Page 3 of Twink Heart

?All of that rushed through my mind at the same time. However, that feeling was followed up by a strange but delightful tingling sensation and a sudden rush of goosebumps over my arms. I yanked my hand away, surprised and oddly a little turned on by this stranger.

?“Sorry,” I muttered, glancing up into those warm brown eyes of his. I noticed a stray strand of sandy blond hair across his forehead and a small scar on his lip. Embarrassment rushed through me again, and I tore my gaze away.

?“Here,” he replied, seemingly unfazed by the entire exchange. He held out my massive family pack of Oreos.

?“Thanks,” I muttered, taking them a bit too quickly. Then, like an idiot, I stood there sheepishly, waiting for him to make the first move.

?“No problem.”

?Without even so much as a second glance, he turned his cart away and strode toward the entrance. I watched him go for a moment, completely oblivious to everything else going on around me.

?“Number four is open,” a gravely voice said next to me.

?“Right!” I blurted, snapping back to reality. I was still standing in the middle of the self checkout where the stranger had left me. “Sorry!”

?I ran to the open spot, scanning all my items at the speed of light. In less than a minute, I was done and practically running out of the store. It wasn’t until I collapsed into the driver’s seat of my car that I finally took a deep breath.

?What the fuck was that all about?

?Nobody got me to freeze up like that. Ever. And somehow, after all these dates where I felt cool and confident, some complete stranger caught me off guard and totally wigged me out. It was totally out of the norm for me.

?Of course, he was really fucking cute, so that didn’t help. Those deep brown eyes of his and the way his hair was just the right amount of messy. Talk about swoon worthy. And that scar on his lip? I bet that had a cool story to go with it.

?However, judging by his clothes, his lack of bling, and the fact that he was wearing a ratty pair of dad sneakers, I was almost certain he was straight. No self-respecting gay man would wear shoes like that outside of the house. Seriously. Not to mention, the way he spoke and carried himself didn’t read as the type that would be into men.

Then again, maybe I was the one being judgemental.

?Maybe that’s why guys never stuck around…

?Was I a judgy person?

?I wasn’t sure. However, the one thing I was sure of was that I’d spend the rest of my night and probably most of tomorrow overthinking it and making myself feel bad. So at least in that way, I had something to do with my evening now.

?With a sigh, I put the car into drive and headed for home.

?By myself.

?At least I had chicken nuggies.

Chapter Three: Rowan

My phone had buzzed at least three times since I began a report for work ten minutes ago. I was getting a bit irritated, since the report needed to be turned in Monday morning bright and early. My boss had been riding my ass all week about it. Even after I told him about splitting up with my girlfriend, he merely reminded me about the report and told me to take time off if I needed it after our next big push.

?The phone buzzed again.

?I grabbed it off the table, fully intending to yeet that fucker straight to hell. But when I glanced down at the screen, I saw Adam’s picture. It was him that wouldn’t quit texting me.

Adam: Hey buddy, you doing ok?

Adam: You alive?

Adam: I swear to god, if you killed yourself over some stupid girl, I’m gonna be pissed.

Adam: Okay, well now you’re just being rude.

?I rolled my eyes as I read. The man was ridiculous. I’d never met a more sassy and inappropriate person. The things that came out of his mouth were almost exclusively the stuff that’s meant to stay inside your brain. Not with him, though. He said it all.

Me: I’m alive. I’m just busy.

---