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“Yeah. There are showers downstairs at the gym, right?”
“I’m afraid those showers are undergoing maintenance.”
“Never mind. I can just take cold showers in the meantime. It’s fine.”
Neil shook his head. “I have a perfectly good shower at my place. You’re welcome to use it. I’m usually out of the house by half-past six on weekday mornings, so you would have the place to yourself.”
I considered Neil’s suggestion and decided that it made sense, since I was already familiar with his apartment, and it was just a lift ride away. “That’s a good idea. Thank you.”
“I’ll send you my door code. Sorry for the inconvenience.”
At eight o’clock the next morning, I made my way up to Neil’s apartment, clutching a tote bag stuffed with my work clothes, a towel, and a toiletries bag containing my body and hair products. I had thrown on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt over the underwear I had slept in, covering myself as I made the short journey.
Anticipation mounted as I ascended the floors. I was going to shower in Neil’s bathroom. The place where he got naked. The mental image of him showering, water glistening on his body, made my heart race.
When I reached his apartment, I pressed the doorbell, just in case he was still home. I half hoped he would be. But several seconds passed with no response, so I entered the door code and let myself in.
The interior of Neil’s apartment hadn’t changed since the last time I saw it. His space was tidy, minimalist, and sophisticated, yet it possessed a lived-in quality with the scratched-up rug on the floor and the clutter of game controllers, DVDs, and books in the living area. Both of the cats came padding up to me. Chichi wove in and out between my legs, and Bowey nudged my feet. I smothered them with affection until I couldn’t delay the task at hand any longer.
There were two bathrooms in the apartment, but the one downstairs had no shower. I would have to use the ensuite upstairs. I walked through Neil’s bedroom to access it, noting his crumpled duvet on the bed, reminding me he had slept there. The room smelled like his cologne, mixed with the faint musk of his natural scent.
I entered the bathroom, looking around with a newfound appreciation. Cologne and aftershave bottles lined the shelf, and a safety razor rested beside the sink.
I turned on the shower and undressed, my heart pounding with the knowledge that I was naked in Neil’s personal space. My thoughts continued in a similar vein as I stepped under the hot spray. The temperature and pressure were perfect. I washed myself, hands against my skin, taking my time. Neil had said he wouldn’t come back home this morning, but I indulged in a fantasy that he did come back, and he walked in on me naked and vulnerable, and one thing led to another.
But Neil didn’t come back. Of course he didn’t.
I turned off the water and dried myself off with my towel before changing into my clean work clothes and gathering my belongings. I felt like I was running late, and checking my phone validated that feeling, so I left in a hurry.
On my way to work, I mentally rehearsed my apology for being late, but when I arrived, my office door was locked, which meant Neil hadn’t arrived yet. I checked his schedule, in case there was a meeting I had forgotten about. But no, he was late. That was unlike him, but I was sure he had his reasons. In the meantime, I unlocked the door, settled at my desk, and got down to work.
Neil arrived twenty minutes later, and as soon as I saw him, I flashed back to the vivid fantasies from the morning shower. Cheeks flaming, I wiped my mind blank to greet him. “Morning.”
“Good morning,” he said, straight-faced as usual.
He offered no explanation for his late arrival. Instead, he asked me to determine the best day for him to take off.
I looked over his calendar. “The next few weeks are pretty packed. This Friday is quiet, though. I would only have to shift one meeting.”
“Lock in this Friday then.”
“Sure. Do you have something planned?”
“I’m going to take my community service break.”
“You’re doing that as well?” For some reason, I hadn’t considered the prospect of his participation.
“Yes.”
“So, where will you be volunteering?”
“There’s an animal shelter out west.”
“You’re going to work with animals? How fun! Maybe that’s what I should do too.” I smiled, envisioning myself surrounded by adorable, furry creatures.
We looked at each other. I wondered if he was going to invite me to join him, or if I would have to ask. Then we both spoke at once.
“Would I—” I said.
