I hold Candy in my arms for most of the night. It feels so damn right, but there’s no shaking the sense of dread that’s settled deep in my mind. Around four in the morning I know I have to leave. If she wakes up then we’ll end up having sex and, as much as I’d like that, I know I need to go home. She doesn’t wake up when I slip from the bed.

When I get home I go right to my office. I can’t shake the feeling that I’m missing something with Candy. Logging onto my computer, I try to shove aside the feeling of guilt assaulting my conscious. I’ve never used my position to check up on someone before, but it’s the quickest way to get answers.

As my computer loads I notice there’s an envelope on my desk. It’s the missing pages from my list. I tear the envelope and pull out the pages. Flipping to the K’s I find her name. I swear it almost jumps right off the page.

I curse. “No!”

There has to be a mistake. She can’t still be on the…

My phone dings, but I ignore it. Instead, I stare at the paper on my desk. For as long as I’ve been doing this job the list has never been wrong. So what in the fuck am I supposed to do now?

* * *

Vixen calls me bright and early. I knew she wouldn’t be able to wait.

“Well?”

“Last night was nice.”

“You slept with him! How was it? Is he big? Do the carpets match the drapes?”

I laugh. “Really?”

“Yes, I actually want to know that one.”

“I’m not going to answer that. I will say that he is all-natural everywhere.”

She coughs, which sounds like she’s spewing something from her mouth, and says, “You are my hero.”

“You, my friend, are just easily amused.”

“Maybe. When are you seeing him again?”

This makes me frown. “I’m not sure. He was supposed to text me when he got home, but I haven’t heard from him.”

“Shit. When did he leave?”

“Around four, I think.”

“In the morning?”

“Yes. I vaguely remember him kissing me before he left.”

I have to hold the phone from my ear as she says, “You go girl! And try not to worry – he’s probably still sleeping.”

“I did think that. I don’t know. I’ll give him until this evening before I really freak out.”

“Good plan.”

My phone dings and I glance at the screen.

“He just texted.”

“What does it say?”

“Let me look.”

Nick: I had a great time last night.

Me: Me, too.

Nick: Can I see you tonight?

My heart misses a beat and I feel warm.

Me: Yes.

Nick: Dinner?

Me: Netflix and Chill.

Nick: Haha. That works, too. See you at 8?

Me: It’s a date.

Vixen’s voice makes me jump. “I’m still here, you slut. Stop texting your man and tell me what’s going on.”

I laugh. “He’s coming over to watch a movie.”

“That’s my girl. What are you going to wear?”

“It’s always about the clothes with you, isn’t it?”

She replies, “Damn right. I’ll swing by your place in an hour and we can have a girls day.”

I hang up and can’t stop smiling. For the first time in a very long time everything feels right.