EXCERPT FROM "They Met in the Library"

         Manne: Sorry for taking so long to answer, but I just got off work. Is your day still great?

         Adrian: It is. I was out walking for hours. I love winter. I could have stayed out all day, but real life happened so here I am. Folding laundry.

         Manne: I hate when real life interferes.

         Adrian: It’s terrible. But alas, nakedness is frowned upon at work so it had to be done or I would have frightened the little old ladies tomorrow.

         Manne: I’m laughing.

         Manne: And are you sure about that? Maybe the little old ladies would be delighted and throw themselves at you?

I chuckle as I tap out my reply.

         Adrian: That would frighten ME, so no matter the scenario, someone would be scared.

         Manne: Then maybe I should stay away from the library tomorrow since the books frighten me.

         Adrian: Or I wear clothes to work and no one is frightened. You know I’ve got your back.

         Manne: Too bad. I was looking forward to you naked at work. I bet that’s just the thing that would make me un-afraid of books. Positive associations and all that.

My smile grows so wide my face hurts. I abandon the rest of the laundry and wander over to the bed and sit, leaning against the wall, propped up on my pillows.

         Adrian: We can certainly explore that option, but I suggest we do it in a more private setting and not in a public library where anyone can come in at any time.

         Manne: I don’t know any other suitable place. It needs to be full of books or the desensitizing won’t work. Because being naked in a bookstore is also frowned upon, I assume?

I burrow down in my pillows and wiggle my butt. The blatant flirting makes my belly tingle with anticipation. I haven’t experienced it for so long, and I’ve missed it more than I realized.

After re-reading his messages, I get out of bed and walk to the kitchenette, turning on the wide-angle option on my cell phone camera and snap a picture of my place.

I have books on every possible and impossible surface and need a bigger apartment. But I like it here, and I hate moving, so I just ignore that the walls are bowing outward and find new places to stack them. Linnea lectured me when she found a book in the fridge once, but that was an honest mistake. She didn’t believe me, and I can’t say I blame her. Soon, the only book-free space in my tiny studio will be the fridge.

I send him the picture as I drift back to the bed and retake my previous position.

         Manne: Holy shit. You weren’t kidding when you said you have a lot of books.

         Adrian: I wasn’t.

         Manne: I bet you have more books than the library.

         Adrian: LOL no. I wish. But they have a few thousand square feet of space on me.

         Manne: You have enough to intimidate me. You’d definitely have to be naked when I come over.

When. Not if. The tingles in my abdomen spread to the rest of my body and I burrow deeper into my pillows. I’ve forgotten how much fun flirting is.

Manne’s next message makes me burst out laughing.

         Manne: Or if you wanted to wear a bowtie and nothing else, I guess that’d be okay, too.

         Adrian: Only a bowtie? Really? Is this some weird fetish you have?

         Manne: It’s not my fault I find bowties sexy.

         Adrian: Then whose fault is it?

         Manne: Yours, duh. I never knew I found bowties sexy until a couple weeks ago.