Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Mitch’s face looked beautiful in the contrasting light and shadow, highlighting his jawline.
And for some reason, the simple moment was enough to make me shake my head in disbelief.
“You have no idea how much I wanted this. For so long,” I said, a little scared to admit something so true.
“I have an idea,” he said, stroking his fingertips through my hair. “And as much as I want to stand here with you under the moonlight and kiss you, I desperately need to get you home where I can do more.”
“I was starting to think I was going to have to beg you,” I said.
“You can beg me,” he said. “It might be hot.” He gave me one last squeeze before making his way to the driver’s side door.
“Take me home and fuck me,” I said once we were in the car. I said it in a jokey, begging tone, but his eyes widened slightly. He’d clearly gotten something out of that.
“Abso-fucking-lutely,” he said. I reached out, gripped the front of his shirt in my fist, and gave him a slow, deep kiss before letting him go.
I’d never seen such obvious desire on Mitch’s face. He was usually so even-keeled, so generally content and easygoing, but right now he looked hungry. He put the key in the ignition and started the car.
I slipped my phone out of my pocket.
“Shit. I missed some emails earlier this evening, apparently,” I said, scrolling through my messages. “Wait a minute.”
“What’s up?” he asked.
I stared down at the email on my phone, reading over it a few times just to make sure it was real.
“I… I think I just got an invitation to an interview,” I said.
“Interview?”
“I applied to a special teaching program. I thought it was such a long-shot, because I’m a nobody from bumfuck, Kansas, but… they want to fly me out. Holy shit.”
“Fly you out? Where would you be flying?”
“Bern,” I said, still staring at the email.
“Never heard of Bern. Is it in Texas?”
“Not Texas, Mitch,” I said, looking up to meet his eyes. “Switzerland.”
He was silent. The rumble of the Jeep’s motor beneath us filled the air as my head started swimming with thoughts of the future.
“You… I didn’t even know you were applying for other jobs,” Mitch said quietly. “And ones in Switzerland?”
“I wasn’t really applying to many other jobs, but one of my old teaching buddies mentioned that they were taking applications, and I… I just did it. I didn’t think there was a chance in hell they’d want me.”
Mitch stared blankly out the window ahead. We were still idling in Red’s driveway, the exhaust from the Jeep making clouds in the cold air behind us.
“How come you didn’t tell me about this?” Mitch asked.
I pulled in a deep breath. “I didn’t really tell anyone, honestly,” I said. “I almost forgot I did this. I applied right before you came back to town.”
Mitch nodded. “I’m happy for you,” he said, though it looked like it was hard for him to force out the words. “I’m sorry. I just… need a little time to process it.”
I turned off my phone and slipped it back into my pocket. “Okay. I get it,” I said. I rubbed Mitch’s shoulder, leaning in close to him. “Do you think you can process it while my lips are around your cock?”
“Christ, Evan,” he said, shrugging off my touches. He reached to put on his seat belt and finally put the car in drive, taking off into the night.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“No, I am,” he replied, shaking his head. But his hands were gripped tight around the steering wheel. It was obvious how hard he was taking the news. “But I need some… time. Like I said.”
A flare of anger welled up in me as we drove in silence. What right did he have to be upset about me applying to an amazing teaching program, even if it was far away? He’d gone to Chicago years ago, and while that wasn’t as far away as Europe, it may as well have been.
I had expected him to be happy for me when I told him.
When Mitch turned a corner to head toward my house instead of his, I was confused.
“I thought we were going back to your place,” I said.
“Not tonight,” he said.
It felt like my heart was twisting inside my chest.
“Mitch…” I said softly, but he didn’t respond, keeping his eyes glued to the road ahead.
We pulled up outside my house a minute later. He turned to me, his eyes so clearly full of sadness that he couldn’t hide. How could things have been so good earlier tonight, and now… it was like this?
“I’m really happy for you, Ev,” he said. “I don’t want you to think I’m not.”
“Well, it sure as fuck seems like you’re not,” I said. “Sorry, but I’ve had too many margaritas tonight to not speak the truth.”