Adam asks Abbie what she sees in him

Adam's eyes met Abbie's, searching for the truth she saw in him. Her expression held a sense of admiration, like she was gazing at a masterpiece. Adam's own reflection stared back at him in her eyes, weathered with lines of experience and emotion. Abbie was distantly aware of noise coming from the party, indistinct sounds of chatter and music.

"You're real," she said, after a long look.

"I'm ... real?" Adam asked.

"I certainly don't know anything about you or your life, but when I look at you right now, I see someone who is past the point of putting up unnecessary boundaries, who doesn't create drama where none needs to be. I see someone who takes life as it's dealt to him, who responds with honesty."

Adam's face lit up with a genuine smile as he looked at Abbie, his eyes sparkling with appreciation and curiosity. "I've never really thought about it that way, but ... I think that's true."

"In a way," said Abbie, "it's a kind of purity." She placed her hand on his chest. Abbie's hand was warm and comforting against Adam's chest, and he felt his heartbeat steady and calm as she touched him.

"Purity?"

"Mm, yes," said Abbie. "Not like chaste purity, but like psychological purity. You don't play games."

"I don't," agreed Adam.

Abbie smiled and got a little closer to him, her hand still against his chest. She felt his body through his clothes, that he was strong, lean, and fit, almost out of character for his age.

Adam's face flushed with surprise, his eyebrows raised as he processed Abbie's touch and sudden proximity. "Are you ... coming on to me?" he asked.

"Yes," said Abbie simply.

"Why?" His mouth felt dry as he swallowed, tasting the remnants of the drink he had earlier. He could also taste a hint of mint from Abbie's breath as she spoke.

"I'm curious about you," she said. "I don't play games either. I mean, unless everyone knows it's a game and we're all in it together. But I'm like you, nakedly honest."

It was the word 'nakedly' that gave Adam a bit of a jolt. Even though they were both still dressed, and even though the flirting that was going on seemed to be more psychological than physical, the word stuck in Adam's mind as he looked at Abbie, and in the moment, he could think of nothing other than wondering what she looked like naked. His eyes darted up and down, shifting from her face to her body and back again.

Abbie noticed, of course. "What are you looking at?" she asked. "And you know you can't lie to me."