Yes, that would work. I got her card from my wallet and sent her an email, hoping to set up a time to meet next week. My blood pumped like it was the bottom of the ninth inning and the winning run on third. Maybe she’d take me up on it, maybe she wouldn’t. Either way, it was a start. I fell onto the couch, not straining to hear any movement from the hallway.It’s eleven fifteen.
She had to work the next day, so she’d be back. I smiled to myself before it turned to a frown. I was a hypocrite. How many times had I gone out, hooked up, and still gone to work the next day?
Annoyed with myself yet again, I opened the patio door and sat on the one chair I had out there. The scent of an impending storm had grown stronger since I’d left the bar. I rocked the chair back on the legs and looked at the sky. Stars littered the ink-black color, and a sense of longing hit me out of nowhere. It’d be nice to have someone to share these moments with.
When did I become so melancholic?
A knock sounded at my door, and I frowned. The only person it could be was Nora, but I hadn’t heard her come in. I bolted up, my stomach in knots. Did something happen with Dave?
“Nora,” I said, swinging the door open and assessing her to see if she was hurt. Her brows were furrowed together, and she had a brown bag clutched against her chest.
“I brought you soup.” She pressed her lips together tight as she held the bag out with a stiff arm, almost pushing it against me. “You said you didn’t feel well, and you came to the bar with me, and well, chicken noodle soup is the best cure.”
“Yeah?” Fuck, my heart almost skipped a beat, and I smiled way too large for someone who was supposed to be sick. I took the warm bag from her. “Thank you.”
“I tried to find the best soup in the area, and most of them were closed, but this came from Soupo Loupos.” She fidgeted with the edge of her shirt, her cheeks tinging pink at the top.
“Love that place.”
“Good. Good. I’m glad.” She flashed a quick smile and then looked at the ground. “Well, I, uh—”
“How was Dave?” I had to ask. I needed to know, or I’d obsess over it all night.
“Oh.” She blushed even deeper and pursed her lips to one side. “He was great. Very charming. We’re getting dinner on Saturday.”
“Great.” God, saying it was akin to swallowing rocks. It should be great. It was what I wanted. One sexy outfit wasn’t going to cost me my sensibility. I was smarter than that. I cleared my throat and nodded, like forcing myself to be positive. “That’s wonderful to hear. He’s an awesome guy.”
“Oh!” she said, her voice getting louder and clapping her hands together. “We should go on a double date!”
“No,” I said, way too quickly. She flinched at my harsh tone, and I hated how I made her frown. “I’m not—I don’t date.”
She tilted her head to the side, her almost too-large eyes assessing me with warmth and curiosity. “Why not?”
“You’re not the only one who has a betrayal story.” I scratched the back of my neck and tried not to stare at her lips. They were still red, cherry red, so maybe he hadn’t kissed her. She could’ve reapplied it—Gilly put on eighteen layers a day.This isn’t helpful.“Thanks for the soup, Nora. Really. This was really nice of you.”
“Of course. If you need anything, let me know. Like tissues or a blanket. I have those.”
God, she was something. She looked proud, like having those two items was an accomplishment, and I refused to pop her bubble. “I should be okay, but I appreciate it.”
Lightning flashed, brightening the entire door lobby, and a thundering boom followed. Nora jumped before recovering and giving me a small smile. She jutted her thumb over her shoulder. “I should get back. I’m not a fan of storms and prefer to hide under the covers.”
“That doesn’t surprise me in the least.” My tone was softer than I meant it to be. I held the bag up. “Thanks again.”
She was going on a date with Dave again, but she clearly thought about me being sick at the end of their night. That had to be a good sign. But a good sign for what? What the fuck did I want from this? I shut my door, hard, and set the bag of soup on the counter. Rain started coming down hard outside, and my mind now pictured Nora hiding under a blanket, worried about thunder.
This was unacceptable. She was weird. Level-ten weird. Thought I was a chauffeur because I had a beard. Just because I found her interesting, and attractive, didn’t mean shit. Maybe a double date would be a good idea, to make sure she knew I wasn’t letting her take up all this time in my mind.
Jesus, this was a lot. I got ready for bed, leaving only my boxers on. Before I slid under the covers, the power went out. Aside from the few flashes of lightning, it was pitch black. And quiet. No whirring, no fans, only silence and rain.
I went over my plan to talk to Carla three times, tossing and turning and unable to find a comfortable position. Every thirty seconds, I worried about Nora but shoved the thought away immediately. She’d be fine.
Right?
I’d check on her, make sure she had a flashlight. That was normal. Yeah. I got up and threw on some athletic shorts and found an old flashlight that I’d never put away after camping. I hit it twice, and it turned on. I made my way to her place. Maybe this would help me settle down and sleep.
“Nora,” I said, knocking my knuckles on the door. I didn’t bang, just in case she was asleep, but if she was afraid of storms, I doubted it. I waited thirty seconds, not hearing a thing. “Nora,” I said louder, hitting the wood twice as loud. “You okay?”
Something thudded. Then another crash. “Shit”carried through the door, and I bit back a smile when she finally unlocked it. She rubbed her hip, and the flashlight illuminated her outfit.
