Page 18 of Leo
“Down, sis,” I chuckled at her fierce protective response. “He didn’t reject me, necessarily. He needs time to think.”
“Think about what? You’re a catch. College-educated, great with kids, handsome, sweet. He’d be lucky to have you in his life,” she insisted and went back to tending her bacon. “Judging by that hickey on your neck, he sampled the goods and left five stars.”
“What?” Slapping my hand to my neck, I couldn’t remember Isaac sucking a mark there. I recalled splashing water on my face and using a spare toothbrush at Isaac’s, and I hadn’t seen anything.
“Caught you,” Cam chuckled and I realized she was testing me.
Rolling my eyes, I grabbed another piece of bacon when she was looking in the fridge for eggs. “I don’t have a hickey.”
“But the chances weren’t zero,” Cam teased. “So what does the man need to think about?”
“He is straight, like I thought. Or thought he was…” I nibbled on my lip, remembering how it felt to wake in his arms with Isaac’s thick cock half-hard against my ass.
“You will never know unless you ask,” Cam shrugged and poured the eggs she’d whisked with milk into the pan. Normally I made the meals, but Cam could cook as well as I did. I hadn’t been here, and she was fine. “So, did you ask?”
“Sure, I’ll just say, ‘Isaac, I know I was the first man you ever…kissed, but do you want to date me?’ as if it isn’t a big deal.” I amended from something dirtier and Cam raised a brow. She knew I wasn’t a virgin, but I was never getting into details with my sister. “That won’t scare him off.”
Cam dropped the subject as Nacho entered the room asking for breakfast. I would let Isaac have his space. If Isaac was interested in more, he would have to be the one to say so.
A week passed before I heard from Isaac again. I’d seen him in passing at school, but we only talked about Dezi. I missed him, if I was being honest.
Unfortunately, when he did message it wasn’t asking me to explore our connection. It looked more like a copy and paste from messaging others the same request, tweaked to be sent to me.
Isaac
Sorry I haven’t messaged, been a busy week. Would you like to join Dezi and me for Friendsgiving the Saturday after Thanksgiving? I’m making turkey and gravy, and friends of mine are bringing fixings and dessert. Your sister and Nacho are welcome to join!
Did I want to bring my sister and nephew to meet Isaac's friends over dinner? I wasn’t sure. They could be a good buffer, in case it was awkward for me to be around him. But it was bound to be awkward no matter what. I should say we have plans and put the man in the back of my mind where straight boy crushes belong.
“What has your face all messed up?” Cam asked, walking into the living room and kicking off her shoes before flopping down on the couch with her feet on my lap.
“Your face is messed up,” I countered, because you didn’t have to be mature with siblings. Instead of clarifying, I held the phone out for her to read.
“Your Daddy invited us to dinner? I’m in,” Cam nodded as if the decision was settled. She took my phone and started typing without my permission.
“What? No!” I tried to take my phone back, but she pushed me out of the way with her feet on my chest. Before I could get a hold of my phone, I heard the sound of a sent message. “What did you say?”
“Thank me later,” Cam said, standing to stretch. “Are you making dinner, or should we order delivery?”
Ignoring her, I looked at the message she sent and groaned. Fuck my life.
Chapter twelve
Isaac
The week after agreeing I needed space and sending out invites to Friendsgiving went by in a blur of regret and longing. Regret over not talking with Leo when he was with me, and longing to play with him again. My hand was getting a workout and I finally gave in. I wasn’t ready to ask for what I wanted, but I did want him in my life.
My dinner party was the perfect excuse to make plans a little further out, without the pressure of being alone with Leo. I messaged my apology for not talking to him all week after putting Dezi down to make dinner. His response was faster than I expected.
Leo
Sure! Sounds great! We’ll all be there with tamales to share!
The excessive exclamation points didn’t feel like Leo, and I wondered if I set the wrong tone. He was not usually so effusive by text, but the emoji was normal for him.
What did I know? I’d been avoiding him all week. Maybe he wasn’t upset by my radio silence and wanted to see me as much as I secretly wanted to see him. The thought made me happy and I started looking up recipes.
A text in my friends’ group chat interrupted my scrolling. They were all sending updates, and I was happy to see that most could make it, though the coworkers I’d invited had turned me down on the offer.