She goes up on her toes, and when her lips touch mine, my entire body goes hot, from the part of my hair all the way down to my toenails. My heart does the fifty-yard dash and I deepen the kiss, my hands in her hair and her familiar, perfect flavor on my tongue.

She breaks the kiss and we’re breathing hard, forehead to forehead.

“Eliot.”

“Hmm?”

“Frida’s gonna tell the whole building.”

“It’s about time.”

“She’s gonna be watching our every move from here on out.”

“I’ve been thinking she needs a new hobby anyway.”

“There’s no going back, you know.”

“Who’s going back?”

“Nothing scares you, huh?”

“Plenty scares me. But as long as I’ve got you? I figure I’m safe.”

“That’s right. I’ll protect you.”

“Thank goodness for wrong numbers.”

“And insomnia.”

“Yeah, when we’re accepting the award for best relationship ever, we’ll definitely have to remember to thank insomnia for its indispensable role in getting us together.”

“Oh, Lord. You’re gonna draw that, aren’t you. The award for best relationship ever?”

“We can put it on the fridge.”

“You’re lucky I find this cute.”

“You’re lucky I don’t find you intimidating.”

“We’re both lucky, then.”

“We are. We definitely are.”

Acknowledgments