Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Leo woke to light filtering into Andie’s bedroom. Hope that the electricity was back on had him going from sleepy to alert, only to realize the sun created the glow. The electricity status was still unknown. A slight smell of candles lingered in the air from where they burned and were blown out prior to sleep. The temperature was also a question, as the warm body curled up next to him was all the heat he needed.
Andie slept with her head on his shoulder, her hair tickling his neck. One of his hands was trapped under her and tingly, but he didn’t care, not with her soft breath against his neck. The sunlight danced across her face, accentuating the curve to her cheeks and the few freckles on her nose. Her beauty tugged at him, deep in his chest. The more he got to know her, the more he liked this special woman who’d agreed to brighten his Chanukah.
The tingling in his hand increased and as much as he didn’t want to move from this position, ever, he knew he should. Leo lifted his head, taking in the area, and the clock on the nightstand behind Andie, dark.
For all he knew it hadn’t worked before the outage. He continued to look around, not finding any signs of electricity. How many hours had it been out? The present time unknown, the sun his only clue, and he’d never learned how to easily tell time that way.
At least it was Saturday, and he already knew neither of them had to work.
Leo used his non-numb hand to nudge Andie’s smooth shoulder. “Andie, I think the power’s still out.”
Andie groaned and burrowed her head into Leo’s shoulder. She shifted enough that he was able to stretch out his numb hand. Instead of returning blood flow, he clutched her naked waist. What he would give to wake up every morning like this.
“Andie. We need check on the power.”
She lifted her head, blinking awake. He waited for regret over the night they’d shared to cross her face. All he got was a slow, sleepy smile, and he barely resisted kissing her silly. She spoke, but he didn’t have his hearing aids on and only a soft mumble of noise made it to his ears.
He shook his head and leaned in close, angling one ear closer to her. “Repeat that.”
“Morning. Power?”
Leo pointed behind her. “Your clock is dark, is that normal?”
Andie turned to the clock, then sighed and lowered her head, snuggling in. Another mumble of noise vibrated against his chest.
“Still can’t hear you.”
She lifted her head, eyes more alert. “Sorry. Not normal.”
“So we’re still in the dark.” Which meant he couldn’t charge his hearing aids. He had some power left in them, but he’d never had to test it out in this situation before and didn’t know how long that would last. Between that thought and his hand still lacking blood flow, he found it hard to relax and fully appreciate the moment.
Andie didn’t move. Leo hated the thought of losing the warm and cozy feeling, but the bad kind of tingles deepened. He shifted his hand but couldn’t get full blood flow achieved.
“Problem?” she asked and he somehow managed to hear her.
“I’ve got about two drops of blood left in my hand.”
“Oh!” Andie scrambled up, freeing his hand, not seeming to mind that she gave him the best view. Leo moved his hand in front of him, using his other to wake it up. “That bad?”
He wasn’t sure how his hand wasn’t limp. “Not too bad.”
Andie chuckled. “Liar.” She took his hand, massaging it in hers. She sat next to him, blankets fallen off, and raised his hand to her lips. “Feel this?”
He saw it more than felt it, only a light flutter of her lips, which had to be the saddest thing he’d ever experienced. “Not really, but it looks good.”
Andie glanced down at herself. “I bet.” She took one of his fingers and sucked it into her mouth.
Leo groaned. “My hand is still numb, but the rest of me isn’t.”
Andie’s smile was part sin, and if Leo could bottle this moment he’d never leave. She straddled his waist, running his hand down her neck, over the swell of her breast, before cupping it around her. “How about that?”
“I can’t tell where the tingly is from. Come here.” He sat up, claiming her mouth, collecting her other breast in his non-tingly hand. Andie rubbed against him, arms around his neck. “This has to be the best Chanukah morning ever.”
Andie chuckled and pulled back, but not enough to remove his hands. “Do we need to figure out the time?”
“The power is out, we’ll figure it out later.”
“In that case.” Andie reached over, grabbing the box of condoms they’d opened the night before. She sheathed him, then resumed her position, this time taking him deep inside.
“I will never have a better Chanukah than this,” Leo groaned.
Andie kissed his neck, rubbing against him. “It certainly has a very adult flair. Maybe we should have tried strip dreidels after all.”
At least, he thought that was what she said, he couldn’t focus. Leo grasped her hips. “Later.” He thrust up into her until her head fell back, until the tingles traveled to his toes instead of his hands, until she cried out in pleasure.
Andie’s head went to his shoulder, body still shifting against his. And once again mumbled.
“I haven’t got my hearing aids on; you need to stop talking into my chest.”
She angled to face him. “I don’t mean to forget.”
He nearly laughed. “Most people do.”
She frowned. He leaned down and kissed her. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not fair.”
He let that go. “What did you say?”
