Page 38 of Love in Unexpected Places

It’s Keith’s turn to laugh. “That’s what I figured. Come on, I could use the company now. Evan won’t be over until after his study hall.”

Uneasiness settles in my gut at the mention of Evan’s name, but it’s not enough to make me turn down the invitation. “Let me grab my keys.”

Rushing inside, I grab my keys and cell phone. I step into a pair of slides and walk out the door, locking up before I waltz over to Keith. “Ready?”

Stupidly, I hold up my keys and my phone, like he didn’t already see them.

“Ready.” I was way more smooth than this when I thought I wasn’t going to see him again.

Much to my surprise, Keith grabs my hand and pulls me behind him, and I follow him eagerly.

Our apartments are set up much the same, just backwards. Where my kitchen is on the left, Keith’s is on the right. The master bedroom is the same, down a hallway on the left as opposed to the right. It’s easy to remember.

Boxes litter the floors, counters in the kitchen, and on the couches that are already arranged into some semblance of structure.

“I’m working in the kitchen,” Keith says, inclining his head to the open doorway. “Can you grab the kettle and get some water on for tea while I find some mugs?”

Nodding, I move around him, rinse his kettle, then fill it with water. After I put it on the stove, I start opening cabinets to find tea bags. Once found—in an otherwise empty cabinet—I pull two out and slide myself onto the counter. Keith finds mugs and rinses them, setting them beside the stove near the tea bags.

We’re quiet, just staring at each other until the kettle starts whistling. I hop down from the counter and get our tea together. When it’s done, I hand him his mug and blow on mine, watching him over the rim of my cup. He does the same and I feel my cheeks heat for more reasons than the hot tea.

After the silence grows thick and I think we’ll just end up staring at each other for the remainder of the time I’m here, Keith sets his cup to the side, rubbing his hands together. I set mine down as well, then hop back on the counter.

Keith chuckles, shaking his head, and turns to the box next to me. “I swear,” he says as he pulls cups out of the box and places them in the dishwasher, “I really am better at conversation than this. It’s just …”

“Weird,” I fill in for him.

Another chuckle. “Yeah, weird.” He looks over his shoulder at me. “Not in a bad way. I just never thought I’d be attracted to a man so young.”

I shrug and lean forward a little, my hands gripping the counter. “I’ve always liked older men, though I didn’t act on it until about a year or so ago. Most don’t want a college kid long term—just someone to have fun with for a while and move on to the next.”

Keith gives me a sad look over his shoulder. “I’m sorry about that. I don’t know what I’m looking for, but I wouldn’t toy with you like that.”

“This is different,” I tell him. “There’s our relationship with Evan at stake. I don’t think wecanhave anything more than fun. I don’t think I could bear the thought of your relationship with your son being tarnished because of me.”

He turns back around, smiling sadly. “That’s what makes this so hard. I want to get to know you, but I don’t know how Evan would react to us.” He waves his hands back and forth, gesturing between us. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t hang out.”

I nod. “I know. I’d like that.”

“Good.”

Deciding I really should help him move in, I jump down from the counter and open a box, helping him unpack like I offered.

chapter six

KEITH

Over the next week, Derek comes over after his classes to help me unpack. If I were alone, I would have been done already, but I like him moving things around into the spaces he wants them. I give him a general idea of where I want things and he sets them up how he wants them. Not in a ‘staking my claim’ sort of way—he seems to do it unconsciously. I will admit that I like looking at where he puts things and I have no desire to move them.

Tonight, though, we only have a few boxes left to unpack. Not enough for him to even be here for an hour if we’re diligent. I find myself getting nervous, wondering if I would have to find an excuse to get him to come back or if I could just ask him. I used his offer to help me unpack like a lifeline, hoping we could get to know each other while he helps me.

It worked like a charm. Derek is an interesting young man. I find myself drawn to him more and more. While he’s still the man that gave me an award-winning blow job, he also has a lot of depth to him. He’s smart, rankingsecond in his class. He’s driven, since he already has several job offers locally and statewide. And he’s funny as hell. Derek has been cracking me up, telling joke after joke while we work. He’s made the time we’ve spent unpacking fun rather than boring and tedious.

The knock at my door has me smiling from ear to ear. I hustle over and throw the door open, expecting to see Derek. Evan’s smiling face greets me. I try not to let my disappointment show, but it’s short-lived. I love seeing Evan any chance I get. Being this close to him makes my heart happy.

Reaching out, I pull him into a hug, clapping him on the back. “Hey. I thought you had study hall.”

He brushes past me, dropping his backpack to the floor as he sits on the couch. I surreptitiously grab my phone and send off a quick text.

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