Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66863 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66863 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Once I was dressed and trimmed the short, neatly kept hair along my jaw, I paced around my condo waiting for the minutes to tick by. I didn’t know what it was about the night before that stuck with me so much. But I’d felt good…light. Relaxed in ways I didn’t often feel anymore.
Yes, I might very well be crazy, because I didn’t know this man well enough to be this excited to spend time with him, but I wanted the feeling from last night back. I needed it.
It was five minutes until seven when I left my unit and went to Kieran’s. My nerves kicked in and I started to doubt myself the second I stood before his door.
Maybe last night had been weirder than anything else. And did I really want to get involved with my neighbor? Hell, I didn’t even know if he was gay and he didn’t know if I was either.
Do it, I told myself. Knock on the door.
The want in me was stronger than the worry. I raised my hand and let my knuckles rap gently against it. I was being friendly. I was spending time with my neighbor. This was a good thing. I didn’t have a lot of friends, and maybe Kieran would become a good one. I needed to do more things for myself.
It was only a moment later that Kieran opened the door. He smiled and a warmth filled my stomach again. He seemed to have that effect on me.
“I see you made sure not to be late tonight.”
“Yeah, I’m not too early, am I?” He’d told me seven. I’d left at five till. “Is it okay?”
“Yes. You did very well, Jared.”
His response was a little strange. I did well walking next door? Still, I said, “Thank you,” as Kieran let me in. It was important to me to be on time, and I found myself glad I’d redeemed myself after yesterday.
Kieran led me into the living room, where there was a couch and chair. “Sit on this side of the couch.” He pointed to where he wanted me to sit. Huh. I raised an eyebrow in surprise but then shrugged it off. He must be very specific about where he and his visitors sat.
“It’s been a long week. I thought we could use a comedy,” he told me.
I was glad for that. It was like he’d read my mind, because the thought of laughing tonight was welcoming, even though I hadn’t realized it until this moment. The thought of a movie suddenly excited me.
“I’ll get a drink.” He hit play before going into the kitchen. I waited patiently wondering what we would be drinking—if he’d have wine like last night. I wasn’t sure if I wanted wine or not, but then he brought me a glass and I said, “Thank you.” It was white, unlike the red we’d had last night and my taste buds were eager to experience the flavor.
I took a sip. It was like a bright burst on my tongue. “Oh, this is very crisp.” I likely wouldn’t have asked for wine if he’d asked what I wanted but it tasted incredibly refreshing.
“Take off your shoes. Get comfortable.”
I did as Kieran asked as he walked over to the chair and sat down. There was a dull ache in my chest, when I realized he wouldn’t be sitting beside me. Disappointment clouded my brain. I wanted him, I thought, and part of me had thought he wanted me too. Maybe he wasn’t attracted to me? I’d assumed because of the invite, but really, I didn’t even know his sexuality. I’d never been one to make the first move unless it was reaching out to someone on Grindr, who would fuck me and never see me again.
Sometimes, they didn’t even know my name and I didn’t know theirs. A quiet, secret part of me had gotten off on the dirtiness of that.
We watched the movie in silence, except for our laughter. Kieran had made a good pick, and when it was over, he told me it was time for me to go home.
I fought to hold back my frown, but then this was his place and he’d invited me over. It was rude of me to overstay my welcome.
At the door, he told me he’d like to see me at seven again the next day. I agreed. Once I settled inside I felt…light, happy, relaxed. The comedy he’d chosen had lifted my spirits.
I took care of a few of my responsibilities for work, and then went to bed, for the second night in a row with a smile on my face.
*
It went on like that for three weeks. The invite, the event, then leaving me at my door with a smile on my lips. On average, about four nights a week, Kieran would invite me over; always at seven. Sometimes he’d ask me if I could pick dinner up at a restaurant, or stop and get something at the store, but I didn’t mind, because he always made the request ahead of time, so I could plan for it. He’d let me know the night before what he would need the next day, so it became a sort of schedule for me. A routine.