Page 64 of Are You There, Moriarty?

The smile that filled his face was the happiest I’d seen him.

“Get dressed and come downstairs. I’ll have a plate ready.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Hold on a second. Are you my fairy godmother, by any chance?”

“Not yet. But if the position is vacant, I’ll fill it.”

“Huh. I like the way you say ‘fill it’.”

He grinned. “Just get dressed and come downstairs.”

* * * *

When I keyed myself into Esther’s apartment at three-thirty, she was lounging on the sofa with Lev, watching TV.

“Heya,” I said, as casually as I could. I put the takeout container with half my sandwich from the Royal Oak in it, on the counter.

“Well, well, well,” Esther drawled.

“What are you watching?” I asked.

“Oh, no, no. I’m the one asking the questions. Where the hell have you been?”

“Didn’t you get my text?”

“Yes, but— Wait! You’ve been with that guy this whole time?” She gave me a disbelieving look.

“Yeah. We had a lazy morning then went for lunch,” I said, as if I hung out with hot guys all the time.

“Toby, that’s awesome!” she exclaimed. “Wait! He could have murdered you! I should have texted! I’m so sorry!”

“It’s fine. He didn’t murder me.”

“Cute. I can see that—and thank God. Some friend I am.”

“Esther, stop. You’re the best. You would have known where to find the body.”

She glared at me. I grinned.

“Anyway,” I continued, “Alastair is… Well, he’s all right.”

My unrestrained look of happiness must have belied my casual words.

“Uh-huh. You look like you’ve just had the best sex of your life.”

“Well…”

“Congratulations!” she said, jumping off the couch and running over to hug me.

“Calm down. Jeez.” I hugged her back politely and tried not to get caught up in Esther’s excitement. I didn’t want to jinx things.

“So? What’s the story? Are you dating him now?”

“I guess.” I shrugged.Yes. Yes, we were dating.

“Cool beans,” Lev said from the sofa, giving me a thumbs-up.

“When do I get to meet him?” Esther said, jumping up and down.

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