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“I thought so,” I said. “Here, let me do this.”
I went into the dining room and brought the entire tray out and sat it on the coffee table in front of her. Then I went back into the kitchen and grabbed a few drinks. Bringing them back with me, I sat them on the table too, then sat beside her. There was a little space between us, so it wasn’t like I was crowding her, but I felt like I wanted to be closer. I was drawn to be closer to her. She was magnetic in that way.
We ate as we continued to go over some of the changes we wanted to make, each tossing in ideas that built on the others. Just like the night before, it felt like our minds were connecting on a level I had never felt before, and with each exciting plan, we seemed to draw closer. Her demeanor changed from the peppy but guarded way she had entered my home to a more flirtatious one. She was being silly and sarcastic with me like we had been last night, and I felt the heat rising between us again.
I wondered if she felt it too. She had to. It was so intense.
“You think it could work?” she asked.
I shrugged.
“I do,” I said. “It depends on how the customers handle it, honestly. But I like the idea.”
“It would just remind me of how it used to be when I was a little girl. Before the big chains moved in,” she said, looking wistful for a moment.
“Sure,” I said. “I remember it that way too. People have just gotten so used to the way things are, it might take a transition period.”
“It would be worth it,” she said, clearly still in her memories. “Having that wall was so fun.”
I laughed.
The Wall of Deals had been a thing her father had done for years. When you first walked in the store, a portion of the side wall would be stuffed with various items that he would have slashed the prices of, but only for that day. I assumed now, looking back, that it was how he dealt with overstock or with items that needed to sell to make room for others. But he also would just stick stuff on there that he had to be taking a bit of a loss on, just to make it fun and to keep people interested.
I remembered coming in as a kid and running to that wall. There was always some sort of candy on it, and I would always get a piece. Whatever candy was on the Wall of Deals usually didn’t make it home.
But with the superstores coming in, it became harder to rationalize taking the time he took to do that. Then with his death, there was no one else who could take over, and soon the Wall of Deals was replaced by a lottery machine, an ATM, and a community pegboard. All necessary items, I guessed, but none as fun as that Wall of Deals.
The space had closed between us even more, so that our thighs were touching now. As she spoke, our eyes were locked on eachother, and I felt the inevitable draw of her, like a planet to a sun, and knew I was going to make a move soon. It was a matter of when, not if.
“You know,” I said, “I’m very happy you came over.”
“I am too,” she said. “I have enjoyed this.”
“Is there anything else I could do to make you enjoy it more?” I asked.
Our lips were close now as we leaned on the back of the couch. My arm was behind her, and she was leaning into it. We were so close to an embrace I felt like just taking her in my arms. But I wanted that moment. I wanted the moment where she gave in with me.
“I think,” she said, “this is where I will use my right to avoid a question.”
I smiled. She returned it and leaned in.
Finally, our lips touched, and I tasted her. I sank into the kiss and reveled in the pressure of her soft lips on mine. Slowly, my arm curled around her, my hand settling on her shoulder to pull her tighter. She didn’t resist.
There was a knock on the door.
Our lips parted suddenly as I sighed and hung my head.
“Let me take care of this really quickly,” I said.
She nodded but didn’t move. She wanted to see where it went too. Unlike last night, she wasn’t running from it.
I crossed over to the door, expecting one of the neighbor ladies, and opened it up. But it wasn’t a neighbor. It was much worse. Much, much worse.
It was Sarah.
14
MELANIE
