Page 30 of Fierce-Michael

“Sure,” he said. “I’ll be dropping Ty off at ten and we can get some lunch or something before we go there.”

She laughed. “No,” she said. “You eat fair food when you’re at the fair. I think it starts around one.”

“Then I’ll pick you up at twelve thirty,” he said.

“Sounds like a date to me,” she said. “Then we’ll take the rest of the day and night as it comes.”

Michael smiled. He knew how he’d like that night to go but would by no means bring it up. He’d let her make that move when she was ready.

“I’ll see you Saturday,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll text before then.”

“That would be nice,” she said.

He felt bad. He did not have to talk to someone daily. It just wasn’t his thing even when he was seriously dating someone. The woman normally made the first move toward him to text and he’d reply, but he didn’t often do it himself.

He’d make a better effort going forward now.

He hung up after that, saw the time on his phone and it was only a fifteen-minute call. Not long, but enough to put a smile on his face.

10

LIKE THE THING TO SAY

“You look nice,” Michael said to her three days later.

“Thank you,” she said. “I’m glad it’s not going to rain today. Should be a nice day, all things considered.”

She put a light jacket on because she knew she’d need it even walking around.

If she changed her outfit five times this morning, she wouldn’t have told a soul, finally settling on dark jeans that were fitted to her body with some nice stretch and showing that she worked out and took care of herself. Her top was a burnt orange color that she felt looked good against her skin color. She wasn’t pasty white like her father but had some of her mother’s olive Italian genes in her.

She had blue canvas striped sneakers on her feet and a tan jacket that had one big button in front to keep it closed.

“I hope so,” he said.

“No problems with Ty?” she asked.

“No,” he said. “He was fine and went right in like he always does.”

“That’s nice,” she said. “I know you want him to spend time with his mother.”

“I do,” he said. “And he does. When it works out. Ready to go?”

She wouldn’t talk about it anymore. There didn’t seem to be a reason to.

Kelly was just happy that he’d texted her on Thursday first to see how her day was going. So she did the same on Friday.

Not long texts, but keeping in touch and saying they were looking forward to today.

“I am,” she said, putting her small crossbody purse over her shoulder. It’s not like she thought she was going to spend the night with him.

She wasn’t sure if they would go back to his place or come back here. Keeping her purse small let him know she wasn’t pushing things.

But if they started to kiss again and it developed to their clothes being removed, she wasn’t going to fight him off.

She might even tackle him to get it going.

When that thought popped into her head she had to suppress a giggle and ended up coughing.

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