Page 44 of Kiss Me in the Dark
I don’t answer as I shift my weight from one foot to the other, noticing the shift of air around us.
“I asked you a question, Cam,” Fox growls as he stalks toward me, every step commanding.
I stare at the floor, wishing it would open up and swallow me whole.“What do you want me to say?If you're worried I saw or heard anything, just forget about it.”
Fox’s gaze sharpens as he steps closer.“You definitely saw something—and you sure as hell heard something.”
“It’s… it’s not a big deal,” I stammer, hating how my voice sounds.“Everyone has, you know… needs.And there’s nothing wrong with trying to satisfy these needs.That only makes us human.”Wow, I sound like an idiot.
Fox shakes his head, looking irritated and far too put together in his black shirt and jeans.He’s clearly about to go out, and here I am, half-dressed and half-witted.
“Why did you try to kiss me?”The question slips out before I can stop it.
He laughs, low and unimpressed.“You’re serious?You really are an idiot if you think that.I wasn’t trying to kiss you.Last I checked, you were the one leaning in.”
“Oh, you freaking jerk.You were flirting with me, acting like you wanted to kiss me.What makes you think I’d even want that?”
Fox’s gaze hardens as he crosses his arms.“You really think I wanted to kiss you?”he says, each word dripping with condescension.“You’re forgetting something, Cam—you’re gay.I’m straight.Now why would you think I wanted to kiss you in the first place?”
I bite my lip, shaking my head, the words slipping out before I can think better of them.
“Fuck you, Fox.”
“Was that why you were in my room?To ask me to fuck you?”He whispers, his presence looming in every corner of my room.I’m startled by his question, caught off guard actually as Fox stares at me, smirking like he knows how much every word he’s said affects me.
I laugh nervously, hating how much effect he has over me.“Sorry to burst your bubble, Fox, I came to your room to tell you to stay away from me.Far away.Don't flirt with me, don’t even try to make any attempt at kissing me ever.You’re straight and I’m gay, always remember that.And news flash, asshole: you’re not special.“
He stands there, staring at me with shock in his blue eyes.God, he’s so infuriatingly smug right now.
“Please leave my room,” I say, forcing my voice to stay calm, though I can feel my anger simmering.
He scoffs, and with a twisted smirk, he turns.“And don’t come creeping into mine next time.Listening to me in the shower?You dim-witted pervert.”
I clench my fists as he leaves.I hate him.I hate that I thought for even a second he was worth any of this—the irritation, the tension, the mixed signals.Leanne was right.I was just a game to him, his “curious experiment.”Just his dorky roommate, someone to tease and mess with.Thinking he might have meant any of it?Ridiculous.It hurts, though, that I entertained the idea, even let myself want it.
I toss my book onto the shelf and pull out my comfiest sweats and an old green t-shirt.Climbing into bed, I grab my laptop, hoping I can lose myself in a movie or something—anything to erase Fox from my head before I end up doing something I’ll regret.
“Thank you for stopping by Gio’s Burger,” I say, handing the customer her takeout bag with a forced smile that barely makes it to my eyes.
She returns the smile—polite, oblivious—and walks out.
The second the door closes behind her, I let out a long sigh and slump against the counter.
It’s been four days since the almost-kiss with Fox.
Four days of avoidance, silence, and awkward tension so thick I could cut it with a butter knife.
We’ve been dancing around each other like we’re radioactive.I stopped bothering with greetings—he never responds anyway.When heishome, he’s gone before sunrise, like he’s on some covert mission to avoid ever being in the same room with me.
“You look like a girl on her period,” Nat says, snapping me out of my spiral with all the grace of a wrecking ball.
Katie, our other coworker, chuckles softly.I can’t tell if she’s laughingwithNat oratme.
“That’s the worst reference I’ve ever heard,” I mutter, shooting Nat a tired glare.
She shrugs, completely unbothered.“Still true.”
Katie smiles at me as she walks past, her fingers brushing my arm.She’s been doing that a lot lately—touching, lingering, smiling too long.Even after I came out to her two days ago.She looked surprised—maybe even a little disappointed—but it hasn’t stopped the flirting.
