Knock on the door

Your knuckles rap twice on the door, and for a moment you’re hit with a heavy rush of nerves—what if she doesn’t look like the pics? What if it’s some elaborate catfish and you’re about to get jumped three blocks from your own place? But then the latch clicks, the door swings wide, and there she is.

Mary.

Tall—taller than you expected, all long lines and slim curves, like she stepped straight out of a fashion spread and into the dim porch light. Her light blue top clings to her narrow frame, paired with a pink skirt that brushes mid-thigh and sways when she shifts her weight. She’s even prettier than her photos hinted, though the cropped-face trick in her earlier snap makes sense now—her smile alone could’ve been bait enough.

For a second, your brain jams. You just stand there, gaping like an idiot, until she tilts her head, amused.

“You’re staring,” she teases, voice low, like she’s fully aware of the effect she’s having.

You swallow, snap yourself out of it, and lean in with what confidence you can muster. A quick peck lands on her cheek—soft, warm, faintly scented of vanilla.

“Sorry. Just… wow,” you manage, finally finding your tongue. “You look incredible. That top, that skirt… you could make a runway jealous.”

Her grin widens, and for a beat you catch the gleam in her eyes that matches every playful word she’s sent over text.

She brushes a hand through her hair, then stepping aside. “Come in before you make the neighbors think I’m being proposed to on my porch.”

You chuckle, stepping past her into the hallway. The house smells faintly of fresh laundry and some sweet candle she must’ve lit before you came. She closes the door behind you, and for a moment the two of you just stand there, looking at each other in the quiet.

“So,” she says, shifting her hips just enough to make the skirt ripple, “you actually showed. Guess you’re not all talk.”

“Guess not,” you reply, grinning, shoulders finally loosening. The worry about catfishing dissolves, the tension melting into something easier, smoother. Everything about this feels alive, fluid—like the chat just spilled into real life without missing a beat.

And now, it’s just the two of you.