Nathan gave her a curious look. “You want me to tell you a story?”

“Well, yes.” Crystal smiled nervously. “We can move to the bedroom, and when you’re done, we should be able to fall asleep.”

Nathan smiled, gave her a quick kiss on the lips, and said, “If it is a story that you want, then a story it shall be.”

The couple moved to the bedroom, and once they were comfortable, Nathan began his story: “When I was sixteen, I had a cat that I liked very much. One winter day, the ...