Page 52 of Hard to Get

“I know Frank has a crush on Betty. She’s a foxy little bitch.”

Stella cracks up. “Oh, Frank.”

“Don’t worry. He’s a good guy. He won’t break her heart.”

“If you say so.”

We reluctantly separate and roll out of bed. I offer her the bathroom first and she gathers up her clothes and disappears. I sit on the side of the bed for a moment. I’m a little shook, to be honest. That was pretty amazing banging. Like… wow.

I’m worried about how much I want to do that again. I was joking about it a few minutes ago but, seriously, I don’t ever want to let her go. That’s not supposed to happen.

I just finish getting dressed when Stella emerges from the bathroom, ruffling her hair with her hand. “I borrowed your hairbrush,” she confesses.

“Totally fine.” I kiss her forehead as I pass her to use the bathroom myself. “Do you need anything else?”

“I’m good.”

“Go on downstairs. I’ll be right there.”

I look at myself in the mirror as I wash up. I look the same, considering how earth-shattering that was. Then I shake my head at myself. Earth-shattering. Come on, man. It was fucking. Everything’s fine.

Stella’s sitting on the couch petting Frank. He looks like he’s enjoying it but as soon as he sees me, he jumps down and runs over to me. “Sorry, buddy. That was rude, huh? Locking you out of your bedroom? You just never mind what we were doing in there.”

Stella grins as she stands. “We wouldn’t want to scar him.”

“Hell no. Come on, Frank. Let’s get your leash.”

He goes crazy when he sees the leash and I hook it up. “Can you take him?” I ask Stella. “I’ll bring your bike down.”

“Oh. Sure.”

On the street, I tell her to go on home to get Betty and we’ll meet them at the park. The sun has disappeared and the sky is overcast. “Looks like rain,” I tell Frank as Stella rides away. Everyone talks to their dog when they walk them, right? I know it’s not just me.

Frank is happily sniffing around the enclosure when Stella and Betty arrive. I watch Stella open the double gate and step inside. Christ, she’s pretty. She walks toward me and all I can do is stare at her, her caramel-coloured hair blowing back in the breeze, her smile looking suspiciously smug and satisfied. She pauses to unclip Betty’s leash. Betty immediately races over to Frank and they leap around, try to jump on each other, and touch noses.

“Hi.” Stella stops next to me.

“Hi.” I’m still staring at her. Jesus. I have to get a grip.

“You okay?” She arches an eyebrow.

No. I am not okay. “Hungry.”

“Ah.”

“Would you like to get dinner after this?”

“You bought me lunch.”

“Yeah. So?” I grin.

“Would that be a second date?”

“Sure. If you want it to be.”

“I don’t do many second dates.”

“Really?”