We work through the questions. Favorite foods (hers: anything sweet, mine: steak). Favorite activities (hers: readingromance novels, mine: not talking to people). Future plans ("Oh god, she's going to ask about marriage and babies!").
"Tell her we're taking it slow," I suggest.
"After two months, she'll expect some discussion."
Finally, we’re done. The sky is dark now and the wind is starting to pick up. The weather forecast mentioned possible snow for tonight, getting worse over the weekend.
Perfect excuse for her to stay a little longer, right?
"Weather's supposed to get bad. You should stay here tonight."
She yawns. It's past 10 PM. "I can drive. It's not snowing yet."
"Yet being the key word. Forecast says it starts around midnight, heavy by morning.”
“I don't want to impose..."
"You're not. Couch is comfortable. Better than you driving down the mountain in a snowstorm."
She looks out the window at the dark sky. "You're sure?"
"Little Bunny." My command voice. "You're staying. That's an order."
She shivers. Not from cold. "You can't just order me around.”
“I just did."
We stare at each other. Something crackling between us.
"Fine," she whispers. "But only because of the snow."
I get her blankets, a pillow, one of my shirts to sleep in. She comes out of the bathroom drowning in flannel, her curves still visible despite the oversized shirt. Her legs are bare, thick thighs that I want to bite.
No. Not going there. This is fake. Saturday only.
"John?" She's curled on my couch, looking small despite her size. "Why did you really agree to this?”
“Told you. My friends—"
"No. The real reason."
I sit in my chair across from her. "You looked desperate in that message. All those emojis and exclamation points.”
“So you felt sorry for me?"
"I felt... responsible. My friends made the profile. You needed help. I don't like bullies, and from what you've said, Patricia's a bully with a wedding planning clipboard."
She smiles. "My hero.”
“Go to sleep, little bunny."
"John?”
“What?"
"On Saturday... if I need you, if it gets too much... with my anxiety.”
“I've got you. No one's going to hurt you while I'm there."
