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"Different flavors, and they can all be delicious when tasted with the right person" I want to taste them all with you "But yes, one’s natural tendencies do have a way of defining what one sees as normal"

"You tried a so-called nor to have a relationship, I had to talk about Melanie

"Yes" I took a bite of a roll and chewed it while I thought "With Melanie It was ahow I’d hurt Melanie Not as badly as I’d hurt Abby, but I’d still hurt her "We failed for several reasons--Melanie is not a natural subht back to the night she found me in my playroom "But she didn’t want to admit we couldn’t work I never understood that"

Never understood why she had to go crying to Todd and Elaina Why she felt the need to interrupt what I was trying to tell Abby at the engagement party

"For what it’s worth," Abby said, "she seeain what the two of theht Melanie was over me, it really didn’t matter

"Thank God," I said

I girded myself and asked, "Are you?"

She looked atin her eyes "No"

Relief, exciteh ain simply

I reached across the table and took her hand "Nor I, you," I said, because it wasn’t enough for me to kno she felt--I had to be honest with her Let her kno I felt

Our eyes met, and I felt the chains of my past start to loosen If we had made it this far, perhaps we could make it a little bit farther

"I’ll do whatever it takes to earn your trust back, Abby For however long it takes" I took a deep breath and forced out my next question as I stroked her knuckles "Will you letonto the table Instead, I squeezed her hand and let it go "Thank you"

We were going to do it We would work through this and find our way--together

I wanted to talk to her for hours

The damned waiter came back to the table

"Have you ever made sushi?" Abby asked

Okay, we could talk about sushi

"No I never have, but I’ve alanted to learn"

The waiter took ht Seven o’clock"

Abby looked at ular date? To get to know each other?

Yes, of course Anything to be near her I almost said as much, but then I heard Paul’s voice in my head: Every step from here still has to be up to her

I raised an eyebrow at her Your call You decide

"Let’s do it," she said

She agreed She wanted to try I decided then and there to ask her to the play on Saturday

My opportunity ca the restaurant

"Abby," I said, helping her with her coat "Kyle’s in his school play Opening night is Saturday and he asked me to attend Will you come with me?"

I tried to read her expression, but couldn’t decide what she thought

"What time?"

"I can pick you up at five," I said "We could have dinner before the show?"

Before today, she hadn’t wanted me to pick her up or meet her at her aparted that?

"Five it is"

After she left, I called Sara and told her I’d be working from home the rest of the afternoon I drove towith Apollo’s neurotic sniffing once again and letting him outside, I walked down the hallway

I stood outside the double doors and closed h The past was the past and today was the day I would leave it behind for the last time

I took a deep breath, opened the doors, and stepped into my library for the first ti what had to be soest days of my life I wondered if Felicia would be around, but Jackson told nored his "I told you so" attitude

The date with Abby could not have gone better She was beautiful, enchanting, and quite the conversationalist She invitedtwice

For the record, her favoriteof lamb, and when she elve, she’d wanted a bike for Christe part in the play, but when he stepped out on the stage for the first ti in the audiencewords couldn’t describe the pride I felt He’d coo, and he’d worked so hard to have an active life

I tried ainst Abby In keeping hat Paul said, I wanted her to dictate our physical relationship My only moment of indecision came when I dropped her off at her apart me," she said as we stood at her door "I had a really nice ti wouldn’t have been the same without you" I couldn’t help ht"

I looked into her eyes May I kiss you? I wanted to ask

Not yet Let her make the first step

But what if she doesn’t?

She didn’t

I smiled at her and turned to leave

"Nathaniel," she said after I took a few steps away

My heart pounded, but I turned to face her She walked to , unable to keepme Did she want?

Would she?