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That was in public.

Outside.

And that was as far as she was willing to go with me.

“Have a good night, Sailor.” I vanished into the garage and closed the door.

* * * * *

I sat nursing a beer while watching shit TV.

I’d cooked a vegetable burrito and chased it down with a bag of corn chips. I now contemplated going to bed at eight p.m., all so I could stop thinking about what my neighbour and her cat were doing.

It wasn’t often that I felt lonely.

I worked too much to even contemplate the word.

But tonight…Christ, Iachedwith it.

I wasn’t just jealous of X anymore; I was jealous of a tiny orange puff ball called Peng.

You could install a camera in her kitchen…that way, you can at least watch if you can’t be with her.

Groaning, I tossed my glasses onto the couch and rubbed my eyes.

No way.

I wouldn’t step over that line.

Even if I sat in my empty house like a loner, fighting every instinct to go next door, I wouldn’t spy on her just because I needed her.

My phone buzzed beside me.

I snatched it up far too quickly.

Lori:I know you’re probably going to say you’re out of town or too busy or you’ll come up with another million excuses after what we did last night, but…I baked you a cake to say thanks and…I want you to come over.

“Fucking hell, this just keeps getting worse.”

Tossing my head back against the couch, I groaned at the ceiling.

There had to be a word for this irony.

As Zander, I wanted nothing more than an invitation to spend time with her. As X, I should turn down her offer and disappear.

I wanted so badly to say yes but rationality gave me all the reasons I should say no.

The faintest whiff of chocolate slipped through my open living room window, tormenting me with unwinnable temptation.

Lori:If it will help you make the right decision, I didn’t know what you liked so I went with a foolproof gooey lava cake. I’ve just lifted it out of the oven so…if you want a piece, it needs to be enjoyed now. I’ll also throw in a scoop of ice cream—your choice of vanilla, rockyroad, or butterscotch.

My fingers typed without any input from my brain.

I literally had no willpower, summoned against my better judgement and hypnotised by an evening with her instead of being alone.

Me:I’ll be there in fifteen.

* 33 *