Page 18 of Thick

“I can’t understand why you pay for the cable service, and don’t watch the shows.”

“I do watch them. I just don’t listen to them.”

His brows knitted together. “I find it odd.”

I cocked my head to the side. “How many showers did you take today?”

He pursed his lips and gazed down at the floor. After a moment, he looked up. “Oh, I don’t know, why?”

“Take a guess.”

“Six.” He shrugged. “Maybe seven.”

“We all have our quirks, Andy.”

“Point taken.” He gave the room another look. “I can’t think of what that noise might have been.”

“Hard saying,” I said.

“You know how noise travels through these floors. Damned things are like paper. Might have been Ms. Mayberry’s dog down in 202.”

“Might have been.”

His eyebrows raised. “How many points do you have left?”

I’d been in Weightwatchers since meeting Andy. He was well aware of my devotion to the program, and was fairly supportive of my adherence to their system of applying points to all things edible.

I extended my index and middle finger. “Two.”

“Two?” he sighed. “Sounds like you’ll be having string cheese for a snack. I was going to see if you wanted some sorbet.”

“We’ll have to do it some other time. I splurged on dinner and rice with my chicken.”

“Too bad you can’t use some of tomorrow’s point tonight.”

“I’m not going to get caught in that trap,” I said with a laugh.

“I understand.” He pushed his hands deep into his pockets and then looked at me with hopeful eyes. “Maybe we’ll do it later this week.”

I smiled. “Sounds good.”

“I’m going to go down and check on Ms. Mayberry.” He walked to the door and then paused. “I’ll let you know what I find.”

“I’d appreciate it.”

He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. Using it to protect his hand from contamination, he reached for the door handle.

“Save some points on Thursday,” he said over his shoulder.

“I’ll do that.”

I hadn’t lost weight since I’d been on the program, but I hadn’t gained any, either. Before I committed to diet, my weight fluctuated. When it was up, I exercised madly, and starved myself. When it was down, I celebrated with bread and cheeses.

Now, my exercise – and my weight – were steady. I’d finally found a place where my body was comfortable.

I glanced at the remote control that lay at the edge of the living room floor and hoped that one day I could find a man who was comfortable with my body.

Chapter Eight