Even though Sal’s Pizza is the best pizza in the city, I can’t take my eyes off my monitor. If someone walked in right now,they’d probably think I’m watching a super captivating movie or porn.
But no.
Adjusting my glasses with my wrist, I lean closer, studying the little speck on the video to determine if it’s something on the camera lens or a glitch on my laptop.
A knock at my bedroom door puts me in a pickle.
“Rory? Can I come in?”
My mouth is full of crust, cheese, and sauce, so my reply is jumbled. “Jutaminte!”
I don’t want anyone to see what I’m doing, but my hands are covered in pizza sauce, ranch, and grease.
Shit, shit, shit.
“What?” The same voice shouts from the hallway.
Using my forearm, I push the top of the monitor toward me, getting my laptop halfway closed as I search for a napkin. I just had a whole pile right here. There’s no way I used them all. I’m not that messy of an eater.
“I’m coming in! You’d better have clothes on!”
Quickly, I lick my fingers and wipe them on my bare abdomen. I finish up right as Luke pokes his head in, and my heartbeat picks up.
He scans the room, checking to see if I have a guest, I’m sure. When his eyes land on me, he wrinkles his forehead. “No date tonight?”
Licking my dry lips, I glance down at my tilted laptop. “Nope. Not tonight.”
Luke pinches his lips as he looks like he’s mulling something over in his mind. He stays put in the doorway and opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.
He’s going to bring up what I saw the other day, isn’t he? I know he saw me there. Or he could bring up the kiss outside my office.
I’m really fucking things up here.
Instead, he finally gets out, “Okay. Cool.”
“Everything okay?” Blinking, I try to understand what’s going on with him.
Is he embarrassed? He doesn’t have any reason to be embarrassed. If anyone has cause for embarrassment, it’s me.
“Yep. Goodnight,” he answers, his voice rising an octave, then leaves, shutting the door behind him.
I deflate and drag my hand down my face.
When I followed Savannah to the Brooklyn Heights Library, I thought I’d casually bump into her, acting like it was a simple coincidence. We’d talk and then I’d ask her out to dinner or something.
But what I found was the last thing I was expecting. At first, I thought Luke was punishing me. I know he saw me kissing Savannah in the street the day I met her. I just don’t know why he would be mad about that.
Then I felt something shift. Luke suddenly looked different to me. Seeing him with her, I wasn’t angry. I wanted more. The anticipation was exciting.
I just about bolted when Luke opened his eyes and saw me there, but then he winked.
He fucking winked at me.
I’ve known Luke most of my life, and it’s never been like that between us. I don’t even know if that’s how he meant it. Since then, I’ve told myself that it was the heat of the moment and nothing more.
But then, when we were outside of my office, I pinned him against the wall and kissed him. I had never kissed another man before, and I doubt that if it were anyone other than Luke, it would have felt the same.
It felt like coming home. It felt natural. It felt right.
