Page 104 of More Than Pen Pals

“I hate to admit that makes sense.”

“Before Shannon meets me, feel free to tell him all of it—even about Melissa. I don’t want you to think you need to hide anything from him for my sake.” I pause, hoping I’m not about to cross a line. “But maybe don’t tell him about what we did in your office … or on the couch … or in the elevator … or in your hallway.”

She giggles, and my heart soars. “Definitely not. Speaking of which, I don’t know what you were smoking when you said you’re not experienced and don’t know how to be a boyfriend. With the exception of the Melissa thing, it’s like you know what I want—what I need—without me having to say a word.”

She’s not wrong about that last part. I may not have dated or even kissed many women, but somehow my mind and body know what to do when I’m with her. I can also effortlessly flirt with her, which is new.

“You make me feel …,” I search for the right word, “… safe. I feel comfortable with you emotionally and physically in a way I never have before. These past few days, I felt like no matter what I did, even if it wasn’t quite right, you wouldn’t reject me. You might not like something I did, but you would still likeme.But I also was afraid you wouldn’t tell me if I did something you didn’t like. In the future when something I do isn’t right, or when something could bemoreright, I want you to tell me, like you did today.” I pause. “Well, maybe not exactly the way you did today, but you know what I mean.”

“Okay,” she says softly. “The same goes for you. I want you to always feel comfortable telling me what you need. And please don’t stop admitting when you’ve messed up—or confronting me when I’ve messed up. I promise I’ll do my best to not react the way I did tonight.”

“And I promise I won’t hide things again like I did about Melissa. I want you to feel safe with me, too. I’m sorry I didn’t make you feel that way today.”

“But you did, Ash.”

Did I only imagine that scene in the bar? “I beg to differ.”

“Granted, I didn’t feel great when you told me about Melissa, but my reaction was more about me than you. The thing that made me know without a doubt that my heart is safe in your hands is when my phone was ringing as I walked through my door after leaving you. I said some harsh things that hurt you, and the first thing you did was make sure I was okay.” She sniffles. “That meant more than anything.”

“I’m still sorry I didn’t handle the Melissa situation better.”

“I know you are, but you’re fixing it, and that’s what matters most.”

My arms ache to hold her. “Remind me why I decided we shouldn’t have any non-work contact?” That may have been my dumbest idea ever.

Leslie chuckles. “Because you’re a much better man than Glenn could ever dream of being.”

“Oh, yes. That’s right. But not so much better that I’m not going to keep you on this call as long as I possibly can.”

“You wouldn’t have to try very hard to keep us on the line all night long. But we really shouldn’t do that.”

“If you insist,” I say. “But before we hang up, tell me something funny that happened to you this week. I want us to end this call on a happy note.”

“Oh, that’s easy. I have the perfect story.”

I smile and kick my feet up onto my coffee table. “Let me hear it then, Frank.”

She chuckles. “We’re back to Frank now, are we?”

“If that’s okay with you?”

“Always. So when I left for work this morning, I met my neighbor—the one directly across the hall. She opened her door as I was locking mine. I think she’d been listening for me. Anyway, we exchanged basic info: names, occupations, why I moved here, and so on. Her name is Maud. She’s a librarian and has lived in the building for decades, and she’s sixty, maybe?” Leslie giggles.

“Why is it funny that she’s sixty?”

“That’s not what’s funny. As I was telling her I needed to leave for work, she said, ‘You and that young man of yours sure put on a show last night in the hallway.’”

“Oh, nooo.” Heat creeps up my neck.

“Oh, yesss. She was watching us through the peephole!” Leslie lets out a full belly laugh. “She claimed she didn’t watch the whole thing, but she heard us talking and couldn’t resist taking a peek. I think we made her week. And I guess now we know to keep quiet in the hallway. I can’t wait to meet the other neighbors.” She giggles again.

I groan. “I don’t think I ever want to meet any of them.”

“Come on, it’s funny!”

“If you say so.”

“All right then, Grouchy Smurf, you tell me a funny story.”

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