VCard for Christmas

“Bull, no!” I say, reaching for the dog.

Avery’s laughing, rolling on the floor as Bull stands over her, licking her face, and the more Avery squirms, the more Bull thinks it’s a game. I’m about to grab my dog when I notice in all of the twisting and turning, Avery’s dress has ridden up her thighs and I have a perfect view of her pink panties fitted to her cunt. Fuck me, this has to be a test.

I avert my eyes and grab the dog, walking with him into the kitchen. I need a breather and to put a little space between me and the new neighbor. “I’m going to give him his food. I’ll be right back.”

I set the dog down in the kitchen and fill his bowl up with food. Instead of devouring it like normal, he sticks his nose up in the air and turns to walk back toward the other room. “Oh no you don’t, Bull. You’re staying in here.” I set him down at his bowl again. “Now, stay. I’ll be back.”

I adjust myself, take a few calming breaths and then walk back out to where I left Avery. She’s standing now, her pretty pink panties hidden, and she’s holding her little pink box, innocently smiling at me with her big, green eyes. As if she didn’t just sucker punch me in the gut. “Sorry about that. He loved the treat you gave him.”

“Oh good. And these are for you,” she says, holding out the box to me.

I take it and open it up. The smell of sugar and sweetness hits my nose in an instant, and I reach into the box. There’s an assortment of cupcakes, all perfectly decorated. I pick up the snowman and take a bite. The sweet taste melts on my tongue, and before I realize it I’ve inhaled the whole cupcake. “Uh, wow, that is good. Did you make it?”

Her face brightens at the compliment, and I pick up a Santa cupcake and eat a bite of it, determined to take it slower this time. “Wow, these are really good. Do you want to have a seat? I don’t know where my manners are. Obviously, Bull and I don’t get a lot of guests over.”

“I’ll have to bring my Muff over.”

My eyes widen, and I start to choke on the piece of cupcake that I couldn’t resist. “Your muff?” I ask, between coughs.

She nods innocently. My mind is in the complete gutter, and she tilts her head. “Yeah, my kitty’s name is Muff. Bull will love her.”

I don’t want to disappoint her because Bull doesn’t get along well with other dogs, and he’s definitely not going to play nice with a cat. I’m working it out in my head, trying to figure out how to get her back over here. I may have to threaten the dog, but if getting her to bring Muff over here is going to be my excuse, I’ll make it happen.

“Uh, are you okay? Do you need water or something?”

I need something all right. Her... on my lap and her lips on mine. I’m shaking my head, though. “No, I’m fine. Thank you for these. I’ll probably eat them all tonight.”

She rocks back and forth on her feet. “That’s all right. I bake all the time. I’m happy to share.”

My smile freezes on my face. Share. I definitely won’t be sharing her. As a matter of fact, I’ll probably pluck the eyes out of any asshole that looks at her.

She’s moving, and I must have gotten lost in thought because she’s walking to the door. “Where are you going?” I ask her.

She looks at me over her shoulder with a laugh on her lips. “Home. I know you just got home from work, and you have to be tired. I just wanted to say hi and bring you and your doggie some treats.”

I set the box down on the entry table. “I’ll walk you home.”

She steps onto the porch and pulls her sweater closer around her. “You don’t have to.”

With my hand on her back, I guide her down the steps and across the driveway. “I want to.” And right then, I knew that I’m going to be seeing a lot more of Avery.

2

Avery

I walk into my apartment, and the first thing I do is pull off my sweater. It’s forty degrees outside, but I’m burning up. Have mercy. I’ve watched Lincoln come and go since I moved in two weeks ago, but far away Lincoln is nothing compared to up close Lincoln.

It took me that long to work up the nerve to go and say hi to him. Finally, I convinced myself that I really should introduce myself to the neighbors. And that’s how I ended up making six dozen Christmas cupcakes and a whole batch of doggie treats... all so I could meet Lincoln.