I paced, not caring if I had another stroke and my leg gave out and I fell on my face. It would just be a physical manifestation of the emotional angst I was in. In the living room, I slumped onto my couch, feeling defeated and a little depressed. Had last night not meant the same thing to Annabelle that it had to me? What did it mean to me? I slapped that thought away as soon as it flitted into my head.

I was debating what to have with my double portion dinner for one, whiskey or beer, when there was a soft knock on the front door. I bolted upright, did a quick finger-comb of my hair, and smoothed down my shirt.

Christ, I was nervous. I hadn’t been nervous around a woman since I was in middle school and had the misfortune to be in Ms. Madison’s algebra class. There wasn’t a heterosexual boy in that class who didn’t crush on her. It was a wonder any of us were able to pass a class where our hormones ran rampant, leaving us scrambling to find x while wondering y we even had to. Punny, I know.

I strode to the door, not even thinking about my leg, my arm, or my potential for another stroke. I just wanted to see her.

I yanked open the door and there she was. Breathtakingly lovely in a navy dress with a pretty scarf, her hair twisted into a knot on the top of her head.

“Hi.” Her voice was soft. “Just so I know, is this the moment when you kick me out for fraternizing with my landlord?”

“Uh-huh,” I said. I had no idea what she said. I was too busy staring at her, taking in every bit of her from the stray curls that framed her face to her cherry red lipstick to the dress that hugged her curves the way I wanted to.

“What?” She looked stricken.

“Huh?” I shook my head. “No, wait, oh hell . . .”

I couldn’t stand it, the whole two feet of space between us, anymore. I reached out and snatched her close and then I kissed her. Everything in my world clicked right into place the moment my lips met hers.

She was sweet, effervescent Annabelle, and if I could drown in her, I would. I slid my mouth down the side of her neck, tugging her scarf out of the way. Her fingers dug into my hair and she pulled me back and kissed me as if she’d been waiting for this moment all day. A low moan sounded in her throat. It was the same sound she’d made last night, and it hit me like a trigger.