Page 55 of What I'm Looking For

“More along the lines of a thing that’s battery operated.” She flaps the paper in the air. “Drawer number three?”

“I’m in. However,” I say, pointing at a third cookie, “there’s one more.”

She grabs it. “Oh, yeah, Jiao always gives me an extra. We have to arm wrestle for it. That’s the rule.”

This girl kills me.

We sit across from each other and she places the fortune cookie between us.

“Okay, one, two, three—go!” Surprising me, she has my hand almost to the tabletop before my brain catches up. When it finally does, I suspend our joined hands an inch above the surface. Keeping it there, I kiss her cheek, which is flushed with effort.

“Hey, no cheating!”

“Who started before I was even ready?”

She groans, straining to push my arm down. “No extraneous contact.”

I hold up my free hand to prove I’m not cheating and then press her arm up and over to the other side. “I win.” I grab the cookie and crack it open. “‘Do or do not. There is no try.’”

“In bed!” She jumps up and races back to the bedroom.

I’m no idiot. I follow.

Chapter13

BEEP. Sunday, 7:45 p.m.

Kate, it’s Gail. Listen, Roland just called and he’s in the hospital. Nothing to worry too much about—apparently he has appendicitis. They’re scheduling surgery. I’ll need you to meet me in the office at seven tomorrow to go over his pitches before the sales meeting.

KATE

Just before tiptoeing out of my apartment Monday morning, I take one final peek at what I’m leaving behind: Will, asleep in my bed with Frankie curled up next to him.

Wouldn’t mind seeing that every morning.

Yikes. Where didthatidea come from?

Zipping the thought inside my bag along with my heels, I power-walk to the T station in my sneakers and then skip down the stairs to the platform. Even my worries about Roland’s health and the resulting changes to my workload can’t wipe the smile off my face. As the train hums down the track, memories from the past two days have all my parts humming, too.

Even though it’s time to go back to real life, this weekend was like a vacation I didn’t know I needed. More sex than I thought was possible in less than forty-eight hours, eating what and when I wanted and sleeping limbs-entangled with a gorgeous guy. Will learned all his lines and I got in some reading, but I worked less this weekend than I have in years. Good timing too, since I’m headed back to the daily grind doubled if I’m going to take on some of Roland’s load.

The train lurches, jerking me back to the present. Taking in a deep breath, I consciously erase my worries. Even if a weekend like this never happens again, I’m glad it did. Maybe I’ll see Will again soon, maybe I won’t. It’s not like I’m looking for a real relationship, anyway. It was fun, the sex was great and really, that’s all I need.

At least right now.

Alice would be proud of me, leaving a boy toy at home with my cat, and a breezy note and house keys on the kitchen table.

Will —

Didn’t want to wake you.

Hang out as long as you want.

Here’s a set of keys.

Just take them so you can lock

up when you leave.

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