True Bliss by BJ Harvey

I'm so used to calling Mac that. I should probably stop.
    “So, what are the bags for?” Kate asks with interest as I sit down.
    “Well-” I start to explain before Mac jumps in, handing me the beer bottle.
    “Zander's idiot roommate burned their kitchen, so their apartment is smoke damaged as well as kitchen-less.”
    “Oh, shit. I hope he's okay,” Kate says, bringing her hand up to her mouth.
    “It's alright, they're safe. Zach was entertaining and got sidetracked,” I say with a laugh. At least I can laugh about it now. I was not laughing last night when I got home from the gym to find my building surrounded by fire engines and a sheepish looking Zach and his mortified lady friend standing on the sidewalk. “The smoke alarms went off, and they were able to get dressed and get out. Zach's just embarrassed about the whole thing now. The firefighters were pretty pissed when they found out the reason for the fire though,” I explain.
    “Well, that's lucky. So what are you going to do?” Kate asks, leaning forward toward me. I don't miss the body language, or the sly full body scan either. Seems my firebird likes what she sees, THANK GOD! It would make things even more awkward if she was pissed at me.
    I look over at Mac, waiting for her to say something. “So I was going to talk to you about it tonight, but we kind of got side tracked with ninja sex talk and food comas,” Mac explains. “But I offered Zander my room for the next few weeks while I trial living with Daniel. I didn't think you'd mind since you know Zan and you know I wouldn't let just anyone move in. I know I should've run it by you first, but it was kind of fortuitous since I was already thinking about my living situation given this.” She circles her rather round pregnant belly with her hand.
    “Wow, you're getting kind of big there, Mac. How many you got in there?” I ask, genuinely interested.
    “You did not just call me big, Zan. That's like the number one rule when dealing with a hormonal pregnant woman. NEVER call them big. Like EVER. You'd better watch out because we've been watching ninja wannabes tonight. I'm sure I could kick your hot ass.”
    “You're not allowed to call my ass hot anymore, Mac. And anyway, you've got your own personal superhero. No man can compare to Thor, or whatever his name is. What do you call him again?”
    “Superman! Anyway, Kate, what do you think?”
    I look back to Kate, realizing that Mac and I just slipped straight back into our old playful banter that never fails to make me laugh.
    “God, you two are funny. Don't stop on my account,” Kate says, sitting back and looking at the two of us.
    “Oh, stop! It's because he's younger than us and so immature,” Mac retorts, poking her tongue out at me.
    “Sorry, triplets was it?” I reply with a smirk.
    Kate and I crack up laughing at the same time when Mac pouts and whispers sweet nothings to her belly about how mean Uncle Zander is being and not listening to me before standing up.
    “I'm just going to grab my bag and call Danny boy to come pick me up. I'll come back and show you where everything is after that. Zan, is that alright? You okay with this, Kate? I know this is all very sudden,” she asks with a raised brow.
    “Yeah. It's sweet. You need to get over yourself and just move in with Superman already, so this trial will be good for you, and I know it'll make Daniel happy.”
    “See, Zan, this is why I love this girl,” Mac says, bending down to kiss Kate's cheek before heading down the hallway.
    “Anyway, I'm fine with you staying,” Kate says to me in a quiet voice. “I just hope it's not uncomfortable for you to stay here with me. You know, after that night.” I look at her in shock. I see her knee bouncing ever so slightly, and then my gaze hits her face and I'm taken aback by how nervous she looks. She's biting her lip, and it's one of the sexiest things I've ever seen.
     I'm done for.
    A thousand cold showers couldn't stop the