Page 21 of Sweeter Than Fiction

Abby smiles. “Alright then.”

“Now, let’s watch some more of the show.”

Chapter Nine

Abby

A couple of days later, I’m knee-deep in work when a loud banging on my door scares the shit out of me. I figure it can’t be Don because he should be at work right now.

And his knock isn’t nearly so aggressive.

After hitting the SAVE button, I get up to see who it is. Staring through the peephole, I see that no one is there, but there’s a giant bouquet of flowers on the doormat.

I slowly swing the door open and bend down to grab the flowers. When I bring them in and set them on my counter, it takes me a minute to search through all the stems to locate the card.

When I finally find it, I read it out loud.

“Abby, please don’t kill me. I’m so sorry the date was a bust. Call me when you get these so I can apologize some more. -Jenson.”

Leave it to Jenson to do something extravagant instead of just answering my calls or texts. It still baffles me how he and I have stayed friends all these years. We met back in college—back when Jenson had just come out of the closet and was struggling with his identity.

And I was just struggling in general.

We helped each other get back on stable footing. Eventually, Jenson carved out a whole new life for himself. He fell in love with the New York nightlife and everything that went along with it.

Meanwhile, I have always avoided that scene like the plague. He convinced me to go dancing one time. Ten minutes in, I tripped over someone and fell, breaking my ankle and having to wear a cast for over a month. It still aches when it rains.

That was all the nightlife I needed. I wouldn’t mind going to a Broadway show, but that’s not Jenson’s cup of tea. And since I don’t want him to bug me about clubbing, I don’t bug him about a show.

Pulling out my phone, I scroll through and find his number before starting a video call.

When he answers, though, all I see is darkness.

“Hey, beautiful,” he answers.

“Hey, you. Why is it all dark? I can’t see you.”

“Sorry. You’re in my pocket. Give me a second.”

Moments later, I see the screen brighten and Jenson’s face looking back at me.

“Are you mad?” He asks.

“If you would have answered before now, you’d know I have calmed down some.”

“Good because I have another surprise.”

Finally paying attention to where he is, I ask, “Are you in my hallway?”

“Maybe.” He grins. “Come open up the door and find out.”

When I do, he’s standing there with a box of chocolate truffles and two iced coffees.

The second he sees me, he says, “I am so sorry.”

I get out of the way so that he can come inside. “Shouldn’t you be at work?” I ask.

“I sort of got suspended.”

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