The doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of their food. Micha jumped up, motioning to Carly to stay seated, and went to get it. He gave the delivery driver a ten-dollar tip and brought the bags back into the living room.
“Let’s eat in front of the TV,” Carly suggested, sending an aggrieved glance toward her kitchen. “That used to be my favorite room in this house.”
“It will be soon again,” he reassured her. “Hopefully, that camera won’t be there too much longer.”
Clearing off the coffee table, she nodded. “We’ll just spread everything out here.”
Bridget, who had been eyeing the bag of food, licked her lips.
“I think your dog will like that,” he teased.
Carly cracked a smile at that, then reached into the bag and began unloading the containers. “Here you go,” she said. “I forgot how much they give you.”
He hadn’t. Everything about the first time they’d had this meal would forever remain etched in his soul.
The first bite—sweet and sour chicken, delicately breaded and seasoned with something that tasted like flowers—brought back so many memories that he stopped chewing and allowed himself to let the flavor wash over him. For the rest of his life, he knew he’d always associate mind-blowing, passionate sex with this meal.
“Do you remember...?” they both asked at the same time. Carly’s color seemed high, her breathing jagged.
“The very first time we made love,” she said softly.
He managed to nod, reaching for a second bite. After a moment, she did the same. They continued to eat in a kind of supercharged silence, he unable to help but wonder if she’d invite him to her bed after the meal.
“I didn’t do this on purpose,” she finally muttered, clearly able to discern his thoughts. “I just thought Chinese food sounded good. It wasn’t until I placed the order that I realized I might be sending you the wrong message.”
Struggling to conceal his disappointment, he simply nodded and cracked open his fortune cookie. The message inside made him laugh. “‘Better times are ahead,’” he said, reading it out loud. “Good to know.” Taking a bite of the cookie, he eyed her. “I can’t wait to see yours.”
She pushed her container away and reached for her cookie. When she read the little slip of paper inside, she shook her head, the tiniest hint of a smile tugging at one corner of her mouth. “Here,” she said, passing it over to him.
Reading it, he grinned. “‘Passion awaits you.’ That’s perfect.”
“Is it?” She leaned back in her chair, her expression once again serious. “If I’d invited you to dinner with the intention of luring you into my bed with sweet and sour chicken, it would be. But since we’ve already settled on the fact that’s not going to happen, it almost feels like...” She shrugged.
“Like I got the restaurant to put that particular message into your cookie?” Still grinning, he shook his head. “You know I didn’t.”
“I know,” she groused, her color still high. “But you have to admit it’s an odd fortune to receive. Why couldn’t it have said something like ‘You’ll win an all-expenses-paid trip to Cancun’?”
“I’d be happy to take you to Cancun.” The words slipped out before he’d had time to consider them. “If you really want to go, that is.”
“Figure of speech, Micha. That’s all.” Getting to her feet, she started to gather up the empty containers. “I can’t believe we managed to eat all that.”
He got up and helped her. Together, they took everything to her kitchen trash can. Both studiously avoided glancing at the camera. Bridget, having abandoned her sleeping place on the couch, followed them, nose twitching as she sniffed the floor.
“I didn’t drop anything, girl,” Carly said, ruffling the dog’s fur. “Chinese food wouldn’t be good for you, anyway.”
Micha couldn’t help but find the way she spoke to Bridget as if she was human charming. He checked his watch. “I guess I’d better be going.”
Again, that brief flare of panic in her eyes. But this time, she simply nodded. “I’ll walk you to the door.”
Until the actual moment he stepped out onto her front stoop, he’d harbored a wild and fervent hope that she’d change her mind, kiss him and invite him into her bed. Instead, she put on a brave smile that broke his heart and waved goodbye.
Halfway down the sidewalk, he pivoted, about to tell her he couldn’t stand to leave her alone with that camera mounted in her kitchen window. But she’d already quietly closed her front door, so he got in his car and drove back to his lonely hotel room, where he knew he’d spend the rest of the night dreaming about her.
* * *
Leaning against the back side of her front door, Carly listened until Micha started up his car and drove off. The awful sense of loss she felt at his absence both stunned and worried her. The video camera on her kitchen window freaked her out, and she wasn’t sure she’d manage to sleep a wink tonight.
Bridget slipped up next to her, nudging Carly’s hand with her wet nose. “You’d alert me if anyone tried to break in, wouldn’t you?” she asked. Though she knew the dog most likely didn’t understand her question, having her there made Carly feel slightly more secure.
“I’ve got a big day tomorrow,” she said, continuing her habit of speaking to Bridget as if she was a person. “I’d take you with me, but I’m not sure how my family would react. So you’ll have to stay here. At least I won’t be gone as long as I am when I work all day.”
She took Bridget out once more before getting ready for bed, glad of the way the back porch light illuminated most of her backyard.
As soon as she got into her bed, Bridget came and sat by her side, looking up at her as if asking for permission. “Come on up, girl.” Carly patted the comforter.
Bridget needed no second invitation.
