Page 20 of A Merry Penthouse Christmas
“Or I would if I had a class to teach. Middle school, specifically 6th grade, is when you learn about ancient civilizations, their origins, their development and downfalls, like Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome. Plus, it means I get to cover mythology. Everyone loves that subject. Not all schools would go into Chinese history for that grade, butThe Art of Warcan be applied to the successes and failures of so many other cultures.”
Beau’s excitement for the subject is infectious, and I imagine I’m smiling just as goofily as he is when our eyes meet.
“Sorry.” He drops his attention to his coffee.
“Don’t be. I pity the students with a teacher who isn’t as passionate as you are. And as far as the added applications ofThe Art of Wargoes…” I lean forward—right in Beau’s personal space. “I couldn’t agree more.”
I see Beau shiver, visibly causing the hairs on his arms to prickle. Then, just as his cheeks go red, and he holds his breath, I hop down from my stool.
“If you’ll excuse me. While Bastian is still in a good mood, I’m going to take a shower.”
I hear Beau exhale as I walk away. Physical attraction is absolutely there, but now I am even more certain something else is too.
Chapter 6
BEAU
It’sbeenalmostaweek since Arik kissed me, and I can’t stop thinking about it.
Or how he hasn’t done anything about it since.
I should be relieved! I’m the one who’s tried avoiding him! I’ve avoided discussion about those kisses. I’ve avoided any possible deviation that could lead us down that path again.
But that he hasn’t tried to steer me onto it is maddening!
He hasn’t been avoiding me. Quite the contrary. He’s been more attentive. More interested in me, but, like, in a getting to know me kind of way, not with the usual banter or veiled flirting. Ithoughtit was veiled flirting. I had myself so convinced he was straight but catching him with a man on his kneesnotwithstanding, after those kisses, I figured he had to be flirting. No one kisses that good without meaning it.
Right?
But if he wants more from me, why isn’t he going for it?
And if I want more…
Why aren’t I?
I don’t even know what I want. The only thing I can be certain of is the unfair reality that every time Arik gets close to me lately, I’m disappointed when he pulls away without stealing another kiss.
I blame those desires on why I stopped him in the kitchen recently. “Since you were curious about my life choices, can I ask you something?”
“Fire away.”
“Why so… independent?”
He grinned. “You mean why such awhorewho also isn’t close with his family or has many if any close friends?”
“I would never say—”
“You wouldn’t say whore, I know. I did. And the answer is in the question. I chose to be independent for the independence. Being tied down strips that away. At least I used to think like that.”
“You don’t anymore?”
“Can’t imagine I could, or I never would have asked for full custody of Bastian.”
“I suppose you have a point there.”
“Early midlife crisis?” He chuckled. “Maybe. More like subconsciously thinking I might have been missing out, and suddenly an opportunity I hadn’t chosen but that just happened was right in front of me. And as any follower of Sun Tzu knows, one must act quickly and decisively, always.”
“Yeah, but you also surround yourself with a different sort of family.”
