It was just past 4 PM when Jake laced his fingers through Kaitlynn’s and stepped out onto the busy sidewalk. The sun was starting to set behind the towering buildings of Manhattan, casting everything in that golden, almost cinematic glow. Kaitlynn, in her fitted black coat and scarf, looked up at the skyscrapers like she was seeing them for the first time—even though they’d lived in the city for over a year now.

“Tell me this doesn’t feel like a movie,” she said with a little laugh, tugging Jake’s arm playfully.

“It would if the main character wasn’t dragging me into every bakery we pass,” Jake teased, grinning.

“Shut up,” she said, elbowing him. “I only did that once.”

He held up two fingers. “Twice.”

They wandered through SoHo, stopping in front of a street artist painting city skylines. Kaitlynn paused, her eyes lingering on one piece that had Central Park in fall colors. Jake noticed. Without saying a word, he bought it for her.

“For our apartment,” he said casually as he handed it to her.

She looked at him, surprised. “You’re such a simp.”

“Only for you.”

They kept walking, sharing bites of a soft pretzel they picked up from a cart, and every few minutes, Kaitlynn would stop to take a photo—of the skyline, a cool alleyway, a dog in a sweater. Jake didn’t mind. He liked watching her get excited about the little things.

By the time they hit the Brooklyn Bridge, the sky was turning cotton-candy pink. They stood by the railing, the breeze tousling Kaitlynn’s hair, and Jake slipped his arm around her waist.

“This city’s crazy,” she said, leaning into him.