37

Rita

I'm not a great cook so I order from his favorite take-out place, this barbecue restaurant a couple blocks away. I have everything set up when he gets home, looking exhausted from a long day at the office. I want to do something nice for him—the way he did something nice for me.

A small surprise to ease some of his tension. Maybe even to bring a smile to his face.

The more I'm around him, the more I think he needs this sort of surprise in his life. He has his friends, his work, but he spends so much time doing things for other people.

He deserves to have something done for him for a change.

"Here's to a long day," Scar says, pouring two glasses of wine and toasting me.

"Here's to very thoughtful gifts."

He sits down with a sigh, takes off his tie, rolls his sleeves up to show off his lovely forearms, and starts to eat. I watch him for a moment, picking at my plate, my guts a nervous roil, but Cait's right. If someone's going to make the first move, it might as well be me.

And any