Leo sends me his address with a series of questions that make me grin. My stomach is a swirling mess of excitement and nervousness. That’s so strange. I don’t usually get nervous, especially around other people. Leo makes me feel things I’ve never felt before. He’s bringing things out in me for the very first time.
It’s scary. At the same time it’s exhilarating!
As quickly as I can, I finish my bowl of ramen. After putting my dishes away, I grab my wallet, put my headband back into place to keep my hair out of my face, and then head out the door. At the last second, I remember I’m supposed to be bringing a ‘delivery’.
Turning back into my apartment, I grab the box I was gifted at the end of my shift. Mason, the guy who manages the bakery, said these were too stale to sell anymore so he gave them to me. I tasted one earlier and they don’t seem stale to me!
Hopefully Leo likes chocolate chip cookies. Honestly, what kind of persondoesn’tlike cookies? Maybe that would be the thing to make this raging crush slow the fuck down.
I pull out my phone as I walk, entering the address that Leo gave me into the GPS. I follow the instructions. After about a fifteen minute walk, I find an apartment complex. I carefully check the numbers on the side of the buildings until I find the right one.
Me: Leo! Come down and let the delivery boy in!
Leo: Huh? Usually they just leave it at the door or buzz up to me.
Me: bzz bzz bzz
I can’t help but giggle, anticipation making my chest all fluttery. It only takes another minute before I see Leo through the glass door. I wave my hand excitedly, watching as his face morphs from apprehension to confusion and then finally a grin.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Leo asks, opening the door for me. I step inside, holding up the box in my hands.
“I told you. I have an extra special delivery for you!”
“I see that,” he says softly, shaking his head at me. I’m worried for a moment that maybe I’ve overstepped. Before I can backpedal and start to apologize, I see the little smile on Leo’s face. “Come on. My apartment is up here.”
I follow behind Leo, my eyes darting up to his ass as he climbs the stairs. My stomach is filled with an excited swirl of warmth. When Leo looks at me from over his shoulder, I make sure to mask my face, not wanting him to catch me staring at him.
Leo unlocks the door to apartment 17, letting me inside before following behind. I slip off my shoes and walk inside, looking around at everything.
Leo’s apartment is small which is understandable since it’s just him living here, very similar to my own. There’s a kitchen that opens up into a living space with two doors off to the side, probably a bathroom and his bedroom.
There’s pictures and art on the wall. There’s one in particular that makes me grin. It’s Bren and Leo, their arms around each other. They look like they’re laughing. The thing that really confuses me though, is the fact that they look so much older than they actually are. I wonder if they were doing some sort of makeup or costume.
Before I can ask about it, Leo is stealing the box from my hands. “Show me this special delivery, Jin.”
I chuckle, handing over the box. Once it’s in his hands, I pop open the top, revealing the cookies.
“Oh shit. Are these from the bakery?”
“They are. Mason gave them to me because they couldn’t sell them.”
“Oh my gods. Your job at the mall just keeps getting better and better,” Leo says, taking two cookies out of the box before setting it down on the table. He hands one over to me and starts eating the other one.
“I really like my job,” I murmur, trying not to stare at the way Leo is eating his cookie, a couple crumbs dusting his bottom lip. His tongue comes out, swiping them away.
My stomach feels like molten lava, arousal so strong it threatens to plow me over. I’ve never felt like this before. Leo is just so different to anyone else I’ve ever met. I want to give him pieces of myself I’ve never actively tried to hide but have never given to anyone else. He makes me want to sit close and hold him and kiss him and oh, okay. I’ve never done that before but with Leo, Iwant. I want everything.
Without thinking, I pull out my phone and pull up the tattoo artist’s page on social media. Before I can second guess myself, I send her a message. Then I push my phone back into my pocket.
One way or another, I’m getting to the bottom of this tattoo on my shoulder. Just thinking about it makes the ink itch against my skin and I’m not sure if that’s from me thinking about it or if that’s just the healing process. Maybe a little of both.
“Come on,” Leo says, taking my wrist and pulling me into the living room. Sparks light up my skin, dancing up my arm at the simple touch. “We can watch Blue on my TV for a bit if you want.”
“I want,” I say without thinking. Leo looks at me, his eyes widening. There’s a dusting of blush across his cheeks that leave my stomach twisting with something I can only name as fondness or maybe affection.
We sit down on the couch with space between us. I immediately feel sad about that space. I want to scoot over untilour sides are touching. I want to wrap my arm around his back and pull him close. I want to lean over and kiss his cheek.
Jesus, what the hell has gotten into me?