“Oh. I claimed you made the power outage happen on purpose, didn’t you?”
Leo ran a hand down her back. “I’m nowhere near that smooth or plotting. And we’ve already established the menorah isn’t magic.”
Andie raised her head, laughter dancing in her eyes. “So you did wish for this?”
“I didn’t, but if I did, I would simply have wished for you.” Too much, he revealed too much, but her lips were curved as she kissed him. She began moving, a slow and steady rhythm he never wanted to leave. He met her pace, building her up, setting her off again before he followed.
They curled up together, breathing heavily, and Leo knew in that moment he could love her. If only the universe didn’t have plans against them.
Andie reached one hand out of the blanket, running a finger over the curve of his ear. “Tell me if I’m not loud enough. How long have you worn hearing aids?”
“I can’t tell you if you’re loud enough if I can’t hear you.”
She waited him out, staring up at him with those brown eyes.
“Twelve years.” He swallowed. “I was sixteen.”
He watched her face, waited to see if recognition would kick in. It didn’t take long. “Wait, wasn’t that when you had an issue with your father and the business?”
“I got sick a month later, but yeah.” Sixteen had been a very bad year for him. First, he missed the party, then he had the incident at the store with Dean. Then sick enough to miss school, to battle fever after fever and the ear infections that wouldn’t quit. To the world not being loud enough anymore and having to accept a new reality with a disability.
Andie placed a hand over his heart. “I’m sorry, that must have been rough.”
He shrugged. Not wanting to get into it. “It’s who I am.” It had taken time, and he’d gone through a lot of anger, but if he’d been that sick and only lost some of his hearing, then he had a lot to still be grateful for.
“Okay, what time is it?” Andie separated them and reached for her phone. “Five percent battery and nine a.m. I need to see if my power bank is charged.” She snuggled back to him.
“You don’t seem at all concerned about the power.”
“It’s out. We can’t do anything until it comes back on. I do my best not to sweat the small stuff.”
He could learn a thing or two from her. “You are wise beyond your years.”
Andie laughed. “I’m also too refreshed to care. I never sleep in this late, teacher’s curse. Thank you.”
“Nah, the power outage messed you up.” Yet he wrapped a hand around her. His fingers went back to tingling, but he didn’t care.
She kissed his shoulder. “You don’t give yourself enough credit, do you?”
He let the question hang in the air, sensing a strong amount of truth in her words. He’d been denied credit time and time again with his father, all due to one major mistake. Perhaps that affected him in more ways than he thought.
He’d deal with that later. “Are you still going to want to come to the party, even with the power out?”
“Do I want to stay here where it’s cold outside of the blankets or do I want to go someplace warm with food. Hmm …”
Leo really could fall for this woman. “My mom tends to serve a late lunch and wants people over beforehand.”
“So we need to move?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“I’m meeting your family without a shower?”
She was beautiful with or without a shower, but he wasn’t about to mention that. “Who do we know that might have power? I can check with Jodie.” Even an hour to charge his aids would hopefully allow him to make it through the day.
Andie shifted off Leo. “Let me find my charger. It just so happens I have a friend who very rarely loses power.”
Twenty minutes later, Andie sat near the coffee shop window, while Leo got their food. She’d thrown her hair back into a ponytail, and felt an odd combination of satisfied and frumpy. At least Sarah had power, she’d be able to wash off the frumpy. The satisfied might be a different story.
“One egg sandwich and coffee with cream, no sugar.” Leo placed the bag and cup in front of Andie, before putting down his own items for himself. He’d powered up his hearing aids and put them on, explaining that while they didn’t have full power, they would do until he could charge them.
“And did I hear you ordering a sugary latte?” Andie leaned forward, amused for some odd reason, but not surprised.
Leo lifted his mug and took a sip. “Yup.”
“Sweet tooth.”
He grinned at her, one filled with heat. “Extremely.”
Andie reveled in the warmth of the establishment, of the cup in her hands, and of the man sitting across from her. Somehow her Chanukah had gone from hard to celebrate to one she would never forget.
“Are we going to be late?” She took a bite of her food.
Leo unwrapped his own sandwich. “Nah, we’ll be fine. Mom isn’t rigid on time, and I already explained about the outage.” He took a bite. “She offered her shower, just so you know.”
Andie paused and had to force herself to swallow. “To someone she didn’t even know about until Millie said something?”
Leo remained very focused on his sandwich. Chatter from other coffee shop patrons hit her ears, along with the whir of machinery.
“Leo?”
He sighed and looked up at her. “I might have mentioned my neighbor once or twice before.”
Andie studied Leo. Her friendly hot neighbor, who’d always flirted but didn’t take it further until now. The way his cheeks pinked easily. Her new friend was shy. And she’d bet he’d thought about their potential for as long as she had.
