He smiled through the weariness of travel when she squealed and opened the door of her townhouse. He had no chance to set down his bag or say hello before she had her arms wrapped around his neck and was planting a kiss on the corner of his mouth.
"You made it! I can't wait to hear all about your time overseas."
"I'll be happy to tell you all about it as soon as I can get inside, out of these particular clothes and into a drink," he said, looking down at her. Her dark hair was shorter than it had been when he'd seen her last. It was razored into layers around her face and it made her almond eyes seem more exotic.
"Oh, I am SO sorry. Come in." She had him drop his things in her room and showed him the shower. As he was standing under the streaming water he heard her open the bathroom door and stuck his head around the curtain. He raised an eyebrow at her and gave a grin and she rolled her eyes at him.
"I am just dropping off a fresh towel, Dirty."
"You have no idea."
"Finish your shower. I'll make you a drink when you get out."
He took his time in the shower, washing his hair twice and then shaving as he thought about Veronica. They'd been friends for several years, but this was the first time both of them had been single at the same time, and the first time either of them had acknowledged the attraction they felt for one another. He'd sent her several post cards and emails from overseas, and her emails back had been full of interest, excitement, and had hinted at intimacy so on a whim, he had changed his ticket home so that he had a lay over in Miami and had emailed her from the airport saying he had a couple free days. She'd replied almost immediately, and he'd taken a taxi to her place. When he came out of the shower, towel wrapped around his waist, she was sitting in the middle of her bed holding his camera in her hands.
"I can't believe you still shoot 35mm. How long am I going to have to wait to see the pictures you took while you were gone?"