50
Seth
Yes.I’veavoidedKadenfor a few days. I needed some time to think things over but I’m fine. I was drunk, I can blame anything I said on the alcohol if he asks me if I’ve lost my fucking mind. I mean, the answer is yes but he doesn’t need to know that.
All things considered, what I said is basically on par with what we’re doing. And he didn’t exactly turn me down. I fucking heard him come—so sexy, my god.
The real hang up I’ve got with this is that I could’ve told him anything. Like that I think he’s the best part of my day. That being close to him is what makes my world go around. What if I’d told him that?
What if I’d told him that I’ve been pining after him for six years and all I want is for him to want me back?
What then?
Today’s Taco Tuesday, and I started this morning by inviting Kaden and Iggy to my place tonight for some homemade tacos. I’ve never done it before but how hard can it be?
It’s late afternoon when Iggy walks over to me by my station. I’m just finishing up a tattoo—a swallow on a guy’s neck. He reeked of sweat when he came in, and three hours and a warm leather chair hasn’t done him any favors. I’ve been forced to breathe through my mouth the whole time.
“I won’t be able to make it tonight,” Iggy says, eyes glued to her phone.
“Why dot?” I ask, sounding like I have stuffed nose.
She glances at me; eyes filled with mischief. “I’ve got a date.”
“Yeah? With who?”
I place the plastic wrapper over the tattoo, fast as I can. I need him to leave so I can breathe normally again. And I’ll be taking a fucking shower as soon as I get home. I feel like his BO has infused my Stone Island hoodie.
“Jennifer,” she beams at me. “Finally!”
“About time,” I say, gesturing at my customer to move on to the counter. I ring him up, basically throwing him out on his ass before I shut the door behind him and rush out to the garage to take a breath. I’d choose turpentine and gasoline over sweat any day.
“So, Sully’s out? It’s just you and me then?” Kaden says as I walk back to my station to clean up. He’s wearing that green Henley again, and I feel like I have to squint not to be blinded by him. He looks so damn good! I can see his pecs perfectly outlined through the thin fabric, and his biceps are basically begging me to lick them.
“Yeah, I need to shower though, but could you get the groceries?” I ask, a little tentatively. He’s been better lately, when it comes to being around people but maybe this is pushing it.
He takes a breath, holds it for a beat, and then exhales. “Sure.”
“Yeah? You okay with that?”
“Yep.”
“Okay.” I smile and force my eyes away from him. “I’ll Venmo you.”
“Fuck that! I can pay. Just tell me what to get.”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “Taco stuff?”
He snorts. “Yeah, okay, great. It’s in the non-specific aisle, right?” He shakes his head.
“Get guac, too,” I say, drowning the chair in disinfectant.
“We’re not getting store-bought guac, Seth,” he says, sitting down on his chair beside me.
“Do you know how to make it?”
“I heard there’s this thing called Go—”
“Shut up!” I point the cleaning spray at him. “I’m basically drowned; I can’t handle your assholery right now.”
