Rachel’s stomach flip flopped when Scott answered his door dripping wet with a towel around his waist.

“Ra…Rachel?” Water drained from his head to his reddening cheeks. “What…” He held the towel tighter. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m sorry.” She took a deep breath, fighting to take her mind off his toned pecks. “I called you, but your phone was off.”

“My battery died so I’m charging it.” He swept his hand across his head, drops of water flying. “I was in the shower.”

“I should go.”

“No.” He grabbed her hand as she turned away. “It’s fine. I—”

“But…” She exhaled, forcing her eyes from his towel. “You’re busy.”

“The shower’s over now.” He smiled, flexing his cheekbones. “I don’t want you to go.”

It sounded more as if he were begging than suggesting.

“How did you know where I lived?”

“I got my ways.”

He chuckled.

“I guess I needed someone to talk to.” She dropped her head. “You said to call you anytime.”

He nodded. “Please, come inside.”

She walked into the door that led straight into a bright den of off-white walls. “Wow.” She studied the pieces of furniture, which ranged from the peach couch to the brown carpet to the crème, cushioned end tables. “You designed this yourself?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s beautiful.” Rachel drifted to the watercolor portrait of the goddess Aphrodite above the fireplace. “Where did you get that?” She tried to touch it despite it being impossible to reach.

“A friend of mine did it for me.” Water trickled down Scott’s face and she wondered if he’d forgotten he was half-naked. “Gave it to me for my thirtieth birthday.”

“He’s an artist?”

“She.”

“Oh.” Rachel half-smiled. “Was she your girlfriend?”

“You could say that.”

“What would you say?” She checked out his bookshelf, and he had the same books she did.

“Yes,” he spoke low. “Debra was my girlfriend.”

“If you still have the portrait it must mean she meant a lot to you.”

He fidgeted, avoiding eye contact.

Rachel pulled the special edition of Moby Dick from the first bookshelf. “Two bookshelves?”

His eyes lit up. “I’d have a bookshelf in every room if I could.”

Rachel put the book back in place and noticed the book on the coffee table. “You’re reading The Joy Luck Club?”

“I’ve read it eighteen times.”

“I’ve read it four.” She picked it up, thumbed through it, and set it back in place. “Had to do a book report on it in school. Many people don’t like to re-read books, but I do. Sometimes it’s like reading it the first time.”

He straightened the towel. “Please, sit down.”

She sat on the soft couch.

“Would you like something to drink? Juice?”

“No, thank you.” She crossed her legs in jeans. “This is a new experience for me.”

“What?”

“Confiding in people. Especially ones I don’t know.”

Scott sat on the arm of the sofa, his thighs peeking from the opening of the towel. “One thing I’ve learned is it’s not good to hold things in.”

“I’m so scared.” She burst into tears and he sat beside her, pulling her into his arms. “I’m sick of this shit, and I feel so alone.”

“You’re not alone.” He stroked her head, smelling of Ivory soap. “You can trust me, Rachel. Let me help you. I saved you, remember?”

“I wanna tell you what’s going on so bad.” She touched his slick breast. “It’s funny that this is the first time in weeks I’ve felt safe.”

He held her tighter. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Rachel.”

“I don’t understand.” She lifted her head, staring into his soothing green eyes. “Why do you care so much when you don’t even know me?”

He loosened his hold. “I’m tired of living by a routine, and you’re an escape from that.”

She batted her eyes.

“I live my life by a schedule. I get up in the morning, I have cinnamon toast for breakfast, sometimes I jog in Sunway Park and then I go to work.” He let her go. “I go to the library, I see the same old people every day asking for the same old books and then I come home alone.” He dropped his gaze. “I take a shower, I make dinner, and I go to bed.” He stared at her. “Until I met you.”

She nodded.

“When I met you everything changed, Rachel. It’s like I have a purpose now.”

“You can’t mean that.”

“You don’t understand.” His eyebrows flattened. “I’ve always been the one in everyone’s shadow. The predictable one. The one no one ever counted on to be more than he was. Everyone looks up to Bobby. He’s always been the hero just like my dad. No one expects me to rescue someone or save someone’s life. Heck, I didn’t expect it from myself until it happened. You give me confidence, Rachel. With you, I can do anything.”

“Because, you think I need you?” she whispered.

“I know you need me. That’s why it’s hard to walk away.”

“Wow.” She sat back, exhaling. “That was deep.”

“And, I won’t lie.” He smirked. “You’re cute too.”

She smiled.

“I don’t want you to run from me.” He took her hand. “I wanna be your friend if that’s what you want.”

“It’s been so long since I had a friend I could trust.”

“Give me a chance.” He touched her chin. “I’m not such a bad guy.”

She grinned, covering her mouth.

“What’s so funny?” He looked at the towel. “Jesus.” He stood, blushing. “I guess I’d better put some clothes on, huh?”

“I’d better go.”

“You don’t have to. I made chicken casserole last night and there’s some left over.”

“I love chicken.”

“Would you like to stay?”

“I…” She straightened the pillow beside her. “I don’t wanna intrude.”

“It’ll be fun. We can talk about books.”

“I’ll stay if we don’t talk about what’s been happening.” She touched her forehead. “I came to get away from that.”

“Sounds good.” He went toward the hall. “Let me go change.” He left.

Rachel let out the breath she’d been holding since he opened the door. “God, he’s fine.” She fanned her face.