After way too long, my mind finally catches up, hands going to his chest and shoving him away. I wipe my lips with the back of my hand, feeling all sorts of disheveled. Glancing down at Nova, she’s sitting there like this is any other day, like her owner wasn’t justassaulted.Okay, maybe that’s a bit much, but still. The smirk on Mateo’s face is cocky when I look back over at him, the sight making my blood boil further.
“You’re such a fucking dick! Just because I slept with you when I wastrappedand had nowhere else to go doesn’t fucking mean I’m going to drop my pants every fucking time I see you.” Taking a step away from the wall, I put some much-needed distance between us before adding, “You’re a piece of shit, and that is never going to happen again. Leave me the fuck alone, you fucking asshole.”
Thankfully, and surprisingly, he doesn’t follow when I storm away. Or if he does, he keeps his distance, because I’m able to make it back to my apartment without another word. Unfortunately, that kiss, and the way his body felt pinning me to the wall, stays in my mind on repeat for the rest of the night.
24
MATEO
Nathaniel: Hey, man. You free tonight? We should grab a couple drinks. Maybe have a repeat of last time? ;)
Glancing down at the phone in my hand, I can’t help but roll my eyes. This has got to be, like, the fourth time he’s texted me to hook up since it happened the first time. And every single time, I’ve ignored him. It’s beenmonths.
I really should just block him. And you know what? I’m going to, but be it my shit day or my general annoyance with him, I’m responding before doing so.
Me: Nah, bro. I’d be perfectly fine never being inside you ever again. Lose my number.
Hitting send, I promptly block him.
“Damn, who are you texting that has you looking like that?” My gaze lifts from my phone, connecting with Miguel’s.
“That dumb fuck, Nathaniel,” I grumble.
“You’re still talking to him?”
“No. We hooked up the one time and haven’t since.”
“And what’s going on with your neighbor?” he asks as he closes the hood of the car he was working on.
“Not shit,” I say honestly, much to my annoyance. He’s a stubborn fuck. Although, at the question, the kiss from the other night crosses my mind. It was much too short for my liking, but goddamn, it was good.
Miguel watches me for a moment, like he’s trying to get a read on me. I don’t know what he sees, but after a few beats, he shrugs and changes the subject. “You going to that thing Doran’s hosting at the bar this weekend?”
I nod. “Yup. You?”
Doran and his husband are having a huge cocktail hour party at their bar to celebrate their anniversary. They do it every year, and it’s always fun. Tons of people from the town come, and the food’s always incredible.
“Yeah,” he confirms. “Wanna ride together? I have to drop Iz off with her mom at noon, but I can pick you up after?”
“Works for me,” I grunt out, bringing my attention back to the truck I’m working on.
Benny is out today—caught the flu or something. He’s been sick as a dog since yesterday morning. So, Miguel and I work in comfortable silence together the rest of the day.
On my way home, I stop at the restaurant down the street to pick up some dinner. I grab a beer out of the fridge once I get home, sitting at the table in the dining room, and dig in. I’m fucking starving. After I finish eating, I force myself to go to the gym for a couple of hours, needing to get back into that routine. I let myself slip almost every winter, and it’s a nasty habit.
It’s a little after eight by the time I make it home again. After along,hot shower, I change into some comfy clothes, and park my ass in front of the TV. A few mindless hours of Netflix will do the trick. Restlessness courses through my bloodstream tonight, and I’m not sure why. Nothing has been different about my day, yet I feel unsettled.
At about a quarter to eleven and three re-run episodes of Shameless later, my phone dings with a text message. I’m taken aback when I see who the message is from… and what it says.
Travis: Hey, are you awake?
A smirk slides across my lips, a rush of excitement coursing through my blood, as I type out a response.
Me: My, my cariño… did you really just ‘you up’ text me?
Travis: Obviously.
Me: Well then, obviously I’m awake.
