Quinn commented on my glow as soon as he saw me that evening, back from my daylong date. “I made extra toast this morning and lo and behold you weren’t even in your bed!” He sat in front of our TV, balancing a container of Pad See Ew on his knees when I shuffled in. Tom and I had stayed in bed for a while, until I eventually fell back asleep, awakening to dusky light filtering through the bedroom’s large windows. He was propped up in bed reading.

“I can’t remember the last time I stayed in bed this long,” he said, kissing me as I stretched. “It’s nice.”

“This isn’t my usual routine, either. But you’re right. It was nice.” I languidly got out of bed, started putting on my clothes. It had been nice. A little too nice. I was afraid of how late I’d stayed there, of how long I’d lain there asleep, inhabiting this bed that wasn’t mine. I told him I needed to get some work done for Huda, that I hadn’t realized how long I’d slept.

He walked me downstairs, retrieved my jacket from the closet by the front door. “Next Wednesday? I’m not letting you leave until we have a third date planned. I know you want to slip away.” And for a quiet moment his eyes glistened so coldly, flashing with an emotion I couldn’t quite place, maybe hunger. Ruthless and insatiable.

And then it was gone. He was warm again, a playful smile curving his lips. “So Wednesday?” he repeated, and I said yes, Wednesday. Before rushing out into the evening, down the steps and onto the sidewalk.

It had been fun. I hadn’t even been aware of how comfortable I’d been until getting on the subway, my mind playing the past twenty-four hours in a loop.

“Do you like him? Daddy?” Quinn twirled a noodle with his chopstick. I rolled my eyes.

“We’re not calling him that.”

“That’s what he is though, right? A literal daddy. But don’t dodge the question. Do you like him?”

I sighed, took off my shoes and got comfortable on the couch next to him. “It was nice. He’s kind of sweet. I don’t really think he knows how to date yet. It’s a little weird but kind of endearing. Do I like him, though? I’ll let you know on the third date. He demanded it to be on Wednesday.”

Quinn arched an eyebrow. “Demanded?”

“I’m telling you, I don’t think he really knows how to date. He was with his wife for a while.” I crossed my legs on the couch and tried to steal a bit of food, which Quinn swiftly moved out of my reach.