I rolled over and opened my eyes. I wasn't in my own bed. I heard a noise from behind me, and it all came back to me.

I sat up, careful to keep the sheet over my chest.

"Hey, did I wake you up?" Leo called from the kitchen.

I ran a hand through my hair to smooth it out. "I don't think so."

He smiled. "You’re cute in the morning."

"You mean I'm half asleep." I looked over to where he stood by the stove wearing only boxers. “Are you making breakfast?"

"Yeah. I was going to wait and ask what you wanted, but you seem to like everything I do, so I made pancakes.

“My favorite.” I waited for the awkward post-first night together feeling to set in, but it didn’t.

“Great.” He flipped a pancake.

I pulled on his t-shirt and my underwear before heading to the bathroom. I finished up and met him in the small kitchen.

"I'm going to say it again.” His eyes raked over me. “You look good in that."

“It’s comfy.”

“I like soft shirts.” He ran a hand down my side.

“Me too.”

"I made coffee." He gestured to the full pot.

"You are really earning points." I found a mug and poured myself a cup. I usually used milk, but I didn't feel like searching for it. I was getting better at drinking it black.

He finished up at the stove and came around behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. "I didn't give you a proper morning greeting."

I leaned back against him. "Good morning."

"How did you sleep?" He kept a hand on my waist but used his other to pour himself more coffee.

"Well. You?"

"Better than usual."

"I guess that's good.”

"It is." He released my waist and served two plates.

“Want me to get the syrup or anything?” I felt funny letting him do all the work. I wasn’t used to it. It’s not that Steve wasn’t considerate. It’s that I insisted on doing everything for myself. I was more comfortable letting Leo take care of me, which was strange considering how new our relationship, or whatever we had, was.

“If you don't mind, it's in the cabinet.” He pointed to one of the white upper cabinets lining the wall.

I opened the cabinet and searched around through the random assortment of bottles and containers until I found the syrup. I took it out and placed in on the counter.

We fixed our plates and took seats at the small wooden table.

I took a bite. “This is delicious.” It was the perfect consistency.

“I’m glad my cooking passes your test.”

“You’re passing the test with flying colors.”

“Well, I’ll keep doing what I’m doing if it means I get to spend my mornings this way.”

“I’ll sign up for that.” I smiled.

He set down his fork and took a long sip of coffee. “Good.”

"What are you up to today?"

He set down his coffee. “I already called Phil. He's coming by the shop tomorrow."

"That's not why I was asking." I'd forgotten all about the tape. I was completely distracted by everything else—namely Leo.

"If you say so."

“I do." I fished my phone out of my purse and saw a series of text messages from Steve.

Hey.

You around?

I'm giving up the apartment. I'll pay the fee to break the lease, but I can't afford to keep it, and it’s weird without you. It was our place.

I'm not sure what you want to do about the rest of your stuff, but I’m going out of town this weekend. It might be a good time for you to come.

I'm sorry. I said it before and I'll say it again. I should have leveled with you sooner, but I was afraid of hurting you. That happened anyway. Hopefully at some point this will all blow over and we can be friends, but until then you’re a great person Cassidy. You don't always see it, but you are. I hope you find someone who helps you see the truth and gives you what you need.

Let me know if you need anything.

I stared at my screen, days of pent up emotions bubbled up until I could barely breathe. I closed my eyes and thought back on our breakup.

---

I’d quit my job, and that gave me the strength to ask the question I’d wanted to ask Steve since I caught him watching his best friend in the way I’d always wanted him to look at me. “Are you in love with someone else?”

He stared at me blankly for a moment, before blinking and nodding.

“That’s a yes? You’re admitting to being in love with him?”

“How long have you known?”

“A long time.” I’d walked away to look out the window.

“I wanted to tell you, but I was too scared.”

“Why did you propose to me? Don’t lie and tell me you didn’t know back then.”

“Because I do love you…”

“No you don’t.”

“I do, but not in the way you need.”

“Take it.” I pulled off the ring I’d been wearing for months. There was a thick tan line. “I’ll be out of here in thirty minutes.”

“You’re leaving? Just like that?” His eyes were full of hurt.

Normally seeing him upset would be enough, but it’d be hurting us both if I prolonged this. “What reason do I have to stay?”

“Shouldn’t we talk about this more?”

“You don’t want to marry me. That’s all I need to know.” I walked into our bedroom and started to pack.

“I’ll keep Fluffy.”

I turned and glared at Steve. “He’s mine. I gave you the ring back, but Fluffy stays with me.”

“You hate him.”

“He’s mine.” I packed hurriedly and was relieved to find Fluffy and his stuff packed up by the door. By the time I finished in the bedroom, Steve was nowhere to be seen. I walked out without bothering to lock the door. He could take care of that.

---

"You okay?" Leo's worried voice pulled me back to the present.

"I need to go to Philly."

"Now?"

"Today, before my ex gets back in town. He's giving up the apartment, and I need to get my stuff."

"I can be ready anytime."

"Why would you need to be ready?" I pushed around the remaining syrup-soaked pancake on my plate.

"Because I'm coming with you."

"You don't have to. Just because I spent the night—”

He cut me off. "I made you breakfast because you spent the night. I'm going with you because I want to, and if I don’t you'll go alone. You aren't allowed to do this alone."

"What if I want to?" I set down my fork.

"You don't. You want company."

"Don't you have to work?”

“Not today. I have Saturdays off, and I have nothing planned today. I guess you lucked out."

"You really don't mind coming?" I couldn’t ignore the tingling of relief that spread through me. I dreaded walking into the apartment, and having Leo along for the ride would make it much more tolerable.

