Eleven Eleven

by Micalea Smeltzer

11:11 I close my eyes and make a wish. I wish for this move to be the right thing.

That makes him eleven years younger than me. Ironic. That it’s my lucky number.

“I’m recently divorced.” Huffing out a breath of air, he shakes his head. “Your ex must be an idiot.” Tendrils of warmth work their way through me. He didn’t balk or fumble for an excuse to walk away. “What makes you say that?” “Because you’re fucking gorgeous and nice to talk to. If I had a woman like you, I’d never let her go.”

“Come on, Via, what do you say?” He leans in, his mouth pressed to my ear. “Don’t overthink it. Everything is temporary anyway. Me. You. The stars in the sky. We’re all just a blip. Take the risk. I’m worth your while.”

But Reid kisses me like I’m the tastiest beverage on a summer day and he can’t get enough. Until now, I didn’t know how much I’d missed this—being wanted, desired.

“Because you were sitting there with this lonely look in your eyes.” He brushes a thumb along my jawline. “I wanted to be the reason you didn’t feel that way anymore.”

That dimple, I’m certain, is going to be my undoing

“I’m not the only one who couldn’t take my eyes off you.” He pulls back a fraction and regards me, flames flickering in his eyes. One heartbeat. Two. “You’re the only one I saw.” With that confession, he slams his lips to mine.

It’s the way every woman hopes to be looked at by a man, like an object of pure desire. Something to be worshipped, not possessed.

I’ve just met this man, and already, I’m addicted.

He’s like a drug I’m suddenly sure I can’t live without.

“This doesn’t have to be a big deal.” He leans in and presses a gentle kiss below my ear. “Night, Via.” He pulls back, but with an “oh,” he quickly ducks close again and brings his lips to my ear. “I can fuck you better than my dad ever could.”

“You can talk about him. I don’t mind. He’s in your past, and I fully plan on being your future.”

“Because I don’t want to have to tell our future kids that I fucked their mom on the first date.”