Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
She’s something special.
So smart and caring and genuine.
At her building’s entrance, I hold the door open for her. “Can I walk you to your unit, or should we say goodbye here?”
“You can come up.” I’m pleased when she doesn’t hesitate, not because I want anything to happen tonight, but because her quick answer shows me that she trusts me and she wasn’t just saying so at dinner to make me feel better about the kiss.
We take the elevator to her floor, and then we’re at her door. She takes me by surprise when she opens it and says, “Come on in and see my place … if you want.”
When I follow her inside, she quickly slips off her shoes and heads straight into her living room, where she begins moving things around. “I should have tidied up beforehand.”
Her apartment isn’t messy by any means, but there are a few big round bins that she’s concerned with.
“Is that all yarn?”
“Yeah.” She laughs self-consciously. “It’s a side effect of working where I do. Sometimes new yarns come in that I can’t resist. Other times, there are clearance sales, and I take the opportunity to widen my inventory. I guess I’m pretty well stocked up, though.”
“Makes sense that you’d have a lot. You just need better storage for it, if it’s in your way.”
“I’ve seen really neat storage ideas online. Full walls partitioned with shelves, everything arranged by color.” She lets out a sigh. “Someday.”
I’m still standing in the doorway, shoes still on.
“Would you like something to drink?”
“No, thank you. I’d better go, actually. I have a project due next week and need to stay on track.”
“Oh, okay.” She looks disappointed, and I almost tell her I’ll stay, but it’s best if I don’t.
“Thank you very much for dinner, and for being so understanding.” She looks hesitant, but comes closer. Very close.
“It was my pleasure. Let’s do it again very soon.”
“I’d like that.” Her voice, so soft and wispy now, is doing things to me. Things that I need to ignore. I can’t, however, ignore the fact that she’s standing toe to toe, looking up at me.
When I run my hand down her arm, she says, “Can I have a goodnight kiss?”
I stroke my fingers back up her bare arm. After yesterday, I’m surprised to be in this situation again so soon. And I’m thrilled.
Because Ava wasn’t the only one who was shook yesterday. Even though it was cut short, it was a good kiss. Really, really good.
When she goes up on her toes to get closer, it does something to me. “I promise I won’t run,” she says.
I haven’t even kissed her yet, but I’m probably going to have to run a mile after this to get myself in check. A run, followed by a long, icy shower.
I bow my head to meet her, angling to fit our mouths together. My lips brush hers, a quick swipe, no pressure. Her hand finds my bicep and squeezes, and I return to her mouth, giving and taking some more.
Pulling back, I assess her. Her lips are still parted, her eyes half closed. She’s into it, ready for more if I keep going.
I brush her hair from her face and give her one more tender kiss before I straighten.
“That was nice,” she says with a sigh.
“Yeah.” I take a step back before I can change my mind. “Goodnight, Ava. Sleep well.”
AVA
I do sleep well eventually, but it’s not easy getting there. I lie in bed, touching myself while imagining that it’s Brax whose hand is on me, and then Erik. I envision the two of them taking turns kissing me over and over, until finally I drift off.
I’m still thinking about them both the next day, and occasionally losing my place while I teach a beginner’s knitting class in the back corner of the shop. If it were a crochet class, I’d be fine on autopilot, but I’m not qualified to teach an intermediate or advanced knitting class, and today, even the basic stuff has me second guessing myself.
Demonstrating hand placement with the knitting needles, my mind wanders off to think about the way Brax’s hand felt holding mine last night. How warm and solid his grip was, how just a small physical connection with him made me feel both safe and excited.
“What was that again?” a young woman asks, shyly raising her hand. I recognize her as being a new member at the church.
“I’ll come around to each of you. It will be easier when we’re side-by-side.”
Before the class began, I started a small sample piece for each of the six attendees, so I pick up one of those and repeat the demonstration for one side of the table, before getting each of them started on their own samples.
Once I’m interacting with people individually, it’s much easier to stay focused. After they’ve each worked a couple of short rows on their own, I show them the projects I brought in to inspire them.