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I’m panicking now. I’m not ready to say goodbye to him but Will’s pulling on his shirt, buttoning it up quickly.
“But we have unfinished business,” he growls, his sharp eyes meeting mine from across the room and locking me in place. His words alone send my heart racing.
“We do?”
“Of course. Last night was just the beginning for you and me,” Will says. “But I want to take you out, get to know you more. I want to know everything about you, Elle. Will you let me take you to dinner tonight?”
“Of course,” I whisper without even a moment’s pause. I don’t want the offer to expire, or to miss out on my chance. This is too important. He smiles at me, pleased with my response.
“Wear a dress for me,” he says in a commanding tone, leaving no room for argument. “I want to see every one of your curves on display. I’ll see you at seven, baby. I’ll leave a spare key in the front room if you want to go back to your dad’s place and then come back later. I think Maisie would love the company.”
I can’t keep the grin off my face. Did he just give me a key to his apartment, for real? Things are moving so fast with such intensity, but it feels so right. He leans over the bed to give me a quick kiss before he leaves for the day and I get a glimpse of the future we could have. Waking up together every day, our naked bodies pressed close, our hearts full. It’s hard to imagine that only yesterday, I had no idea he existed. Now, I’m secretly planning my life with him in my head.
I get out of bed in a daze. I must be delusional if I think this means as much to him as it means to me. I mean, he’s twice my age. How many times has he fallen in love only to fall out of it again? He probably thinks I’m some crazy kid with the way I’m acting. I keep thinking I’m falling in love…
I don’t want to believe that I’m wrong. Because with each passing minute, I crave him more. With each waking hour, I succumb to him more. I head next door to get my laptop and then go straight back to his apartment, where his smell lingers on the pillow and his dog comes to sit beside me in the bed, snoring sweetly. I look around and I can see myself living here, loving this life.
If only my dad wasn’t the next door neighbor.
The thought makes my stomach twist. At some point, I’m going to have to admit what we’ve done. At some point, this daydream is all going to turn on its head. But my dad’s not here now, and I want to enjoy this for as long as I can.
The day passes slowly as I wait for Will to come home. I can barely wait for this evening. I try to concentrate on my project, but now that Will’s fixed my hurting heart, the narrative feels wrong. Then again, I can’t write a story with no conflict. If this is our story now, this feeling now, then I’ve got nothing left to write. I guess I’ll have to start over, but that’s the least of my concerns right now. From today onward, Will is the one thing that matters to me.
As it nears seven o’clock, I head back to my dad’s apartment to get changed. I shower and wash my hair, drying it carefully so it’s straight and sleek. I didn’t bring many clothes with me for this week, but I have the dress I planned to wear for dinner with my dad when he returns from his trip. It’s a white silk shirt dress and it clings to every inch of my body. The neckline is low enough to reveal a little cleavage but not too much, and I already know that Will is going to love it.
I carefully apply some makeup and slick some red lipgloss onto my lips. I don’t wear makeup all that often, but I want so desperately to impress him. I know he already likes me as I am, but some part of me still feels like there’s something to prove. I want him to see me making an effort. I want him to see how much I want this to work out for the both of us. And if tonight goes as well like last night did, then I know exactly what will happen after our date.
We’ll make love for the first time.
The thought leaves me a little breathless, and that’s the moment I hear Will knock at the door. I stand, smoothing down my hair and dress. My heart is flailing in my chest. I’m definitely nervous about this whole thing but in the best possible way.
