Page 44 of Mitch

I shrugged. “Maybe?”

“He askedyouout, right?” Archie said, crossing his arms.

“Yeah.”

“Then I’m pretty sure you have nothing to worry about.” Archie said, flashing me with a smile as he got up.

I sighed, hoping he was right.

CHAPTER 18

Penn

I staredat myself in my bathroom mirror.

I’d mulled over my appearance, my outfit for the last twenty minutes, and time was dwindling down. Mitchell had offered to pick me up at my house, probably to give us both time to get ready after being in the bakery all day, but I’d spent the last half hour fussing over what to wear and if I could really do this.

It’s just a date, you’ve been on plenty of them.

He askedyouout, you have nothing to worry about.

Just be cool.

The text on my phone chimed, and I checked it immediately.

Here.

Shit!

He was here!

I let out a deep breath, slicking my hand through my hair one final time, and hoped that things would go smoothly.

It’s just hanging out, having dinner.

We did that the other night, while working and everything was fine.

Well, until I ended up kissing him like some swoon-worthy damsel in distress.

But if I was being honest, Ilikedkissing Mitchell.

I wasn’t sure if it was him and his suave, smooth air, or if it was just the newness of kissing someone of the same sex, but either way, I couldn’t deny that itdidsomething for me.

In a way kissing Amy or my exes never did.

Who gets turned on from akiss?

Me, apparently, because just the thought of kissing Mitchell was enoughto get me off after I’d gotten home that night.

I pushed the thoughts from my brain, if only because I didn’t want to keep mydatewaiting.

I grabbed my wallet, slid it in my pocket along with my cell phone, and was out the door.

“Where are you off to?” my father asked, peering over his newspaper.

I stopped dead in my tracks. I hadn’t said anything outright to my parents, mostly because I was still in thecoming homephase where we hadn’t really set boundaries yet, but I was also twenty-three years old. I didn’t need my parents’ permission to do anything.

But still, it felt weird. Like somehow, some way, they just had parental radar that told them “he’s going on a date with a guy!”

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