Page 72 of Paging Dr. Hart
“Especially if you kiss me like that,” he adds.
Trying to harness my newly rediscovered inner flirt, I gaze up at him through my eyelashes. “Are you implying that I’m going to kiss you again, Ethan Clark?”
“God, I hope so,” he answers. We sit there like idiots, grinning at each other as if we’ve discovered the cure for all the world’s unhappiness.
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After snuggling for a little longer, Ethan straightens. “Hate to ruin the moment, but I need to use the restroom.”
“Me too,” I admit, my breathing slowly returning to normal.
We throw away the remainder of our now-melted gelato. The men’s and women’s restrooms are on opposite ends of the square, so we agree to meet back in front of the bell tower.
My mind is scattered, so busy reliving the kiss that I walk right past the entrance to the women’s bathroom not just once, but twice. I admonish myself to concentrate and finally make it in. Once I’m done and back outside, I search for Ethan, but he’s not at our designated meet-up spot yet. My phone vibrates.
Melanie: Hey. Can I buy Fred some treats?
Tiffany: Just got a brand-new box. Out already?
Melanie: Used them all. What can I say? Fred has me wrapped around his paw. So cute when he begs.
Tiffany: Lol. Okay. Get more treats. Wow. You’re turning into a cat person.
Melanie: I know! OK, serious question.
Tiffany: ???
Melanie: When U get back, will U come to the shelter with me? I want to adopt a kitty!!
Tiffany: Really? Of course, I’ll go.
Melanie: It’ll be so fun. We can have cat play dates and take them on walks together.
Tiffany: Ummm…not how cats work. You’re thinking of dogs.
Melanie: Ohhh. Explains a lot. Yesterday, I took Fred on a walk, and he just laid there. Had to drag him along the sidewalk. Wondered if he was tired or something? Everyone kept giving me weird looks.
Tiffany: What???
Melanie: So anyway, how’s Mickey Mouse?
Tiffany: Amazing. The best!
Melanie: Ethan have anything to do with that?
Tiffany: Well…
Melanie: NO WAY! What happened? Spill it.
Tiffany: We kinda kissed.
Melanie: OMG! I knew it! Knew it from that first day. At UR wedding, I want all the credit.
Tiffany: Slow down the crazy train. It was one kiss.
Melanie: There’ll be more, right?
Tiffany: Hope so.
