Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
TWO YEARS LATER
DALLAS
I walked around the studio apartment with my hands in my denim pockets, appreciating the brick walls and stunning view of Old Town Chicago. The industrial look really gave it an urban vibe, which contrasted with where I grew up in the Midwest.
I glanced out of the expansive windows to take in the parks and the view of Lake Michigan. Since it was winter, with Christmas just around the corner, the landscape was bare and covered in white, but in the spring and summer, it would all be green and gorgeous.
The condo wasn’t massive, but the view from my window each day was well worth the smaller size and higher price tag.
“Amenities include an indoor pool and gym, among other things,” said my real estate agent, handing me a brochure. “You’ll see more details inside this. Of course, everything is within walking distance with fantastic restaurants and museums.” She glanced out of the windows with me. “But between you and me, if this were a closet with this view, I’d take it in a heartbeat.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
Ally came out of the area where the bed would be with gleaming green eyes. She rushed at me and wrapped her arms around my waist. “God, this place is stunning, Dal. It’s perfect.”
I tucked a strand of highlighted blond hair behind her ear, then wrapped my arm around her, tucking her close. “Yes, this place really is amazing.”
“God, and that view… wow. You’re really moving up in the world. It’s about time all your hard work and having no life started paying off.”
Being a financial advisor wasn’t easy, but since I was single, I only had to worry about myself, so I put in the long hours, building my client list and increasing my commissions.
I’d been so busy that I hadn’t seen my old college friend for about a year. A few days ago, Ally flew in for the holidays, forcing me to take a break, so I took her house hunting with me.
I’d been doing it for the past two months, and my eyes were set on this condo for a while, finally getting the balls to purchase the place. It wasn’t the best idea to buy a home right before Christmas, but I hadn’t had any plans to celebrate anyway, not until Ally decided to pop in for a visit.
Mom and Dad begged me to come down to Little Rock to spend the holidays with them, and I needed to, but not this year.
“Are you going to help me move in?”
She lifted her hand, palm down, and inspected her fire engine red manicure. “If you insist, but if I break a nail, you’re paying for it.”
I chuckled. “Deal.”
She was just teasing. We were more than friends. We’d grown to be best friends, and Ally Chambers was someone I could lean on when I needed someone to talk to. And, of course, I was always there for her as well.
I looked at the agent. “When can I move in?”
“As soon as your down payment goes through and the paperwork is approved, which shouldn’t take long since it’s the slow season.”
Ally clapped as I handed the payment to my agent and signed the dotted line… several dotted lines. “This is exciting! Your first and very own place.” She walked over to the corner of the living room by the vast windows. “The Christmas tree can go here.”
“Christmas tree? I don’t even own one ornament.”
“Okay, Scrooge. Well, you better get shopping, then. You’ve got two weeks.”
It was a good thing I took some time off—sort of. As a financial advisor, you never really had ‘time off.’
That night, Ally and I went to an Italian restaurant a couple of blocks away. She pulled apart some steaming bread, slathering on an excessive amount of butter.
“So, how’s your love life?” she asked with her mouth full.
“You know very well I have none. Relationships take time and work—time I don’t have.”
“You invest in people’s money, but you can’t invest your heart? Not everyone is so demanding, Dal. You just need to find yourself an introvert or someone who’s got a big career, too.”
I sipped my Sangiovese and sighed. “Great, then we could guarantee never to see each other. What’s the point? Besides, why do I have to have a relationship to complete me? You don’t have one.”
“You’re right, you don’t, but do you even get laid?”
I coughed the wine, careful not to spill it all over me. I glared at her as I wiped my mouth with my napkin.
“Rude.”
“Please, we tell each other everything.”
“I guess I should be grateful you aren’t one of those who sets me up with every person who has a dick.”
She snorted a laugh, covering her mouth with her hand. “Oh, god. While I love tormenting you, I’m not that cruel.”
“The truth is, it’s been a while.”
Too long, in fact.
There had been flings here and there, but nothing worth noting. Sometimes, I’d use a hookup app just to get a release. But the only one who really stood out to me since I’d been in Chicago was Austin, a name I’d never forget. Nor that kiss.
Jesus.
I’d never been so consumed by a kiss in my life, not like that. There’d been so much emotion behind it, almost like it hadn’t really been about a fun blowjob. And I’d been right about the emotional aspect when the look of horror and pain spread across his pale brown eyes. He apologized to me over and over before he ran. Afterward, I spent several days mulling over if I’d done something wrong but then told myself to forget it. He was just a damn stranger in a bar—another hookup. Nothing more. Hell, we hadn’t even hooked up. He ran out of there with me wanting to know what was behind that damn kiss.
