Page 57 of Fly's Path

“Yeah, weird, right?”

Memorable…She should be easy to look up, but the question is, will she let me keep her safe? “You chose it, so in some way it’s right for you.”

“What do you mean?” She blinks twice. “Oh. Yeah, I guess I kind of did.”

“Do you enjoy writing?”

“For almost all authors, writing is our biggest joy and the thing that tortures us the most. I like it when the words are flowing,and I hate it when nothing comes out but trite nonsense.” She’s cute when her nose wrinkles like that.

What isn’t cute is that coat she has clutched around her. I turned on the fireplace not just for the ambience but also so she’d be comfortable.

Clearly, that hasn’t worked.

Maybe if I make the room warm enough, she’ll start relaxing a bit more.

Like it’s just the temperature that has her uncomfortable. I went too fast, too soon, bringing her back to my place.

But she seemed so sure of herself, of us.

“I can turn up the temperature.” Maybe a glass of wine will help. Like you want booze to be the solution.

What is wrong with me?

Her…She makes my mind turn upside down, and reason gets tossed out the window. I need a plan. I always have a plan and a backup plan for when the initial plan goes south, which inevitably happens when you least expect it.

“No, um.” She stands up, clutching her coat around her.

That was not what I wanted to happen.

Sheri walks over to the fireplace. “There’s no need to heat this huge space when I won’t be here long.”

Why would she say that? Does she want to leave already?

What went wrong?

I’m messing this up.

It’s not going to get any better with her over there and you sitting over here like a lump staring at her.

Winging it is going to have to work. Slowly, so as not to startle her again, I approach Sheri.

“Have you ever wanted something so much, but been afraid when it’s about to happen?”

That explains what I’m feeling right now so well. “Yeah.”

She reaches up, putting a hand on my shoulder and sliding her fingers into my hair. “Kissing you is easy.” A little lean forward is all it takes for her lips to land on mine.

It’s soft and sweet, but a little hesitant at first.

Then her fingers fist in my hair, pulling me closer.

There’s nothing easy about the storm of emotions that swirl inside me as I press closer to her. Like this, we’re perfect.

What Am I Doing?

Sheridan

Kissing Fly makes all the stress and worry fall away from my body.