“Damn, I can’t believe I even remember what common denominators are. What’s next?” She leaned in close, her shoulder brushing Reese’s.
Reese turned her head slowly, the body heat between them making itself known. Her eyes met Matty’s before dropping briefly to Matty’s lips. For a split second, Matty thought Reese wanted her to kiss her, but then Reese tore her eyes away, whipping her head back around to the paper in front of her. “Uh, after this, it looks like more stuff with fractions.”
“Oh joy.”
All in all, Reese stayed for four hours. Matty felt better about the GED testing. She didn’t even feel that self-conscious once she realized that Reese wasn’t as good at doing the problems as Matty. The further they got, the more complicated it became and the slower they went. It was a good foundation to start with, though. She would work on it on her own time as well as with Reese.
“Well, thank you for the lovely dinner,” Reese said, with not only a container of cheesecake but another with some spaghetti in it. They had arrived at her car. Matty had insisted on walking her out.
“It was the least I could do for helping me. Just getting started felt so overwhelming, but with you there, it really wasn’t.”
“I just wanted to help. You’ve done so much for me already with the house.”
Matty shrugged. “It’s nothing. I like helping. But thank you again for coming over. I feel really good about this. I might actually be able to pass.”
“I know you’ll pass.”
“Well, I hope you’re right. Uh, anyway, thanks again.”
“No problem.”
They stood awkwardly, Matty scuffing her shoe in the gravel and Reese juggling the containers from arm to arm. It was that weird spot when things were new territory.
“Okay, well, will you text me when you get home so I know you made it, okay? It’s already dark out.”
Reese smiled, her face showing in the lamplight glow above. “I will.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Good. I’ll see you at work.” She turned just a little to go, but then a warm hand grabbed her.
Reese tugged on her arm, and Matty immediately knew what she wanted.
With gentle movements, Matty pulled Reese into a hug, careful not to knock the containers as her arms went around her. She felt Reese’s free arm tighten around her waist. She could smell the floral perfume even better now, its scent tingling her nose. The body against her was soft and so inviting, but she knew she couldn’t linger. It was too soon for anything more.
She savored a few more seconds of closeness, not missing the fact that Reese didn’t make a move to pull away, then she did that very thing. It was best to move slowly.
They parted, the warmth of Reese’s body leaving her cold.
“Goodnight, Matty.”
“Goodnight, Reese.”
She watched as Reese got settled into her car, then backed out of the parking spot, the red glow of the reverse lights casting off the fence separating the houses.
As she walked back to her apartment, she noticed the curtains in the back of the upper part of the house sway. Kenny’s sweet, pinched-nose face came into view. She waved at him with a smile. He returned it.
She went back inside to wash dishes and wait for Reese’s text.
Chapter seventeen
Chapter Seventeen
Reese lifted her arms up, prompting her muscles to release satisfying pops. Sitting at a desk for a good portion of the day made her body stiff. She needed to move around a bit.
She found Kerrie in her office, keyboard clunking away. They were almost at full capacity, and the amount of paperwork they were doing showed it. It was never-ending.
