Page 40 of Melted by a Man

Partof me wondered if I was becoming friends with Leo Turner.

Another part of me wondered if we were destined to have some sort of camaraderie between us. I fought against it often. But I realized that when you have firsthand knowledge of what someone feels like, thrusting inside of you and grunting out expletives about how good you made them feel, you’re bound to develop a causal relationship faster than expected.

The following week of carpooling made our (maybe) friendship grow.

I couldn’t lie and say I wasn’t immediately thrilled when he asked what music I preferred one Wednesday afternoon. I was ready to annoy him with it. But no, Leo surprised me.

As soon as the music started playing, he turned it up.

“I think Mary is the only one who knows this,” Leo announced on the way home from work, “But after she showed this one to me as kids, it became one of my favorites.”

My eyes widened, double-checking the title to make sure my ears weren’t deceiving me.

“Every Time We Touch” byCascadawas blasting out of his car speakers.

“Really?” I asked with a laugh.

“Of course,” Leo rolled the windows down and turned the music up some more, “It’s brilliant.” A car with two women, who both looked like they were driving home from a long day of work, pulled up next to us, before he started fist pumping and singing along with the lyrics, serenading them.

They laughed and rolled their windows down, singing along with the old pop song just as enthusiastically before we had to drive away.

I was laughing, a sound that made him turn his head to wink at me before continuing his performance to the cars around us. I slumped in my chair, covering my face with my hands. I was torn. I was fully embarrassed, but also loved listening to my music this loud and this proudly.

Later the next day, when Leo sent a group text asking about lunch, I surprised everyone by responding.

Leo: Who wants tacos?

Brandon: I’m good.

Mary: Jamie and I are getting sandwiches.

Signe: Zaid and I have leftovers.

Nicole: I’m good.

Part of me wondered where Nicole had been lately. She had taken a few days off work unexpectedly, and when she did come in, she didn’t linger or socialize with everyone.

I sat there, watching everyone turn his invitation down, when I rattled off a response before I talked myself out of it.

Me: I could go for tacos.

Leo: I have a feeling you’re joining me out of pity because everyone else refused, but I’m going to take it.

Mary: LOL

Things were going well. Nobody was walking on eggshells around me, and Leo acted like he and I never bickered at all. When we pulled up to the taco joint a few blocks away from the office, I could feel the ache in my cheeks from laughing at Leo during the ride over.

He was still enjoying my playlist.

“Oi!” I heard him shout with a hand cupped to his mouth. I didn’t jump at his raised voice, but my heart did as I quickly looked around to see who he was yelling at. A person with short brown hair turned right as they were leaving the taco shop, and then their lips pulled back into a wide grin.

“Oi, look oo we ‘ave ‘ere!” The person repeated in the thickest, most cockney British accent I had ever heard. It was very similar to Leo’s accent but hilariously exaggerated. I laughed as Leo and I approached. Leo chuckled too, clapping hands with them and doing a weird half hug, half back pat, half handshake thing that men usually did with each other. I wasn’t sure this person was a man, though.

“T, this is my coworker, Jacqueline.” Leo introduced the two of us, and even though the person was wearing joggers and an athletic long-sleeved shirt, the moment their dark blue eyes landed on me, I could feel the confidence they exuded.

I studied them for a moment, feeling their hand wrap around mine as we shook, still slightly confused.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Taylor,” after releasing my hand and shoving theirs in their pockets, they added, “They/them.”

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