“Yeah, well you know why,” Hector said just as Abel walked up behind him and squeezed his shoulder so hard that Hector leaned over. “Because he’s nosey, that’s all. That’s all,” Hector repeated as Abel squeezed harder.

Abel squeezed one last time for good measure. Playful banter or not, he was not getting into this now. The bottom line was Nellie was exactly what he needed right now: someone he could spend time with and release all the pent-up stress that was building up because of this fight, without any demands of commitment. And since Nellie was okay with him squeezing in some release time after his training here and there without asking for more, this was the perfect arrangement. God damn it. He’d never needed to release so much in his life.

Coming off that cruise, he told himself he’d keep his distance. As long as she was game, he’d go see her once or twice a month—keep things light—but he hadn’t been able to go even a few days before he showed up at her place and they’d gone at it all night.

After that, he promised himself he’d had his fill and didn’t need to pay another visit for at least another few weeks, and, son of a bitch, he made a detour on his way home just the other night. Now here he was with every intention of seeing her again, only this time he was going to ask her if she wanted to have dinner first. It was beginning to feel a little rude, his showing up just to get his glorious release and then leave while she slept soundly.

Abel had showered and cleaned up at the gym. Since the bathroom in the pool house behind the house where his mom and brother lived was being remodeled, he’d even taken clothes to change into, all for the sake of avoiding any type of interrogation from his mom. He’d even been willing to endure Noah’s questioning instead. Now, because his dumb ass had forgotten his ATM card in the main house, he’d been caught doing both.

Ever since Nellie told Roni about what happened on the cruise, Noah had been all over Abel. In the very beginning, Noah had been angry. Abel remembered that first phone call he’d gotten from Noah the night they got back from the cruise. Obviously Nellie had told Roni everything.

“Are you serious? You’re gonna do this with Nellie? Do you know the shit I’m gonna have to hear once you wipe your hands of her and move on? Hell, I’m already hearing it.”

Abel thought he’d silence him when he told him this was her idea. But Noah came right back at him.

“Of course it’s her idea. She’s lonely right now—vulnerable.” Abel was still having fun, listening to his paranoid friend fret until his next comment. “Roni knows her better than anyone, and even though Nellie claims she’s ready to let loose and make up for lost time, Roni’s still worried. She’s not a dude, and most important, she’s never been like that. Jumping from one bed to another and having meaningless sex with one guy after another will have her feeling like shit in no time. I don’t want you, my friend, to be caught up in this mess. I’ll never hear the end of it.”

Abel had been short on words, promising only that he’d keep his distance, only to replay that damn conversation in his head again and again, even as he’d driven to Nellie’s place the very next day. He’d make sure he’d work her out long and hard, leaving her so exhausted she couldn’t possibly think about jumping into anyone else’s bed, not for a while anyway. Not that it mattered. It was just a game—a guy thing. It was hard to explain, but the satisfaction he’d felt when he left her sleeping so soundly that she could sleep into next week with no energy to even be thinking about other guys, was damn good. He was enjoying this. That’s all it was.

Tonight, Noah had started in on him again, when he saw him getting dressed and not in the usual basketball shorts that he typically changed into just to go home in. But Abel had been quick to shut him up by saying that he had a date. Noah knew Abel didn’t refer to his time with Nellie that way. As long as Noah didn’t push, he wouldn’t have to tell him the truth. Thankfully, Noah hadn’t and Abel had left it at that.

He thought the questioning was over from his mom.

“Does Nellie cook?” His mother asked as she sipped from a serving spoon.

“Ma,” Abel had to laugh with Hector now. He grabbed his keys. “It doesn’t matter.”

“What do you mean it doesn’t matter?”

“Okay, okay, she cooks, Mom.” He turned to her as he reached the door, bouncing his eyebrows. “She cooks real good.”

“Ay, cochino!” His mother threw the dishtowel at him, but it hit the door as he walked out. “Don’t wait up!” he yelled, still laughing as he walked down the concrete stairs.

Abel could hear Hector and Charlee laughing and then his mom scolding Hector for laughing. He shook his head as he reached his car. Suddenly, all thoughts of his mom and Noah’s questioning were pushed to the back of his mind, and he thought of something more urgent. He needed to stop and buy more condoms—lots more.

~*~

After setting up her laptop on her dining room table, Nellie decided she’d have a glass of wine while she worked. Glad that she had so much work to keep her mind busy and off other things, she set her glass of wine on the table. She was about to take a sip when she heard the rumbling of a car engine pull up outside then turn off.

Curious, she stood up and out of her chair. The second she peeked out of her window and saw Abel’s car in her driveway, she darted off to her bathroom. Her heart was already pounding, and she felt as silly as a school girl, but she couldn’t help it. Luckily, he was sitting in the car still on the phone, so she had a few seconds to freshen up.