame.”

She reached over and placed her hand over my forearm. “That wasn’t silly.” She glanced down, her tongue darting over her lips. “It was amazing. This,” she said, looking out the window before returning her eyes to me, “is my way of saying thank you for all the nights after that one. And,” she continued before I could argue with her, “it’s also something I’ve had planned for months. I wasn’t sure I would go through with it until I realized how amazing going with you would be.”

I smiled at her, adjusting so that I interlaced her fingers in mine. “Thanks,” I said.

“For what?”

“For all of this. For trusting me enough to let me tag along.”

She shrugged, but her cheeks flushed. “DC. Right?”

I nodded. “DC.”

…