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I watch as Roalks out of the kitchen but I don't make a move to stop her It's for the best because after what she just said, words are failing me

It's the first week of Nove unseasonably cold weather for this ti dressed because we're taking Capone out to the park I've got on a heavy wool coat I just bought last week on sale, along with a pretty, red knit scarf to wrap around e forfor s and a coat see and I didn't have anything except that beat-up, old leather jacket

"I' toward me

It never ceases to a when I see him He looks like he just stepped out of a fashion spread for Ralph Lauren with his dark brown cords, cream, cable-knit sweater, and a caramel-colored, wool coat that he slips on and turns the collar up to ward against the cold His hair looks like he just got out of bed, but, strangely, it works for hine It's subtle but I smell sandalwood and citrus, and it suits Flynn to perfection

"Don't you have a scarf or so?" I ask

He gives me a look of horror and scoffs "Real men don't wear scarfs"

"Fine," I tell hiets cold"

"Real men never complain," he counters as he winks at me

I snicker as I reach over to attach the leash to the New York Jets collar that Flynn had bought for Capone last month

Figures

We head over to a small park that is about seven blocks away and we aren't thirty feet froloves

I hand the leash over to Flynn "Here you walk Capone My hands are freezing"

He takes the leash from me and I jam my hands in my coat pockets

"Do you want loves?" he asks

"Nah Real woloves"

Flynn buh "There is no doubt--you are a real woe"

I bump him back and shoot him a playful smile "Why, thank you, kind sir"

I findthis new level of companionship that Flynn and I have settled into since our serious talk lastout

And while there was plenty of stuff that was probably left unsaid, the is that needed to be said were voiced Flynn now understands the root of my fears, and he now understands why I just can't pursue anything more than a friendship with hihtest since our talk, but hasmore than a true friend to me

The friendship has been aether all the ti Flynn about my parents, a secret I haven't shared with anyone, I findI can do so without fear of judg is that we are building trust with each other

For example, just the other day, I started rab le over the look on his face But then he manned up and said he'd be happy to When he returned from the corner etdown to the store to get them for me"

I laughed and said, "Sure thing", but there's no way in hell I' him condoms I must be the world's et into et in any other woman's pants either

I'm twisted, for sure

"Want so?" Flynn asks as alk toward a street vendor

"Hot chocolate would be good My treat"

"Cool Make it two"

See, that is proof right there that the friendship thing is working Before our talk, Flynn would have insisted on paying, which would have feltsquarely out of the friendship scenario But by Flynn letting ht there proves this friendship is working just fine

We get our drinks and head toward the park I choose to wait before drinking ue when he takes a sip

"So my mom called today and wantedDay Extravaganza"

"Oooohhh," I exclainificent What all is involved in a Caldwell Extravaganza?"