He leaned toward me. "Not at all. I didn't get to help you move into your new place. I might as well help you move out of your old one."

"All right. I guess I'll go home and change and come back."

“Or wait for me to get ready, and I'll save you the trip back here."

"That works too." I wasn’t in that much of a hurry, and considering he was helping me I’d wait as long as he needed.

"Great." He walked down the hall toward the bathroom.

I got dressed in my clothes from the night before and called my mom.

She answered after a few rings. "You’re up early."

"It's not early."

"It's before eight."

"I used to leave for work at 7:30."

"But you don't have work today."

"I'm going to Philly."

"Seeing Steve?" Her voice lilted, and I knew she was nervous about my answer.

"No, I'm getting my stuff."

"Want me to come? Or your dad? You know he’ll take you.”

"No thanks." I was glad I could easily shoot down that suggestion. My mom meant well with her offer, but my parents’ presence would make me more uptight than I already was.

"I don't think you should do this alone.”

"I'm not."

"Who's coming?

"Leo,” I dropped his name.

"That's generous of him."

"He's nice."

"You’re sleeping with him, aren't you?"

"Mom!" I gritted my teeth.

"What? You know I'm right."

"Does it matter?" I wasn’t in the mood for a lecture or whatever else was coming.

"Not unless you’re using him as a rebound.”

"Why would that matter?”

"Because I saw the way that man looked at you. One or both of you would get hurt if you tried to use him.”

“He's not a rebound." Leo wasn’t the type of guy you’d use that way. He was too complicated and intriguing. He was the kind of guy you moved on to after you finished with the rebound.

"But you’re sleeping together?”

"I'm not answering that question." Especially not while sitting in his apartment after our first night together.

"Which means I'm right."

"I've got to go." He’d been in the shower a while. He’d be out soon.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine, but I'm ready to get this over with. I want to put it behind me."

"I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?"

"I wish I had said something, I knew you weren't happy, but I didn't want you to hate me so I kept my mouth closed."

"I was the one in denial. I'm fine. I'll call you when I get back."

She sighed. "Dinner one night this week? You can bring Leo."

"I'll think about it."

"Drive safe. Let me know when you get back."

"I will." I heard the water turn off. "Love you, Mom."

"Love you too."

I hung up and waited on the couch for Leo to come out.

"Hey." He walked out with a towel wrapped around his waist. I'd seen him naked already, but it still took me by surprise.

"Nice shower?"

"Could have been better." He winked.

"I'm showering at my place where my clean clothes are."

"Maybe I'll join you then."

His teasing had changed, and I liked the sexual edge to it.

"I don't remember offering," I teased back.

"That's what you are saying now." He kissed my neck before pulling clothes from a small dresser.

I turned away while he dressed. Even after seeing him naked, I felt strange invading his privacy by watching. If he thought it was odd, he didn’t show it.

Five minutes later we were in my car on the way back to my apartment. The drive only took a few minutes, and before I knew it I was somewhat nervously opening the door to my new place.

I'd spent the night in his apartment, but letting him into mine felt different somehow. As new as the space was for me, it was still mine. Having him there made things seem more real somehow.

I walked in first, and Leo followed right behind me. I headed for the kitchen to check on Fluffy’s water and food. He had both. “You around, Fluffy?” Even if Fluffy ignored me, I could still try to be a dutiful pet owner. “I’m going to jump in the shower, feel free to make yourself at home.”

He nodded. “Thanks.”

I pulled out a change of clothes and walked into the bathroom. It had been less than twenty-four hours since I’d last showered, but so much had happened it felt like it had been ages. As I showered, I couldn’t help but remember the feel of his hands and lips on me. They were sensations I definitely wanted to experience again.

When I got out of the shower I heard Leo talking. I crept toward the living room slowly.

“You’re a good boy.”

I gasped. Fluffy was sitting on Leo’s lap purring. I could count on one hand the number of times I’d heard that cat purr before.

“Such a good boy.” Leo pet him. “He likes me.”

I startled. I hadn’t realized he’d heard me come in. Fluffy was still purring and pushing his head into Leo’s hand to keep him petting. “Evidently he does.” At the sound of my voice Fluffy jumped off Leo’s lap and ran off. “But he doesn’t like me.”

“You two just need some bonding time.”

“We’ve had plenty of bonding time.”

“I don’t buy that you only took him because you were annoyed at your ex. You like the cat.”

“I don’t like Fluffy, and he doesn’t like me.” Few things in life were as crystal clear.

“Do we need to get some pet-owner therapy for you two?”

“No, but we do need to get on the road.”

“In that much of a rush?”

“I want to get it over with.” I ran my fingers through my damp hair. No amount of toweling was going to dry it, but I didn’t want to waste time with the hair dryer.

“Think you might want to get dressed first?” He raised an eyebrow.

I glanced down at my towel. “Yeah. Definitely.” I headed back to my room. I could hear him laughing through the closed door.

I took a few minutes to get dressed and walked back out. “Ok, I’m ready.”

“Sounds good.” He stood. “You have a bigger bed. We can stay here next time.”

“You went in my room?”

“Does that bother you?”

“No.” Not really. There was nothing in that room he couldn’t see.

“It does.”

“I’m only surprised you did it without me.” I had nothing to hide from him, but it still felt strange.

“I was curious where you spend your nights.”

“I haven’t spent many nights here yet.”

“Ok, then I’ll rephrase it. I was curious where you will be spending your nights when you’re not in my bed.”

“Ah, there’s that confidence.”

“You need to find some of it too.” He winked.

I grabbed my bag and put a hair tie on my wrist before heading out the door. I wasn’t ready to head back to Philly, but I was never going to be. If I didn’t get it over with now, it was never going to happen.