On an Edge of Glass (35 page)

             
“Well then shut the door, young lady.”  He lifts his finger in the air.  “When we agreed to live together you promised no monkey business in view of the common areas.

             
I throw my head back and sigh.  Ben chuckles and gives me a chaste kiss on the lips.  “I actually should go home and see if Nick needs help getting the TV mounted on the wall.”

             
“Seriously?”

             
He takes my hand and pulls me behind him as he crosses my apartment.  “Seriously.”

             
“I don’t want you to leave,” I pout, leaning against the open door.  “I can’t believe we don’t live together anymore.  It’s like we’ve done this whole thing backward.”

             
Ben smiles.  He takes my head between his two hands and kisses me on the lips one more time.  “I’ll be back soon to set up that bookshelf for you.”

             
“Okay.”

             
He walks ten steps away and pulls a single key out of his back pocket.  “And if you need me…”  He knocks the wall playfully.  “I’m right next door.”

             
I smile and watch as he disappears into his apartment.

             
“You do realize that you and Ben are positively disgusting, right?”  Mark asks me as I make way back toward him.  “I mean, he and Nick live in the apartment right next to ours.  Your lovebug is just one thin, rat-infested wall away.”

             
“Shut up.”  I launch a chenille throw pillow at him.  “I know that you’re newly single, but you don’t have to get all bitter-rejected-lover on me.”

             
“Hey!  If I’m being completely honest, Hal did me a favor.  We’re in New York City now.”  He spreads out his arms.  “A place that’s full of beautiful men, ready for the taking.”

             
I laugh.  My eyes fall on the weird corded bootie contraption that Ben unloaded earlier.  “By the way, Mark—what is this thing?”

             
“
That
, my dear, is a foot warmer.”

             
“A what?”

             
“A foot warmer.  You plug it into the wall and stick your tootsies in there,” he shows me, “and,
voila,
you’ve got warm feet.”

             
I step back.  “Okay.  That is completely absurd.”

             
“Well, when my feet are all warm and cozy this winter and you’re freezing your ass off, don’t come crying to me.”

             
“I don’t need a foot warmer,” I say, picking up a box and carrying it into my bedroom.  I wink at Mark.  “I’ve got Ben for that.”

             
He rolls his eyes and chokes out a laugh.  “Touché.”

There are so many big and epic people in my life, it’s almost impossible to find a way to thank them all, but I have to try.  First and foremost, this book could not have been written without my beta readers.  These spectacular ladies gave me their time, honest feedback, and their faith.  So a million thank yous and high-fives for my mom, Jackie, Stephanie, Aunt Renny, and Mimi. 

Then there’s my husband, Dave.  Seriously guys—he’s amazing.  He is my constant tech support and cheerleader, and he understands my need for chocolate and my inability to handle our laundry or any sort of crisis involving plumbing or mice.  He builds forts with our daughters, never complains that I buy too many shoes, and sends me ridiculous cat videos all the time.  I mean, what more could a girl ask for? 

I’d also like to mention a collection of individuals that just plain make my life better by being in the world.  My marvelous family and friends.  You laugh with me, you have perfect taste (Jacob and Ana), you answer my phone calls and let me talk about nothing just because (that’s you Summer), you take care of my pets when I go out of town (Mike), you are always helping/organizing/improving my life (Aunt Susan), you go to concerts with me (Julian and Marcello), you inspire me (Kristy and Tara), and you let me be silly.  Give yourselves a pat on the back and/or eat a cupcake to celebrate your awesomeness! 

And I can’t forget Vivian and Horace.  You loaned me your foot warmer, without which I would not have finished this book.  Truly.  If you hadn’t stepped in, I’m fairly confident that I would have become the first person to experience frostbite in 75 degree weather.  So, thanks for saving my tootsies.

Lastly, the world begins and ends with my parents and my girls, so here is my message for you written in the sky: I love you… xoxo

My first love is reading. My second love is pizza.

Currently, I live in Gainesville, Florida and I write books. Fun books for you, and your sister, and your best friend, and your hair dresser, etc. I think of writing as a sort of therapy, and the results tend to be feel-good odes to my lost youth, which is exactly how I like it.

When I'm not working or chasing after my two daughters, two dogs, two cats, three ducks and one lovely husband, I can be found skulking around the movie theater or local bookseller. Generally with chocolate somewhere on my person because I never leave home without a treat.