Page 55 of Sweeter Than Fiction

I go on, “And I loved what we just did. Sometimes, I get with women who just try to put on a show because it’s what they think I like. You were real. That’s the hottest thing in the world to me.”

Looking up at me, she asks, “So, you think we may do it again?”

Now, it’s my turn to smile. “Oh, I would definitely love to do it again. In fact, if you’ll let me, I want to do that as much as possible.”

I lean down to give her a soft kiss.

“I’m game, but I’m going to need some food.”

“Oh, right. I guess we kind of skipped dinner, huh?”

She laughs. “Yeah. We went straight for dessert.”

“Should we order something?” I ask.

“I have some leftover Chinese food in the fridge,” she offers.

“Even better.”

We both get out of bed, and I throw on my boxers while Abby opts for a t-shirt and nothing else.

While I get our food ready, Abby takes a minute to give her cats fresh water. Whiskers rubs against my leg as he walks past.

“Didn’t you say you have two cats?” I ask. “I still haven’t seen the other one. I’m beginning to think he’s imaginary.”

“He’s not very sociable and likes his privacy. Kind of the cat version of me. He’s probably hiding under my bed…and is probably traumatized after what he just witnessed.” She giggles.

“Oh, he hasn’t seen anything yet,” I quip and watch her cheeks turn red.

A couple of minutes later, we are eating Chinese food on the couch.

Abby seems a little quieter than usual. “Are you okay?”

She nods.

“Talk to me, Abs. Tell me what’s going on in that beautiful head of yours.”

“I guess I’m just in sort of disbelief.”

“Why?”

“Because my hot neighbor just got done giving me two mind-blowing orgasms and is now sitting on my couch in his boxers, eating left-over Chinese food. I just didn’t see us getting to this point.”

“Why not?” I ask.

“Because, Don, stuff like this doesn’t happen to me. I’ve accepted the fact that wild, crazy stuff doesn’t happen to me because I rarely leave the house. I live a very simple life. And I’m okay with that. I prefer it actually. Never did I think that an amazing guy would literally show up at my doorstep. Nothing that kismet ever happens to me.”

“Sounds like it’s about time then, huh?” I grin. “Abby, since I came here, I have been out there looking for any kind of connection. Turns out all I needed was just down the hall. I don’t know what exactly this is between us, but I know I’m crazy about you, and I want to see where it goes.”

“Me too,” she says. “But I have to ask—what made you decide to ask me out now? We were hanging out just as friends, and then, you get home from Nebraska and want to take things further?”

I finish the last bite in the take-out container and set it on the coffee table. “It was my sister, actually. I was telling Jill about you, and she asked what the hell I was waiting on.”

“Man, maybe I should be thanking her.”

“I know I sure as shit will be.”

Abby’s phone lights up from the table. She grabs it to look. “Sorry. An audiobook I had on hold from the library just became available. I’ll listen tomorrow while I’m working.”

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