and then

Was she for real? How had it gotten so good..so fast with this girl Gabby? Jared thought he might be dreaming the first time she slept over.

He wanted to ask things like, or you sure somebody won't be worried about you? But he didn't have time to talk nor think about the consequences. Jarred just went with it.

Besides, he'd hit a dry spell in his love life. Sure, he'd tried being the best boyfriend ever, but that gave him grief and besides, he didn't really have time for that. He just needed to be...loved.

OK, to some he guessed that meant sexed up. Wasn't it the same? It was the passion that counted..right?

Well, it felt like that with Gabby. He really couldn't get enough of her and it looked (oh it felt!) she couldn't get enough of him, either. So..they went with it.

No, they didn't talk about it. It was a given...they were really good at one night stands or was it being in another world with each other.

After all, they needed a bed. Perhaps a blanket. Pillows. OK, snacks would be good..but not necessary.

Now he felt a little glum. Maybe the full moon was waning and this too shall pass, even if he didn't want it too. For a while there, he knew what she needed, but now..he really didn't know how to make it last.

Sure, there was a time when he'd given himself to be Char's protector, but it really wasn't a physical thing with her. And there was Sally who felt like a figment of his imagination now. They'd been lovers while he was dating Char and he knew who he should have been with, but by the time he wanted to make things right with Sally, it was too late.

Of course, he'd just about forgot there was Amira. Seriously, he wasn't sure he could face her again.

Yes, Jared anticipated the worst. But his brother and his family were out. If only he and Gabby could really talk. He yearned for a perfect world, but it might not be this harvest moon, nor the next..either.