Page 81 of The ABCs of You & Me

“What?” she asks, her head tipping to the right, sharp blue eyes narrowed in concern.

I shake my head, feeling a bit dazed. “Nothing, just wondering how to say goodnight to you in an intimately appropriate way.” I step forward and lower my forehead to hers. “I’ll see you tomorrow, sunshine.” I kiss her forehead and tuck a lock of hair behind her ear, letting my hand slowly trail away from her body as I step back.

That look is still on her face, and I hate that I’ve caused her any worry. “See you tomorrow, Foster,” she says quietly before stepping through the door and closing it. I don’t move until I hear the sound of the lock sliding into place.

I’m so screwed.

THIRTY-FOUR

SOPHIE

“It’s so amazing to finally meet you.” Maya extends a hand to Foster when we arrive at the restaurant, hand in hand because it’s easier to pretend at this point than to not. “Fuck, you’re tall. Soph didn’t mention how tall you were.”

“I’ve heard lots about you.” Foster looks over at me with a smirk. “And I’m shocked, that’s usually the first thing people mention. That or my—” He gestures at his red hair.

“I like him,” Maya says approvingly as her eyes do a full scan of him. It makes me want to demand she stop looking at him like that or immediately scratch her eyes out so she doesn’t even have the chance to.

“Is lamp man joining us?” I ask, looking around, hoping to draw her attention away from my… my what? My friend?

“He’ll be here soon.” She blushes. It has been three years since she was in anything that resembled a relationship, and even then it took her twice as long to introduce us to the guy. The fact we’re meeting Davis after about a month is a big deal. “Do me a favor, though, don’t mention the lamps? He’s not aware how free I am with information.”

“He probably knows,” Foster says.

“No way,” Maya scoffs.

“Most guys assume women are like the characters onSex and the City. It’s why a lot of guys have performance anxiety these days.”

“Do they also still think we have pillow fights in our underwear?” I ask.

“You don’t?” Foster asks, eyebrows raised, eyes wide, and I’m momentarily stuck in those sharp eyes.

“There he is,” Maya practically squeals, pushing past us to greet a guy. A very short guy.

“That guy breaks lamps in bed?” Foster whispers, his warm breath brushing against my skin.

Davis is topping the height chart at max five five.

“Maybe it’s got nothing to do with, um, length of anything. He does look bendy.”

“Sophie, Foster, this is Davis. Davis, this is my friend Sophie and her… ugh, what are you exactly?” Maya asks, squinting up at Foster.

Foster looks down at me, his eyes wide in question. “He’s my friend,” I say slowly. Because introducing him as my friend who is also helping me out with intimacy doesn’t really roll off the tongue quite right.

Davis smiles brightly and taps his nose. “Friends.” He looks down at our hands that are clasped back together. “Right.”

“Good friends. Lifelong, some might say,” Foster adds, giving my hand a little squeeze.

“Holy shit, you are tall.” Yas practically skips over to introduce herself to Foster, barely looking at the rest of us.

“So I’ve heard,” he replies like the good sport he is.

“Yasmine.” I watch as they shake hands, but unlike Maya, Yas looks over at me, her grin letting me know she approves. “And you must be Davis?” She pulls her hand from Foster’s and offers it up to the much shorter man.

“Nice to meet you.”

Yas steps back and sizes the two men up. “You know, you two have all the hallmarks of a buddy cop duo.” She waves at their obvious height difference.

“I have been looking for a really tall buddy.” Davis looks up at Foster. “You wanna audition for the role?”

---