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Ever since that night he took o, I can't really say this is just a friendship any I would have never thought to give myself made it very clear tobeside hi the stars streak across the sky, I knew that I was developing feelings as well This alars down

Instead, we've been together every night since Many ti with a nice hts, we'll go out with some of his friends--also followed by hot sex We even had a double date with Sutton and Alex so they could have soone grocery shopping together, seen a fewourselves sick because they had a food truck rodeo going on That night we did not have hot sex because ere both too full to even try

I stir the sauce again, turn the fla, then put the spoon on a rest beside the burner "How er do you think you'll be?" I ask Reed

"Maybe another ten minutes," he says, and I translate that tothe pasta for a while

Reaching into the fridge, I pull out a bottle of water and twist the cap loose I walk into the living roolances at it and says, "Thanks, babe"

And yeahthat little endearets to me

I tap ers on the bill of his hat in response and head back into the kitchen, but a knock on my door stopsso with

I keep e course toward the front door, figuring it's an errant sales around for hi when I open the door

And then it slides off asthere It's been two years since I've seen him and he looks the same, and yet so different He's leaner, overly tan, and scruffy looking The Aiden I knew in residency was always clean shaven with his hair clipped close

But he's not scruffy in a slovenly way It'sthe world" way

"Hey, Josie," he says, and I can hear the e in his brown eyes

As if ignited, I can feel a rise of e on my porch as the realization sets in that he actually came to see me

Came To See Me

I can't explain the response, but a weird combination of joy that he's alive and safe and trepidation that he's here fills me up, but I push the fear back and choose to concentrate on the good

I throw"Ohhere?"

His arht and he presses his cheek tohi for an answer

"I'ht I'd come back to the area, see some friends," he says casually "You're obviously one of the first I looked up"

"I just can't believe it," I gush as I take him in, and I realize all of a sudden thatto do withto do with the fact that I've had a low-burning worry about hireat And you're in one piece"

He nods so situations for sure"

"Well, coainst the door to give him room to pass

Aiden bobs his head in acknowledgives me a shy smile, and steps over my threshold

After I close the door, I go first into the living roo by the TV with an expectant but pleasant smile on his face

I make hasty introductions "Reedthis is Aiden We were in residency together And Aiden, this is Reed My neighbor"

The , but I don't knohy I' and how I characterize them Reed, however, doesn't seeives an outgoing s with an outstretched hand "Pleased to meet you, man"

"Yeah, likewise," Aiden says with a hearty handshake He turns to look at the TV and mishmash of cords "New TV?"

"Yeah," I say with a nervous laugh, because all of a sudden I' in the saure it out for hours now"

I wince internally at what could be deehs and points to the TV "I'ive up"

"What's the problem?" Aiden asks as he takes a step closer to the TV and looks at it with grave concentration

"I can't get the Xbox to connect and I'else," Reed says as he points to the mess