Some Sugar(13)

Meal times were also surreal. They had gone out to dinner when she was too tired to cook, otherwise he was there, watching her cook. She loved spending time with him, which was strange.

“I see that look on your face. You look a little … weird.”

Faith chuckled. “Great. Just what I wanted to hear.”

Dru rolled her eyes. “I mean you look like you’re in love, which is kind of strange, all things considered.”

“I am not in love with my neighbor. It’s sex.” She sucked in her lips as the waiter placed a cup in front of her. It wasn’t just sex.

“Really? You’ve been crushing over this man for the past year.”

“I have not.”

“Please, I remember when he moved in. You had this dreamy look on your face.” Dru shrugged. “You have feelings.”

Staring at her friend, Faith caved. “Fine, I have feelings, and I don’t like it. I don’t want to have feelings.”

“Why not?” Dru asked. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. There is certainly something going on there, and he has feelings as well. I say go for it.”

Faith ran her finger along the tip of her cup. “How does he look at me?”

“You don’t know?”

She shook her head.

“He looks at you like he wants to eat you, honey. His gaze is on you, even when there are other women throwing themselves at him. He only ever has eyes for you. There’s something going on there, and I would say go for it.”

“Ugh, I don’t know what to do,” she said.

“Honey, men like Hunter don’t come along all that often. He wants you, you want him, see where it leads, and stop worrying so much. Have fun with this, and have fun with him. You never know, he may surprise you.”

****

“How are you and the sexy neighbor getting on?” Paul asked, running alongside him.

“We’re doing okay, thanks.”

“You’ve not been around all that much. I take it things are going really good.”

“They’re going better than good.” They rounded the park, and came to a stop as they nearly plowed into two women pushing strollers. Hunter held his hands up and moved toward a picnic table. Opening the cap of his water, he took a large gulp. Once he’d taken a drink, he let out a long breath, inhaling deeply.

“How long have you guys been going at it?” Paul asked.

Hunter rolled his eyes. “Seriously, going at it?”

“What? What would you call it?”

“Three weeks. We’ve been together for three weeks.”

“And? Do you think you’ll keep on seeing her?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Do you like her?”

“Of course I like her. I’m with her. I wouldn’t be with her if I didn’t like her. Screwing chicks you hate is so at high school and college level. I’m a grown-assed man.”

Paul held his hands up. “I’m just curious. You two seem to be around each other a lot. I’m a nosy and curious guy.”

“I like her, Paul. I really like her, and not just because we’re sleeping together. I love being near her. We don’t even have to have sex. We talk about everything.”

“Ugh! You’re starting to sound like a really shitty chick flick movie. Soon you’ll be using me to help you show your undying love. It’s sick, twisted, and gross. I remember when you were a proper man, with balls and shit.”

Hunter slapped him in the chest. “Come on, loser.” He stared jogging again. Glancing down at the time, he saw it was a little after two. Faith had gone to lunch with Dru, who he thought was a charming woman.

Hunter missed Faith when he wasn’t with her, and there were times when he was with clients that he wondered what she was thinking about or doing.

Apart from their very shaky introduction she was actually nice. She had told him she was nice, and that she wasn’t normally a bitch. He believed her, and now he knew the truth.

Breaking into a run, they made it back to his apartment within ten minutes. He was sweating, gasping for breath, and starving. Entering his place, he went straight to the fridge, grabbing out some more bottled water.

“So, do you love her?” Paul asked.

“It has been three weeks.”

“You’re a guy. You know if you like a girl in that time.”

Leaning against the kitchen counter, Hunter stared at his friend. “Yeah, I like her, a lot.”

“You see a future with her.”

“Yeah, I do. I really do.” Paul was his closest friend, and Hunter felt like he could talk to him about everything. “Is it too soon?”

“I’m not the best judge of that. You’ve got to do what you want. Don’t think about anyone else. We’ll just get in the way.” Paul finished his water, heading toward the door. “I’m out of here.”