Sweet Caroline

#14 Pizza and sex are the best surprises

On the last day of my weekend, I decide to go over to Annabel's for a cup of tea, figuring it be nice to get to know my neighbor. I bring her some flowers and she lets me in with a smile. We chat about the weather, our jobs, the neighborhood. Nothing too personal, but enough to know she's a nice person.

We get along great, even though the age gap is quite obvious. She doesn't watch the same shows that I do, doesn't listen to the same music, and seems far more traditional than I am when it comes to relationships and other aspects of life. Every other minute, I have to remind myself that it's not all that strange that she's so different from me. She is 38 after all and I don't know much about her. Still, it freaks me out a little that I keep thinking about how much older she is, since she's three years younger than Nathan and I didn't even think about it when I talked to him. Or let him take me in the shower. Or wrapped my legs around him when he fucked me against the fridge. Or when he...

I definitely need to stop thinking about him.

Nathan never messaged me again after my stupid drunk text and I don't have the guts to contact him again. That night with Dshawn was not one of my proudest moments. He had called to apologize and I had admitted to overreacting, so at least we were on good terms again. It will probably still be awkward the first time we run into each other, but not as bad as it could have been.

"Thanks for having me over," I tell Annabel when I notice it's almost time for dinner. "Next time, my place?"

"Sure," she agreed with a smile. "Before I forget..." She grows uneasy, shifting slightly in her chair. "Do you still to talk to Nathanial?"

"The old neighbor?" I ask, like there is any question to who she means. Like his naked body hasn't featured in every single one of my dreams ever since we met. "No, why?

"Oh, okay." She looks so relieved that it's weird. Nathan told me he didn't sleep with her and I believe him, but she sure looks like there's something going on.

"Anyway, thanks for a lovely afternoon." I hug her and take out my keys as I walk out of hers and cross the few feet to my own front door. I am quite proud that I haven't locked myself out since that one night when I met Nathan. Although it would be the perfect excuse to see him again...

The moment I step into my apartment, I know something is up. First of all, I smell pizza. Second of all, there are men's shoes on the mat and a coat on the rack.

I don't even bother taking off my shoes or playing it cool. I just race into the living room and jump straight into his arms.

"Nathan!"

I melt into his touch and he lifts me up, spinning me around the room. The way I feel now that he's back is so intense that I know I'm in trouble. Sure, I want him to take off all my clothes and take me to bed, but I also want to just look at his face to make sure he's really here. To drown in those gorgeous green eyes. To talk to him, tell him about the past three weeks, ask him how he's doing.

Of course, I do none of those things. I merely smile when he puts me back down and wait for him to say something.

"Pizza will be ready in fifteen minutes." Not the greatest line ever, but good enough for me. Honestly, he looks shaken up.

"Did something happen?" I ask, reaching for his face and forcing him to look at me.

"No," he replies, but he's obviously lying. His eyes are red, and he is trying to avoid my eyes.

"Your daughter?" I ask.

"No, no, everything is fine."

"Your ex?"