Only One Kiss (Only One 1)

“That was the best one,” Becca says, standing behind Monroe. “That shot is going to get you onto billboards.”

“Whatever,” I say, leaning forward and picking up my skates and bringing them to the garage. I clean up the mess that I made while shooting as Monroe starts to pack up his stuff. He shakes my hand when he leaves, then turns to mention to Becca that he will be sending her the proofs in the next couple of days.

“Thank you so much, Monroe,” he says. When he leaves, I’m itching to leave with him. “I have a feeling a couple of those shots are going to be the signing point,” she says to me, sitting on the couch when she hears the front door slam shut. “Where is your sitter?”

“I fired her.” I walk to the fridge and grab a water bottle. “A couple of days ago.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Becca says, leaning forward in her chair and looking at me. “Where the hell is Ari?”

“Candace took her over to her house,” I say, sitting on the couch, and I watch the way Becca is processing all of this.

“Why the fuck did you fire your babysitter? It took forever to find her,” Becca asks, ignoring the beeping phone in her hand.

“I know,” I say. “But she showed up here out of the blue ready to cook me dinner while dressed like a hooker.”

“Oh my God.” Becca puts her hand to her mouth. “Did you have the locks changed?”

“Yesterday,” I say. “Candace did that, and she has a meeting with a new babysitter today. So I have to get over there.”

“So you fire your babysitter and call in Candace?” She just eyes me as she asks me the questions.

“She was here when it happened.” I am not hiding it from her. “I’m dating her.”

“I’m sorry.” She shakes her head. “What?”

I watch her as I say the words. “We are dating.”

“I don’t think that is a good idea,” Becca says softly.

“I don’t care,” I say. “It’s a great idea to me. She’s amazing, and she’s smart, and she’s beautiful.”

“Yes to all of those things along with other things, but you dating her.”

“I’m not going to lie. It took me by surprise also.” I lean forward. “I mean, it’s not like I was on Grinder looking for chicks.”

“You’ll have a hard time finding chicks on Grinder, Ralph, since that’s for gay men,” she says, and my eyes open wide while she laughs. “Jesus, can you imagine?”

“I can’t.” I shake my head. “I want to sell the house,” I say, and she stops laughing.

“But . . .” She looks around.

“You know I hate this house,” I say. “You know I’ve hated this house from the beginning.”

“Yeah, but I figured with Cassie gone and with her being here,” she starts to say, and I shake my head.

“I want a house, a home. I want a smaller house with three bedrooms and normal amount of bathrooms. I don’t need a cinema room or a fucking rock wall swimming pool that I haven’t ever been in.”

“If you’re sure, I actually know someone who is looking for this exact style house,” she says.

“I don’t even want to make money from the sale.”

“Well, now, I’m going to stop you right there.” She holds up her hands. “I know you might not want it, but I want it, so I’m going to have someone come and appraise the house, and then I’ll talk to my client.”

“Is he an NHL player?” I ask, and she shakes her head.

“New up-and-coming golfer,” she says. “Wife is a debutante who loves big and bigger.”

“Gross,” I say, getting up. “And grosser.”

“Meanwhile, I’ll get you with a realtor, and you and she can chat,” she says. “I’m still in a little bit of shock over you and Candace.” She smiles now. “You know that she doesn’t date her clients, right?” I nod my head. “The rookie,” she says. “Vincent, he chased her hard last year at the NHL awards, like hard. Like roses to her room, waiting in the lobby for her.”

“Really?” I ask, shocked but not surprised.

“Yeah, it was funny watching Evan glare at him.” She laughs. “Then the whole Stone family followed suit.”

“Oh, Jesus, he never stood a chance.” I shake my head happy that he didn’t and suddenly wanting to slash his stick for even thinking about her like that.

“Are you sure about this?” she asks, standing. “I mean, you know I love you, and I will be behind you whatever you decide, but—”

“It’s fucking nuts.” I run my hand through my hair. “But I tell her things.” I look at her. “Things that I don’t tell anyone, and with her, all I want to do is tell her more things, tell her everything.”

“I’m happy for you.” She smiles and comes over, giving me a hug. “If anyone deserves even a little happy, it’s you.”