“Well, I’m glad they feel comfortable with my joining their celebration.”
“Andie, you don’t—”
She cut him off. “I know I don’t have to come. I want to. And I don’t want to disappoint Millie or anyone else.” And maybe some not-too-small part of her wanted to be enveloped into a close-knit family gathering, to see how the other kind lived and loved and laughed.
He reached a hand out, covering hers. “Thank you. They can be annoying, though.”
“Aren’t all Jewish families?” She didn’t understand how some people made annoying little traits a reason to stay away. She’d take her father’s open-mouthed chewing, or overly cautious behavior, any day to have him back. And she didn’t let those moments bother her when he was alive, she simply let those annoyances add to the love.
Leo nodded. “You’ve got me there.” He took a bite, chewed. He took his family for granted, as most did. “So tell me about your friend.”
“Sarah? She’s a fellow teacher at my school.”
He paused, then swallowed. “So she’s also looking for a new job?”
“Correct.”
“Is she moving away, too?”
Andie leaned back into her chair. “She hasn’t found anything yet.”
“That sucks.”
More than he knew. Sarah was a fantastic teacher and belonged in the classroom. “It does. We met in college, and you can thank her for the strip dreidel idea.”
He’d been about to take a bite, but instead he put his sandwich down, elbows on the table, leaning forward. The table shifted in his direction. His eyes lit with a challenge and it reignited the spark deep in her belly. “But we haven’t played strip dreidels.”
Andie copied his stance, though the table didn’t dip back her way. If they were back at her place she’d crawl across to his lap. “Yet. Play your cards right and maybe we’ll give it a try tonight. There are two nights left of Chanukah.”
“We can’t play dreidels outside of Chanukah?”
“Nope. It’s in the torah.”
Leo shook his head, a smile on his face. “It is not, and no one will mind.”
The mood shifted, away from playful flirty banter. “Are you suggesting we spend time together after Chanukah?” Something akin to hope swirled inside. She might be on borrowed time, but the thought of enjoying Leo for more than the holidays was tempting.
He swallowed and she followed the motion. A nervous gesture? She dared to think his thoughts mirrored hers. “Yes.”
Her pulse kicked in a way that had nothing to do with the caffeine. “I’ll be moving soon.” Though the temple preschool job came to mind. Would it be a better match, or a foolish one?
“I don’t care. I like spending time with you. And if you’ll allow it, I’d like this to continue as long as it can. What do you say, Andie?”
She suddenly needed a different drink than coffee. Leo brightened her life, no denying that small but potent fact. Still, now wasn’t the time to start something new when she already had an end time stamped in place.
Leo leaned back, picking up his sandwich. “Just, think it over. You know where I live.”
She did. And she feared the end result would be awkward hallway encounters. Was it better to flirt and wonder about the potential, or to have experienced it and lost it?
Andie forced those thoughts aside. She’d worry about that after the holidays.
The ramifications of showering at some stranger’s home hit Leo about two seconds before the apartment door opened. Awkwardness seeped in and he understood why Andie had balked at showering at his parents’ house.
“I’m so happy you have power!” Andie said when Sarah opened her door.
Sarah stood several inches shorter than Andie, with straight dark brown hair past her shoulders, wearing a “their, there, they’re” sweatshirt. She propped a hand on her hip, studying her guests in a way that had Leo resisting a squirm. “Well, don’t you two look cozy.”
Andie glanced back at Leo, and he tried to cover up all of his uncomfortableness. Just another normal day in his life, nothing unusual about showering at a stranger’s apartment. Nothing at all. “Bug me about it later, we have a Chanukah party to get to.”
Sarah stepped back and let Andie and Leo into her apartment. Andie dropped her bag to her feet while Leo kept his on his shoulder. Why, he had no clue. Pretending not to be awkward had never been his strong point.
Andie pointed over her shoulder, in a direction that Leo guessed the bathroom would be in. “You want to shower first?”
He would have showered with her, but that would only have happened if they were at one of their apartments. “Ladies first.”
Andie shrugged, picked up her bag, and headed down the hall. “Towels in the closet?” She called over her shoulder.
“Yup. You two can share.”
Andie stopped and glared at Sarah.
“You gonna tell me you didn’t spend the night together?” Sarah’s smile claimed an innocence her words contradicted.
Andie opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again and then turned back down the hall. If she managed to say anything, he didn’t hear it.
Sarah laughed. “She’s too fun to tease.” A finger pointed in Leo’s face. “Don’t abuse that.”
Leo raised both his hands. “Not my intention at all.”
Sarah studied him from head to toe, no shame. “Okay. I’ll buy it.”
Sounds of water running through the pipes filled the unit.
“Want something to drink?” Sarah headed to the left, into a small kitchen.
