Page 59 of Xavier

"I really don't care. You have a good eye. I trust you." The words come out of my mouth before I can stop them. And the way she looks away tells me, she caught it too.

"Fine," she clears her throat a few seconds later, "but please look over some of the fabric swatches I sent over so you can be prepared to give me an opinion next time."

"Yes, I will tell you exactly what shade of puke I want for my tablecloth."

"Puce!"

"That's what I said.”

"Ugh,” she grumbles and waves her hand at me.

I follow her as she wanders over to another stack of sheets.

"So, um, what are you doing tonight?" I ask.

She frowns, "Why?"

"Just making conversation."

"Well, I have a late meeting, but then, I actually have quite the romantic night planned."

I swallow the burn of white-hot jealousy. "Oh, yeah?"

"Yup, I bought a special outfit at Victoria Secret just for tonight."

Don’t think about it, don’t think about it. "Oh. Ok. Wow. Lucky guy."

"Yup, it's a flannel pajama set with matching slippers. I'm going to slip into something very comfortable and eat my special mac and cheese, with a glass of wine and Netflix." She makes a show of fanning herself and winks dramatically at me.

If she could read my mind she’d see the sheer relief flashing across it. "Well, sounds like you're in for a night to remember!"

She giggles as I take the basket from her and walk her to the checkout.

"So, hey, these pajamas of yours, any chance flannel comes in see-through?"

“Xavier!”