Page 14 of Mitch

Oh fuck...

“What’s got you all in a twist? Hot young thing? Ex-girlfriend? Hot ex-girlfriend with another hot ex-girlfriend?” Archie snarked as he set down the boxes of cookies and cupcakes, popping the lids.

“Nothing. I?—”

But it was no use; Archie’s radar was laser sharp. He’d laid eyes on Mitchell, who was now getting up from his seat, and walking toward the bar.

“Oh... so... hot guy then. Hmmm,” he said with a shrug as my entire body heated from his words.

“Archie!”

“That is not nothing,” Archie jabbed.

“Oh my God, Archie, it’s not like that. He’s a?—”

What could I say?

Friend didn’t seem like the right word, but we weren’t strangers either, right?

“He’s a... work... friend.”

Archie raised his eyebrows. “Mhmmm. Sure. I have to say I’m kindof surprised, though,” he said, shaking his head as I fought to refute his insinuations.

“Didn’t think guys did it for you,” he teased.

“They don’t... I mean?—”

How could I explain something I barely understood myself?

I was not sureanyonereally did it for me. It wasn’t like I had a ton of experience with people in general. I’d dated a few girls, and while I didn’tmindfucking, especially from behind, I would have rather ingested a year old cake than go down on a girl.

Does that mean I’m gay?

“You’re blushing like a whore in church, Penn. Besides, that man has more flames than a bag of Hot Cheetos. You can’t hide that shit.”

My stomach twisted in knots as I triednotto look at the tall, dark, cocky photographer.

And damn, was it a fight not to look.

“He’s right you know,” Will said as the last notes of the song played out. “You’re about as subtle as a hurricane.”

“He’s coming over here,” Archie said giddily. “Be cool, be cool... You gottamake a man work for it, baby.”

Mortification spread across my cheeks, through my veins, and caused my stomach to flip.

“What? No, Archie, I swear... I?—”

Archie smirked as I tried to find some sort of escape route, but between the tables with Max’s goodies, the bar, and the crowd, I was stuck.

“I can’t do this right now, I have to—” Panic crept up my neck with the maddening heat of a blush I couldn’t seem to quiet if my life depended on it.

Will laughed as he turned away from us, calling out over his microphone that he needed the patrons’assistanceto wish Max a happy birthday.

“Miguel said five minutes, Penn,” Archie whispered, just as Mitchell made it to the bar.

I felt him before I saw him, as I tried to focus and busy myself with arranging the cupcakes around the cake.

“Hey,” he said nonchalantly, leaning on the edge of the bar.

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