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.”