“Yeck, black coffee. You should have asked for tea.”
In as sweet a way as she could muster, she asked, “Do y’all have a speck of milk or sugar? I’m not used to drinkin’ my coffee black.”
He rolled his eyes and schlepped back to the kitchen.
Why did he always seem so sad, she wondered? He had a good job—not one she’d ever want, but he seemed suited to it. He lived in a lovely place. But something was definitely missing. If she had to guess, she figured it must be companionship. The thought of fixing him up with Lily lifted her spirits a little. Even with all his oddities, she liked him.
He returned with her mug and handed it to her.
“Thank you kindly, Nathan.” She blew on the steaming tan coffee and took a tentative sip. It wasn’t bad. Not that a shot of moonshine wouldn’t improve it a hundred and fifty percent, but at least she could drink it.
He stood stiffly in front of her as if he had no idea what to do next. She patted the couch cushion. “Set a spell, sugar. I won’t bite.”
He lowered himself hesitantly and perched on the edge of the couch, as if he might flit away any second.
“There’s somethin’ I need to take care of first. Chad? Did y’all leave like I asked?”
She waited a bit, but when he didn’t answer she said, “Oh good. He must have honored my request for privacy.”
“Nope.” Nathan pointed to the door. “He’s over there, leaning against the wall.”
Gwyneth whipped her head around and stared at the space Nathan pointed to, but it was completely empty. “You can see him?”
“Yes. I can’t hear spirits like you can, but I can see them.”
“So, y’all are clairvoyant and I’m clairaudient. Hey, between the two of us, he can’t never hide nor talk nasty behind our backs.”
Still staring at the door, Nathan chuckled.
Gwyneth squinted. “What’s he doin’?”
“He’s giving us the finger. But at least he’s leaving.” Nathan turned back to face her. “Okay, we’re alone now. So, what did you want privacy for?”
“I have a special request. It’s kinda unusual and may take some explainin’ first.”
“I’m all ears.”
She traced the shell of his outer ear. “Actually, you have cute little ears. And a bit of a beak-like nose. Even when you’re not a bird, you kind of remind me of one—in a sexy, manly way a’course.”
He shivered with her touch. “Is that what you wanted to talk to me about? My birdlike appearance?”
“No, it ain’t. I discovered we have a common problem, since we live on the same side of this building, and you might be able to help with it.”
“What does our side of the building have to do with anything?”
“Well, you know we have a new neighbor whose apartment is sandwiched between yours and mine.”
“That’s an interesting way of putting it.”
“Well, for lack of a better description—I think the bread on our sandwich might be in danger of toastin’. Ya see, the fillin’ has a tendency to explode.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Explode? Is our neighbor some kind of anarchist who makes bombs in her bedroom?”
“No, but you could say she defuses them there. No, wait. I’m not doin’ a very good job of this explainin’.”
“No shit. Why don’t you skip the colorful language and just give it to me straight?”
“That’s a fine idea. You see, Lily, our neighbor, is the fillin’ in our sandwich.”
