Her Best Men

“Holy shit, Manda. Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine. My neighbor rescued me and helped bandage me up.”

“You have a neighbor? Please tell me it’s a male neighbor.”

“It is,” I said, grinning. “And before you ask, yes. He’s fucking hot.”

“Ooooh, yes! Amanda, it’s about damn time you hooked your claws into someone,” she said.

“And he’s strong. Picked me up like I was nothing. He’s got these piercing eyes and rippling muscles. When he found me in the staircase, he was shirtless, Sarah. Shirt. Less.”

“Fuck. Does he have a beard? Please tell me he has a beard.”

“He does,” I said, giggling. “I figured you would like that.”

“I love facial hair on guys. Have you seen him since your accident?”

“I have. He invited me over for dinner last night, and it was a wonderful evening.”

“You went on a date, and you didn’t call me!?”

“Well, it wasn’t really a date. He had his niece with him.”

“Niece? He a babysitter or something?” she asked.

“I don’t really know the story, but she’s adorable. She couldn’t be more than three, though she talks really well so she might be older. I’m not really sure.”

“Have you learned much about him?” she asked.

“Not much. I mean, I kind of deduced that he’s a recluse. Not used to being around people. His niece, Lanie, is the one that always wants to come around. It’s almost like she drags him along.”

“A three-year-old dragging around some burly man with a beard? That’s adorable..”

“It s just about the cutest thing ever,” I said.

“Are you attracted to him?”

“I just told you he was hot,” I said.

“You can find someone good looking and not find them attractive. Remember Michael from our sophomore year?”

“Oh, fuck yes. He was beautiful.”

“But a raging cockhead. So, he’s hot but not attractive. Got it? Are you attracted to him?” she asked, again.

I paused for a second before I hopped up onto the counter. I heard something creak and groaned, hoping the entire damn thing wouldn’t give way underneath my body weight. I could still see some dust floating around in the streams of light coming through the window, and I tried to swat them away.

Was I attracted to him?

“Manda?”

“Yeah? Sorry. Dust and shit. I mean, I am—I think. I’m not sure.”

“What do you mean?” Sarah asked.

“Well, he can be standoffish. I’d call him a dick if I couldn’t throw the same treatment back at him.”

“Ah, so he’s tugging at your sassy side. Okay, but he’s not, like, bullying you or anything.”