By the time we pulled into my building, she was fully leaning into the night. Smiling too easily. Talking softer. Eyes heavier.
I parked, got out, and came around to open her door again.
She stepped out, adjusting herself, looking around like she was taking everything in.
I walked her inside without saying much.
Inside my condo, Camille kicked off her heels and started talking before the door fully closed.
Every sentence coated in liquor and effort.
I poured a drink I didn’t want and set it on the counter.
She walked past me, running her hand along the back of the couch.
“You have a really nice place,” she said.
“Thank you.”
She stepped closer.
“We should shower,” she said. “Together. before we… you know.”
I looked at her for a second.
Then smirked.
“I don’t show my body on the first date.”
She blinked like she didn’t find humor in it.
I nodded toward the hallway.
“Guest bathroom down there,” I said. “Meet me in my room.”
I paused just long enough for it to land.
“Naked.”
I walked off.
In my bathroom, I let the water run until it was hot.
I emptied my pockets before I undressed. The rose had come back upstairs in my pocket, crushed. I set it on the counter and stared at it for a second.
I laughed once under my breath.
All these women around me.
All this access.
And the only one I could think about was the one who had left my card sitting on a table, like I was the one applying.
I brushed her off and stripped.
I hopped in the shower, washed, stepped out, dried off, and moved through the rest of it without rushing.
Lotion.