Leo followed. “Uh, sure.”
Sarah filled a cup with water, then propped a hip on her counter, handing it out to him. He took it and stepped back. “Andie’s had it rough. It’s nice to see her out with others.”
Unsure what to do, Leo drank his water. Small talk had never been his thing outside of work, and this one posed an extra challenge. Sarah scrutinized him, and he had to accept it on behalf of Andie.
“Her dad was her world, and when he died, a piece of her did, too. Andie is the kindest person you’ll ever meet, with the biggest heart, and she has so much love to share. But her family is gone.”
He nodded, absorbing Sarah’s words. Not that he didn’t know most of this, but hearing it from someone close to Andie meant something. “Why tell me all this? I’m just her date for Chanukah.”
“Hmm. Are you? Because for years I’ve heard about her hot neighbor. Even when her dad was very sick there were stories about how this neighbor, you, brightened her days when she needed it the most. So tell me, Leo, are you just an eight-night wonder?”
He placed down his cup before he dropped it. “She’s taking a job far away and moving.” He wanted more; but her plans didn’t allow for it. A week wouldn’t have him on bended knee, but he wanted to see where this attraction and chemistry went.
“Sure. She might be. But I’ve watched enough rom-coms with her to know there’s often a way.”
“As the movie fades to black and you don’t know how or if they actually succeed.”
“Hmm, a realist. She could use some of that.”
“Is there a reason for this interrogation?” Because he was about to start squirming like a kid being lectured.
“I like you. I like the way she smiles when she talks about you. And the way you’re staring longingly after her. Plus, I’m all for giving her reasons to stay local.”
“I would never ask her to give up a job for me.” He would think it, sure, but not ask.
“Ah, see, that just makes me like you better.” The water stopped chugging through the pipes. “Go, check on her, I’m sure you want out of this conversation.”
He did. He didn’t want to be so eager and transparent, but he was. So, as calmly as he could, he left Sarah’s kitchen and grabbed his bag.
Then he returned and found a spot to set up his hearing aid charger and pop the hearing aids on. Much like Andie, Sarah didn’t react beyond positive curiosity.
Down the hall, he found a closet, then the bathroom, and knocked. “Andie, it’s me.” He pressed his ear against the door, realizing he probably should have knocked before taking off the aids.
“I’m almost finished, come on in.”
He opened the door. Andie stood in only her bra and underwear, scrunching gel into her curls. “God, you’re beautiful,” he said before he could stop himself.
“I’m half naked, of course.”
He walked over to her, placing a finger under her chin. “I don’t deny the view is spectacular, but so are you, just you.” He kept revealing more of his cards than he should, unable to have the control he so desperately needed around her. Her cheeks were rosy, lips bare, and he leaned in, kissing her, wanting to be the reason she stayed instead of moved but knowing he’d never be able to live with himself for that.
“Shower is a bit fussy, the pressure likes to change, but it’s warm.”
“Noted.” He collected the items he needed from his bag, then stripped, setting up the shower.
He turned when he felt eyes on him. Andie stood, one hand in her curls, not moving. “What?”
Her lips curved. “Maybe I get why you called me beautiful earlier.”
The desire to cross the room and drag her into the shower grew strong, and she probably knew it. Not at Sarah’s apartment, when they were already running late for his parents’ house. Still, Sarah’s words rang in his head, and even if he risked messing things up, he needed to try.
“Has this been a good Chanukah for you, Andie?” Unable to help himself, he grasped her waist, bringing her close to him.
She let go of her hair, placing cold, sticky hands on his shoulders. “Yes. Yes, it has been.”
“So why should it stop just because the menorah is put away?”
Her eyes grew wide. “I, uh …”
He knew better than to risk things and stumble all over himself. He kissed her forehead. “At least consider it. I’ve enjoyed this week with you and all I’ve ever wanted was to make you smile. I meant what I said earlier, I don’t want to stop.”
She cocked her head to the side. “You’re standing here naked and I’m nearly naked.”
“That’s just a perk.”
She ran her hands down his back.
“I don’t think my back needs your gel.”
Andie laughed. “You’re about to get into the shower.”
He didn’t know if she deflected or was just being herself, but he needed her to know he was serious. “I’m nowhere near done with you.”
Her cheeks curved in a smile.
“As long as I can make you smile, I’m going to.”
He feared if he stayed there longer he’d ruin something, so he let her go and climbed into the shower. The water ran over his head when he heard the curtain shift. He blinked the water away, finding Andie looking at him.
“Just so you know, I like making you smile, too.”
He had to swallow. “Noted. Now go before I drag you back in here under the excuse of needing to hear you better.”
Andie laughed as the curtain closed. Leo let the water rain down on his back. He’d give this woman the world if she gave him the chance.