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stashed the ten or so cards for the gallery in the outside pocket of her purse and walked down the street.  She was halfway down the block when she spotted Kelly exiting the restaurant.  Then her phone rang in her purse.   She was even more nervous now and a minute ago she wouldn't have said that was possible.  Of course a minute ago she didn't realize she was covered in rabbit fur.
    She pulled her phone out and it was Kelly.  Fake it, fake it, fake it, she told herself and she answered.
    "Hi," she said.
    "Hey, I'm here,"
    "So am I, right behind you."
    She watched him turn around and he smiled and pocketed his phone.  This is crazy, she told herself.  He started towards her and they met in the middle.  He reached out and grabbed her hand and it thrilled her.  Maybe, she thought, maybe crazy is just what I need, for a change.

Chapter 11
     
    "Hi," Kelly said, holding her hand.
    "Hi," she replied back, somewhat shyly.
    It was a strange situation, Kelly realized.  They had been talking on the phone practically every day, sometimes for hours at a time.  But they didn't really know each other.  Kelly looked her over, discreetly.
    "I know, sorry, I didn't realize," she said, looking down at her dress.
    So much for discreet, Kelly thought.  But he didn't regret checking her out, she was just as pretty as he remembered.
    "Realize what?" he asked her.
    "The rabbits, I got fur all over me," she said and picked a piece of fur off her dress.
    Kelly hadn't noticed the fur but she obviously felt bad about it.
    "I didn't notice," he said, "I just, I'm happy to see you."
    She smiled but it was easy to see how nervous she was.
    "Why don't we go inside? It's hot out here," he told her and opened the door.
    He followed her in and the air conditioning was a welcome relief.  He hadn't anticipated it being hotter in New England than it was in LA.  They got seated right away and after the server got through the list of local beers, for Kelly, and the house whites, for Holly, there was silence.
    "So," Kelly said, but stopped when the drinks were delivered.
    They clinked glasses in a wordless toast but after they had each sipped their drink and set their glasses back down there was silence again.
    "Do you," Holly said, at the same time Kelly started to say, "What"
    They both stopped and waited for the other to speak and when they didn't they both spoke again at the same time.  They both laughed but it still didn't break the tension.  Kelly wondered if this had been a really, really bad idea.  He had basically tricked her into agreeing to the date.  When they had been on the phone last week, he had asked her what she was doing on Wednesday and when she had said nothing, he had said then that was the night he was going to take her out to dinner.  He was kind of surprised she had agreed, but they had gotten very comfortable talking with each other.  On the phone that is.
    "Maybe we should just order?" Holly said.
    "It's a little weird," he said.
    "Yeah."
    Kelly looked around.  He knew he really liked her, but if they couldn't get over this awkwardness, well he couldn't see what would happen when he went back to LA.  He remembered an exercise from an acting class he had been in ages ago.
    "Okay," he said, almost business like, "Where's your phone?"
    "Umm, here," she said, pointing to her purse.
    "Okay, get it out."
    She gave him a strange look but did as he said.  He pulled out his phone and called her.  Across the table the phone vibrated in her hand.
    "Answer it," he said.
    "Hello?" she said into her phone.  She was looking at him like he was crazy, but in a fond way.  At least that's what he was hoping.
    "Okay," he said, ending the call.  "Now close your eyes."
    "Kelly,"
    "Just close them, trust me."
    She bit her bottom lip, just a little, then closed her eyes.
    "Hey it's me," he said.
    "Hi," she said.
    "What are you wearing?" her shoulders tightened up and he hastened to add, "Don't open your eyes."
    "Kelly,"
    "I'm