Regardless, it had been an evening I couldn’t forget or shake. I didn’t think about it as much anymore, but the memory would hit now and again. That kiss had rocked me to my core as if only I could sustain him somehow, but he ran out of there with me wanting more and to know what was behind that passion.
“I know that look,” she said.
“What look?”
Before she could respond, because servers had impeccable timing, he placed Ally’s carbonara on the table and then put my bowl of Calabria in front of me.
After he left, she leaned forward as I stabbed the Filega pasta with my fork.
“That lost and far away look you always get when we’re talking about dating and relationships. You’re thinking about him.”
“It was just a missed opportunity for a blow job. Nothing more.”
“Awesome, you’re lying not only to me but also to yourself. I’m sorry, Dal, but you spent the following couple of weeks going back to that bar so you could run into him again.”
Actually, I’d been back to that bar several more times after, but I didn’t tell her that. My obsession was embarrassing enough. Eventually, I gave up.
I shrugged to hide how ridiculous it was to crave a kiss from someone I’d never see again. “What can I say? That was a kiss to kill all other kisses.” And that, right there, was the truth of the matter, not that I was trying all that hard to find someone in my life.
Ally softened, her green eyes sparkling like gems in the candlelight. “Dallas… There are other men who are great kissers.”
It hadn’t been about how well he kissed.
“I know,” I said to end this conversation.
While I still thought about that kiss, I really had moved on. Besides, I wasn’t interested in dating anyone seriously. There was no time for commitments.
I’d finally hit my Zen and second wind as I ran on the treadmill in my building’s gym. My legs burned, and my heart and breathing were heavy, but I was in a place I could push through as the rock music beat into my ears, matching my pace. My sweaty face reflected in the mirror I faced, starting to turn red.
Movement suddenly caught my eyes, and I glanced in the mirror, watching a man walk in with brown hair, his long bangs long falling in his face. He wore a gym shirt exposing lean yet muscular arms and shorts with a towel slung over his shoulder and a water bottle in his hand.
He looked vaguely familiar, and I couldn’t take my eyes off his handsome features. It was nice to know I had an attractive neighbor.
The niggling familiarity kept my eyes peeled on him as he walked by me, not even glancing my way. But when he turned to face the mirror, setting up his treadmill, that was when it hit me like a sledgehammer.
That night.
That kiss.
That fear.
No way in hell…
I suddenly lost my rapid pace and started to wobble and sputter before I fell off the damn thing, a searing pain in my knee shot up my spine, but the embarrassment erased most of my suffering.
I righted myself and looked over at the man, who’d been oblivious to my downfall, wearing earbuds so he didn’t hear me. I quickly turned off the treadmill and rested my hands on my knees, catching my breath.
Seeing him again made my heart race more than from exertion.
Of all the fucking small worlds.
Austin.
That had to be some fate shit.
Once I was confident I could walk properly, I removed my earbuds, stepped off the machine on numb and weak legs, and moved in his direction. There was no way I was going to walk out of the gym without saying something.
As soon as I stood next to him, Austin looked over at me. You could witness the recognition in those milk chocolate eyes, and then came that fear I’d seen before. He said nothing as he removed his earpieces.
“Hey,” I said stupidly.
Nice one, Dallas. You act like you’ve never talked to a man before.
“It’s you,” I added because that was so much better. I mentally eye-rolled myself.
When he kept staring at me in the mirror, not saying anything or even moving, I scrambled for words.
“Uhm, what are the chances, right? I mean… Do you remember me? Two years ago? The bar? Ah…”
I rubbed my neck, feeling like an utter moron. He recognized me, right?
“I remember,” he said flatly.
His tone didn’t bode well, but I swallowed and pushed on. With a deep breath, I exhaled and scraped the bottom of my confidence barrel.
“Look, I’m going to go out on a limb here because this is so coincidental that I’m starting to believe in fate for the first time in my life. I’ve never forgotten that kiss… our kiss. But you ran out of there so fast, and you didn’t give me a chance to fix whatever I did. Let me make it up to you and take you out to dinner. Or better yet, I’ve just moved in. Why don’t you come over and let me make you dinner? I’m a pretty decent cook.”
His brows furrowed into worry as he looked away, fisting his towel hard enough to turn his knuckles white.
“I—”
You could see his rejection coming from a mile away, but still, I pushed. I couldn’t give up yet.
“Just think about it, Austin. I’m not asking for marriage here. Just a date. We can take it from there, but I would really like to get to know you.”
With a sigh, Austin stepped off the treadmill and walked away. My stomach dropped to the ground. Dammit. Maybe there was no such thing as fate. Perhaps I was just an idiot seeing something that wasn’t there that night.
But then he stopped without turning around. “You don’t want to get to know me.”
“I’m in condo number 1016 if you change your mind because I would very much would like to get to know you,” I blurted to his retreating back.