Danny stood, hovering near the door. His apartment was modest, but fit him perfectly. It was a comfortable bachelor pad that had seen years of visitors. People needing a friend. What it hadn’t seen much of over the years were the kinds of friend he was rather awkwardly awaiting tonight. The friend he needed.

He wasn’t sure this was the right thing to do. Never was. But she’d made the offer long ago, and it was one he’d found himself considering. It was something about the way she’d looked at him. As if she understood already that he was spoken for in every way except one.

And that was what it was and nothing more or less.

Generally, he refused to let that selfish want lead him down roads best not taken. But tonight it drove him to pick up the phone. Ask if she was free, knowing that she’d understand the real question he was so politely asking.

Yes, she’d said. Definitely. As if it was her pleasure to be used.

They were consenting adults with no ties and no strings. He hoped to accept it as easily as she had as he answered her knock at his door.