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She joins me on the couch as I’m pulling white cardboard containers from the bag, two glasses and the sparkling water in hand.She looks over at me, her brow wrinkling.“Are you okay?”
I nod.“Yeah, why?”
“You had a funny look on your face.Like you were gassy or something.”
Great, my horny face makes me look like I’m gassy.If nothing else, this time with Melissa is going to be great for bringing me down a peg or two.I’ve grown accustomed to women falling at my feet—or at least keeping their criticism to themselves while they praise my oral sex skills.
Struck by a stab of uncertainty, I ask, “Iamreally good at oral sex, right?Other women weren’t just saying that to prop up my already inflated ego?”
She turns to me with an arched brow.“Why are you thinking of oral sex?If alcohol is off the list for the night, sex should be, too, right?You don’t want me falling into your bed because I’m in a vulnerable state, do you?”
“No,” I murmur, my gaze dropping to her sweetly smirking lips.Even when she’s smirking, she’s the sexiest.“I want you to fall into my bed because you can’t resist the heat burning between us for another moment.”I shrug my good shoulder.“And because you like me.And trust me.”
Her mouth softens.“I do like you and I’m starting to trust you.Thank you for taking care of the squirrel and the cleaning and everything, by the way.The house looks amazing.I don’t think my shower’s been that clean in years.”
“You’re welcome,” I say, loving the way she curls her feet on the couch and shifts closer.“The pest guy’s coming back tomorrow, by the way.With some traps for the raccoons upstairs.Apparently, they’re nesting up there for the winter and tearing the shit out of your insulation.”
She smiles.“Of course, they are.This is my life.”
“Your life, where a sexy man is taking care of your raccoon problem for you, while you work hard for the money and feel no extra stress.”
“You’re right,” she says.“I’m a lucky girl.Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me.You just have to tell me the truth about the oral sex.Don’t think I missed the subject change.If I’m bad at it, just tell me.Don’t try to spare my feelings.I don’t want tothinkI’m good at giving women pleasure, I actually want to be good at giving women pleasure.You know?”
“I know,” she murmurs, her gaze sliding down to my lips.“And yes, you are very good at oral sex.Some might say, a genius.Or…a wizard.”
“A wizard?”I echo, my mouth drifting closer to hers.
“Yes, a wizard,” she says, “which reminds me—can we watch The Lord of the Rings?It’s my comfort show.”
“You find dark forces rising to destroy the world comforting?”
“I do.”
I sigh.“Then The Lord of the Rings it is.But if I get scared of the creepy guys on the ghost horses, you have to hold me.”
“Will do.”She nods as she reaches out, smoothing a hand down my chest to curl around my ribs.“Thank you again, Aaron.Just so you know, if you were sticking around, I might not kick you out of bed for eating crackers.”
“Does that mean you’d date me?”
“I’d seriously consider it.”She pats my ribs, a friendly,thump thump, before she sits back and turns to face the coffee table.“Now, let’s eat.This smells amazing.Do you want half healthy vegetables and half fried, too?Or are you watching your figure?”
“I ordered extra fried vegetables for me,” I say.“And extra Hawaiian sweet rolls.I don’t know why a barbeque place in Minnesota has Hawaiian rolls, but I’m on board.”
“Me, too,” she says, flicking on the television as she pops a piece of fried squash between her lips.“Mmm, delicious.This is going to be a good night.I can feel it.I’ll get all rested and stuffed with food and inspired by brave hobbits and be ready to sweet talk Ben into chilling out in the morning.Thanks for calling Pete, too.I’ll make him a Bundt cake to thank him for—” She breaks off with a strangled sound and reaches out to grip my knee.“Oh no!I forgot to eat cupcakes before dinner!”
I cover her hand with mine and give it a squeeze.“Don’t worry, they’ll still be there after dinner.This is probably better for your blood sugar.Solid food first, then garbage food.”I reach for a roll.I have to stop touching her or I’ll be pitching a tent in my sweatpants before Gandalf gets to The Shire.“Oh, and I ordered new garbage cans for you, too.They’ll be delivered in a few days.The pest control guy said better lids on the trash should deter the raccoons from coming back once he’s taken them to their new forever home in the forest.”
“You’re a hero,” she says with an easy sigh.“Seriously.I’m feeling so much better already.I just needed a little help putting out the multitude of fires.Once I’m down to one or two fires, single parenting will be a breeze.”
I keep my uncertain grunt to myself.I’ve only been a witness to her life for a short time, but I don’t think running a growing business, taking care of a toddler, being there for her family and community, and managing all her various adulting chores solo is ever going to be “a breeze,” but I’m glad she’s smiling again.
I like her smile.
Love it, actually…
But I can’t keep falling in love with Mel.She’s made it clear that’s a non-starter.If I’m not a Bad Dog man, I can never beherman.If I were smart, I’d move back to Gram’s.Or head to the city after my scans tomorrow.
