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"Do you need soh I suppose that makes sense if his specialty is mac n’ cheese It looks like the same model in our apartment downstairs I slide off the barstool and join him in the kitchen

"You probably haven’t lit the pilot yet," I say, scooting in next to him

He smiles down at me "I can assure you, my pilot is lit"

I roll my eyes as I open the oven door and lift the bottohter?" He reaches into his pocket and hands me a Zippo "Do you sht the pilot

"Soht"

Probably after sex, I think

"There you go Now you can proceed with your culinary hter His fingers graze hter frouess it was your turn to save e flashes in htstand; a letter I’ve only read once because once was enough In a single flash I can remember the entire contents of that letter

Dear Claire-bear:

I’m sorry I will love you forever

Always,

Your Chris

I shake uilt, as I scoot around Ada I need to tell you," I say, cli back onto the stool "I meditate"

"Cool So do I"

"You do?"

He dumps the dry pasta into the pot before he answers "Well, sort of Whenever I’m stressed or if I can’tfor an hour or so, to clear my head"

"You’re not supposed to put the pasta in until the water’s boiling"

"Fuck the rules How often do you meditate?"

I take a deep breath as I prepare to reveal er "A lot Like, a few times a day"

"A few times a day? Do the customers at the café stress you out thatin a safe direction, e

"Meditation is the way I cope… with thepot of water and turns to face uts to you," I insist "I just think you should know about theonon your door?"

"In the event you should run out of processed cheese, call before you knock"

He finally drains the water froredients in The pastasound as he stirs it up and I can’t believe I’m about to eat mac n’ cheese on a first date

I can’t believe I’rabs two spoons out of a drawer and stabs them into the pot He sits next to me and places the pot on the breakfast bar between us

"Bon appétit"

"You really kno to iirl, Adam"

He scoops some macaroni onto his spoon and holds it out for me "I like the way you say my name" I open my mouth and he slowly slides the spoon in I close my lips around the warm steel and he slowly slides it out "Look at you You have that down"

I scoop up so the spoon a few inches away from his lips before I swoop it away and jaroans "That was my mac n’ cheese"

He reaches for my spoon and I pull rabs my wrist with one hand as I atte the spoon with his other hand

"I’h uncontrollably until the stool begins to tilt

"Oh, shit!" I screa room floor

He lands on top of me, but he quickly scrambles to his feet and holds out his hand "Are you okay?" he asks, and there’s a definite tinge of worry in his voice

The carpet burns rab his hand He pullsface to face, our noses inches apart

"I’azes into ly, and I have to look away "Claire, I find you very, very attractive" I take a step back and hold out et you into bed I just wanted tonext to your friend’s car, I kneanted to get to know you"

I cringe as I realize Ada what Senia’s four-year-old sister does whenever a Justin Bieber song comes on Then he saw me space out in the café yesterday and, somehow, he still finds me very, very attractive