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“We’re closing up in ten.” The server put down the bill.

Our plates of food were long empty. The time stamp on the receipt told me it was much later than I thought it was. He reached for the bill.

“No, this is mine. You’re only here because I wasn’t ready to go home.”

He didn’t let go. Instead, he brought it up to the register to pay. Apparently, this wasn’t a topic of discussion. I’d have to find something nice to do for him another time, because for whatever reason, paying tonight was important to him.

I wanted to continue the night, but I wasn’t willing to go back into the bar and the restaurants were all closing. We stepped out into the night air.

“Are you heading home?” I asked.

“Yeah. Where else would I go?”

“I don’t know. I thought maybe you were supposed to meet someone tonight.”

He started to walk and looked behind him. “You coming? We live in the same place.”

I scurried to catch up to him while we walked side by side. Tonight had changed things between the two of us. He wasn’t running away from me anymore. I wouldn’t say he was running toward me, but things were different… better. In some ways, it almost felt like a date. I nearly asked him if it was and saw what a bad idea that was and refrained.

We didn’t talk much on the way home. We didn’t have to. We just walked side by side. I spent most of it wondering what would happen once we got there. Would he say good night? Would he walk the other way like he’d been doing? Would he want to see me again and do something? Possibly catch another meal.

One thing I was sure of, I didn’t wanna go back to the awkwardness that we had before. I wanted to ask him in and see where things went from there. Wanting to and being brave enough were two different things.

We walked in the building together, my nerves running through me. Radley lived upstairs from me but still walked in my direction. I took that as a good sign.

“Thanks for today, helping me at the bar, dinner… everything.” There was so much more to say, but my nerves about asking for what I wanted next were making them impossible to get out.

“Anyone would’ve.” That was so not true. There was an entire bar full of people and he was the only one who stepped up.

“Did you wanna come inside?” I attempted to come off as it being a casual ask. It didn’t feel casual.

He looked at me. For a second, I thought he was going to say yes. But instead, he turned like he was going to walk away.

“Another time.” I went inside as quickly as I could, not wanting to hear his response, and shut the door.

Pierogi scratched at his hutch door. He missed me. I went over and squatted down to his level.

“Your dad is really good at ruining a night.”

I’d been too forward. I should’ve known better. I didn’t. Please don’t let me have ruined any chances I had with Radley.

9

RADLEY

I stood outside Sheridan’s closed door and rested my head against it.

He was on the other side. I could hear his ragged breathing through the door. I raised my hand to knock because if I did, he’d let me in. He’d invited me, and I assumed the invitation still stood. Maybe not.

Standing outside in the corridor, I was frozen in place, with my fist in the air. I thought about my past, present, and considered a possible future if Sheridan let me in. But I backed away to the edge of the stairs before striding back to his door. I couldn’t make a decision, but what if we didn’t sleep together but shared… a late-night snack, as in something to eat, as in food, real food.

Taking the steps three at a time, I flung open my freezer and grabbed ice cream and two spoons. Or one spoon and we could share. But what if he didn’t want my saliva? He’d wanted to sleep with me, so he was prepared for saliva, sweat, and him sharing his slick. I was overthinking this. And he had his own spoons, so why the heck was I taking mine?

I tossed the cutlery in the sink and threw myself down the stairs. Banging on Sheridan’s door resulted in Mr. Girling sticking his head out and glaring at me with his lion in his gaze.

“Sorry, sorry.” I wasn’t sorry. What I was… was giddy, something I hadn’t experienced in ages.

The door opened, and a hand grabbed my shirt and yanked me inside. Sheridan pinned me to the wall. We stared at one another, and I imagined the air humming with tension. His labored breathing matched mine, and his face was close enough for me to slam my lips on his.