“No problem.” She hands him the bill.
He pulls out a credit card and hands it over. He always at least tries to pay, but he doesn’t get macho about it when I insist on picking up the bill. He’s so damn agreeable. And there’s never any expectation from him that I’ll go back to his place. Come to think of it, he’s never asked. We have dinner once or twice a week, and he always takes me home, walking me to my front door like a perfect gentleman. Maybe he’s waiting for me to suggest we take things to the next level.
At first, I thought it was a good sign. He wasn’t just trying to get laid. See? Nice guy. But at this point, I’m starting to feel like maybe I could use a man who put in a little more effort into getting me undressed. This slow and sweet thing was refreshing at first, but I wonder if he’ll ever turn up the heat.
Can Aidan turn up the heat?
The waitress returns, and he signs the receipt. “Ready?” he asks.
“Sure.”
He walks me out to his car and takes me home. Like always, he kisses me at my front door. The kiss is … nice. Just like everything about Aidan. It’s sweet, without any pressure to do more. He steps away while I open my front door, like he’s fine with not coming inside, and says goodbye.
I sigh as I close the door behind me.
Kylie is on my couch, watching TV. She shuts it off when I come in.
“Hey, Ky.”
“Hi, babe,” she says. “How was your date?”
“It was fine,” I say, without much enthusiasm. “Where’s Brax?”
“Upstairs, asleep.”
I roll my eyes. “Please tell me you weren’t having sex in my kitchen again. I had to bleach my eyeballs after I walked in on you guys last week.”
She laughs. “That was not our fault. You never come home for lunch. Besides, you’re the one who asked Brax to come over and unclog your sink again.”
“I didn’t think plumbing was such an aphrodisiac.”
“Um, do you know your brother? He can make a sex game out of anything,” she says. “But no, we weren’t. He has a sinus infection, and he refuses to take a day off to get better. I forced him to lie down, and he fell asleep after about ten seconds. Then I got bored, so I came down here.”
“He’s such a guy.”
“He really is,” she says. “I hope it’s okay we’re here tonight. I guess I should have texted you first, in case Aidan was coming in. But I kind of figured he wasn’t, so I thought you and I could hang out.”
“You figured right.” I slip off my heels and sit on the couch next to Kylie. “And it’s always fine. You know that.”
“So … things still the same with him?”
“Pretty much,” I say. “He’s really very nice. He’s polite. We have a nice time.”
“But nice isn’t doing it for you.”
I put my feet up on the coffee table and sigh. “I guess I keep waiting for him to … I don’t know. Make another move. We’re in this holding pattern, and I don’t know why. He walks me up to my door every time he takes me out, and not once has he suggested he’d like to come in. Nor has he asked if I’d like to come to his place. Yet we keep seeing each other. If he wasn’t into me, he’d break it off, right?”
“You’d think,” she says. “You’re just not used to dating a nice guy. He’s taking his time. He wants to develop a good foundation first. I bet after a few more dates, he’ll show you a whole new side of himself. He’ll unleash the beast and fuck your brains out, and it will be totally worth the wait. You’ll have it all: a nice guy who treats you well, respects you enough to get to know you first, and can make your toes curl.”
“I don’t think that man exists.”
“Maybe it’s Aidan,” she says.
“I know. You’re right. And it’s not like I don’t enjoy being with him. I do.”
“Honestly, I don’t know what your hang-up is,” she says. “Everything you’ve told me about him is good. Your only complaint is that he’s not trying to get you into bed. You realize that, right?”
I laugh and smack Kylie’s arm. “It’s not that. I mean, yeah, it’s been a while and I’m getting a little antsy. But I’m just not sure if there are any sparks. I’d like to feel something. As it is, I’m kind of indifferent.” I lean down and put my head on her shoulder. “Is it too late to take up your offer to be lesbians?”
She holds up her left hand, where her wedding ring sparkles. “Afraid so. You had your chance.”
“Shit,” I say. “Figures.”
Braxton comes down the stairs, looking bleary-eyed, his dark hair a mess.
“Baby,” Kylie says as he comes around the couch. “What are you doing up?”
He lies down and puts his head in her lap. “You were gone.”
She laughs and runs her fingers through his hair. “You’re sick. You should be in bed.”