Page 11 of American Love Story

“You’re pretty sure of yourself, Mr. Archer,” he said, straightening as I got nearer. We were barely two inches apart and his mouth twitched, like he was getting ready for my kiss. But I made him wait. I could play this game, too.

Before I moved in on that mouth I couldn’t stop thinking about, I put mine close to his ear.

“I’m sure about fuck all when it comes to most things about me and you, but I do know you like my kisses.” He sucked his teeth and his head tilted, making my lips brush against his cheek.

I turned my head to kiss him, but before I could, he moved in first. Our mouths touched, and the floor tilted under me. I was not a man to lose my footing over a kiss, but Patrice’s lips pressed to mine made the room spin.

I didn’t care we were in a place where anyone could walk in at any time.I did not care.All I wanted was to get closer.

I reached out and placed my glass on the sideboard, put both my hands on his neck, and moved in so we were pressed together.

He licked into my mouth and it felt so fuckinggood, like everything made sense again. We stayed there just for a few seconds, and I let myself go, tasting, remembering his taste. The warmth of him. I could have stood there for hours, but after a moment, Patrice moved away. I balked, wanting to keep him close.

He just smiled and picked up my glass and took a sip of wine, but I saw the slightest tremor in his hand. No matter what he said, that kiss had gotten to him. “You’re a bad influence.”

I was feeling a little surer of myself, my confidence bolstered by Patrice’s flustered state.

“I think I’m a great influence. I’m just trying to figure out how to convinceyouof that.”

He laughed and I wondered what had changed since last weekend when I’d seen him at the store. I decided not to dwell on it and capitalize on the fact that we seemed to be on the same page, for once.

I moved closer again and said in a low voice. “I was wondering if you’d be up for a drink at my place later.”

This time he did laugh. Shook his head, his eyes sparkling as he looked at me.

“Drink at your place, huh? Do people actually fall for this shit in court?”

I laughed at his teasing, but the confidence of just a few moments ago was starting to slip. “I have my moments.”

Patrice reached over and took my glass out of my hand again. He drank as he looked me up and down. I wasn’t usually fazed by a man’s interest, but even the tiniest bit of attention or show of interest from Patrice made me want to drop to my knees and beg him to like me.

It was unnerving.

I was about to make a joke, anything, to break the tension, but before I could come up with something to say, his eyes widened like he remembered something. He pointed in my direction, my glass still in his hand. I was wondering how much of a twelve-year-old I would be if I took it back and tried to sip from the same spot he’d drunk from. Because that’s where things were with me at the moment.

Desperate.

Just when I thought I was going to be cut loose, Patrice roped me back in. “Hey so, I was going to ask if you still had that vacancy in your building. Which, by the way, Nesto said you actually own. Funny that slipped your mind when you told me about it.” His tone was a bit reprimanding, but he was smiling wide and I was too busy basking in it to care.

I cleared my throat, trying to think on my feet—which usually was not an issue for me. My entire career was built on rolling with the punches, showing people whatever they wanted to see, but with Patrice, my playbook didn’t work most of the time. I had to let the mask fall off for Patrice; he could always tell when it was on. I pasted a smile on my face like I did when I felt cornered and tried to keep my voice at human decibels.

“I always feel weird about that sort of stuff. I didn’t have to do anything to get the money to buy that building and sometimes I just avoid it.”

I cringed because Patrice was looking at me like he was not sure what to do with my sudden overshare. I ended by mumbling awkwardly, “Sorry.”

He waved my apology off. “You don’t need to explain yourself to me. I was teasing. I’m not entitled to the details of your life. We don’t know each other like that.”

Ouch.

I was so stunned by how hard his words hit me that I literally had no come back. He must’ve realized the effect of what he said had on me, because his eyes softened and he moved closer.

“Sorry, that was rude. I meant, I don’t know you like thatyet.”

“Right.” I nodded, still feeling out of sorts.

Patrice made me so messy.

He was still looking contrite, but I needed to get out of my feelings ASAP, so I decided to go with the safe option and discuss the apartment. “There’s still a two-bedroom apartment open. If you want to come and see it tomorrow, that should be fine. Why don’t you stop by after 2:00 p.m.? Just text me when you get there and I’ll have someone come and show it to you.”