Page 14 of Until Him

I take another sip of my soda.

“What plans?”

Fuck, here I am, trying to make small talk.

“None of your business,” he mutters, and I sigh.

This guy is a fucking mystery.

“What do you like to do for fun?” I blurt.

He slams the book closed and folds his arms across his chest.

“Why the third degree?” he asks.

I run a hand through my hair and laugh a little. “This isn’t the third degree. I’m not interrogating you. Fuck, I was just making small talk.”

“I hate small talk. It’s pointless and trivial. We’re not friends, you don’t get to know me.”

I blink at him and then I finish off my drink, crumpling the can in my hand and tossing it into the garbage.

“What the fuck ever,” I mutter, shaking my head. I start to move back to our spot on the floor when a cabinet door opens, and Curie pops out, leaping onto the counter in front of me. It scares the ever-loving shit out of me, and I let out a little squeal.

Theo chuckles, and the sound is so unexpected that I find myself smiling just a little.

Yeah, laugh it up, buddy. You need some smiles to cheer up that unhappy brain.

I skirt around Curie, back to where Theo sits, and lower myself onto the floor. The cat, of course, follows me, invading my space and plopping herself directly into my lap.

I can feel Theo’s eyes on me as I grumble under my breath, trying to pretend like this cat isn’t melting my heart as she headbutts my arm and silently demands I pet her.

I scratch behind her ear, and she tilts her head, a low purr flowing from her.

Alright, Curie. You’re alright. Just don’t watch so intently when we fuck around—freaks a man out.

“Hiking,” Theo says, clearing his throat, his eyes straying to his cat, which is pressed against me. “I like to hike.”

I open my laptop and peek over at Theo. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

He huffs, “I feel splayed wide open.”

I snort and feel my body relax. So maybe it isn’t touching another dude’s dick that’s making me nervous. It’s how impersonal this all is.

Or maybe it’s a bit of both.

Dunno.

“What’s your tattoo say?” I ask, pressing my luck because I am just that curious.

Theo glances at Curie and then says,“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.”

I just stare at him. What the hell does that mean?

“Hold on, repeat that. I need to write it down,” I mutter.

“Why?”

“Because I want to look it up.”

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