Page 94 of Melted by a Man

“That was delicious.” I patted my very full stomach. We had Indian food tonight, and while my tikka masala wasn’t the spiciest dish, I still needed to do something about the lingering mouth feel I was dealing with, “Want a kiss?”

“Always.” Leo leaned forward and started smacking his lips on my cheek.

I snorted, “A chocolate kiss, you dork.”

“I know,” he chuckled, releasing his hold on me and allowing me to stand up to get my post-dinner treat, “What are you doing tomorrow?”

Tomorrow was Wednesday.

Which meant that I had no plans. I would probably read, watch TV, or go to bed at eight thirty. I would bask in my aloneness and lack of ability to do much, other than prepare for work again the next day. Thankfully, adding new employees to my department really helped my workload. I could actually take time on the weekend to do what I wanted.

The newest hire’s name was Hazel. Like Andrew, she was also blonde. They looked like they could genuinely be siblings. So I now had Andrew and Hazel working for me.

“Nothing, why?”

“Want to come over in the evening?” Leo rested his fist against his cheek, his arm resting on the back of the couch as he watched me walk to my pantry to retrieve the chocolate. I tossed the tiny wrapper in the garbage before walking back to him.

“And do what?” I snuggled back into his side, tucking my legs underneath myself as I let him blanket us under the throw again.

“Eat, relax,” Leo sighed, as he settled with me tucked beside him again, “Or we can go do something if you’d like.”

“I’m still recovering from Friday’s rave,” I admitted, resting my head on his shoulder, “So I’d rather stay in.”

“That’s fine,” Leo propped his socked feet up on my coffee table, “I just figured we could do this again tomorrow if you didn’t have plans.”

I bit back a smile, “I don’t. Is this another date?”

Leo didn’t hold back his smile, he let it spread across his face, “Yes.”

* * *

LEO

“Bloody fucking hell,” I grumbled, setting the controller down and resting my head in my hands. It was slower at the office lately, so a lot of us had all ended the day early. I met up at Mary and Jamie’s flat to blow off some steam.

“I can’t believe you actually say that,” Jamie giggled from her reading chair, “It’s so British of you.”

Mary was already standing, completing a victory dance after getting first place in Mario Kart again, before mocking me with her stellar impersonation of my accent, “Oi, why don’t yeh go fetch us some fish ‘n chips?”

“I’d prefer something like jacket potatoes right now,” I replied, rubbing my brow with my fingertips. Fuck, that did sound good. Perhaps I’d cook a meal for Jacqueline tonight, instead of just providing dessert.

“What are jacket potatoes?” Jamie inquired with her gaze back to her paperback.

“Potatoes with more beans and cheese and deliciousness.” Mary replied before turning to me, “Want to make them for us tonight? Consider it your consequence for losing again. Because you’re a loser.”

I flipped her off. Jamie may have softened some of Mary’s rougher edges, but I was grateful Mary still didn’t hold back from “roasting” me, as she called it. It was a unique love language between the two of us.

“First of all, fuck you,” I grinned while standing up to stretch, “I’m afraid I can’t. I have plans.”

That would probably, definitely, involve jacket potatoes.

“With who? We’re your only friends.” Mary frowned.

“He plays rugby with Zaid now; he has other friends,” Jamie defended me, a grin pulling at her cheeks as she read.

“None of your business.” I reached for my jacket hanging on the arm of the couch before shrugging it on.

“Tell me,” Mary demanded.

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