NINETEEN: Why Did You Kiss Me Back?

I don’t see David until it is literally time to walk out of the front door the next morning. Even when I do see him, I have no idea what to say to him.

David and I kissed.

Like… we kissed.

It is everything I wanted, and yet, the reminder of my evening activities just had to ruin it. I dreamt about the kiss, dreamt about it morphing into David and me at the club, dreamt about what would have happened if I hadn’t stopped it at just a kiss.

The drive to the office is dead silent.

I’m keeping my gaze on my hands in my lap, and David is staring out the window, his elbow on the door, his hand over his mouth.

I debate saying something. Anything. But every time I think of something to say, it seems ridiculous, so I keep my mouth shut.

Letting myself out of the car once it arrives at the building, I march through the lobby to the elevators, pressing the button repeatedly as David walks up behind me. The doors finally open, and David and I and a few other people crowd in. The others have no idea of the awkward tension brewing in the corner where David and I are standing.

Slowly, they filter out, getting ready to start their days, and then it is just David and me left, heading up to the top floor.

I feel like there are a couple of times where David starts to say something. An inhale, his body shifting. But they never progress any further.

The doors open, and I walk out without a second thought, going straight to my office and shutting the door behind me. Once the latch clicks, I sigh in relief. I’ve made it to the sanctuary of my own space. Now, I just have to figure out how to make it through the next 9 hours.

It is a struggle, to say the least. I try to make sure that David and I are never in a room together, alone. So I have to keep my door open slightly, checking for anyone walking past that happens to be going to David’s office, and then I’d rush in as well, slipping whatever I need onto his desk, and rushing back out before he can say anything in front of his guests.

Marcus clocks the game a few hours in, and is rather enjoying the show. He’d been on camera watch last night, so he knows exactly why David and I are so weird today.

As it gets close to 5pm, I’m nervously tapping my pen against my desk, staring at my door. I have three files and two phone messages that I really need to give David before the end of the day, and no one has been past in the last 40 minutes. My eyes are flicking between the door and the clock on the wall. Any longer, and I would just have to do it myself.

I shoot up when I see Theo heading past. I stay silent, waiting to see if he’s going to David’s office next door.

I hear him knock.

I grab the files, and run out, slowing to a gentle walk as I see the door closing. Then I just walk in, making Theo turn around, but he turns back to David when he sees it is me, and I’m just walking over to the desk.

Just like the last 4 times I’ve done this, David’s eyes are trained on me as I walk over, and put the files down. He holds up the paperwork he has signed from my earlier drop off, and I take them with a slight nod.

Then he grabs my wrist, and I freeze, finally looking at him. His expression is unreadable.

“Theo, do you mind giving us a few minutes?” David says to his guest, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Sure man, I’ll grab a coffee.” Theo says politely, already walking out of the office. I panic, and I try to tug my wrist out of his grasp, but he just squeezes tighter.

The door closes, with a louder noise than usual. That’s when David finally lets go of me.

“Nora.” He says, and for a split second, I regret how I’ve acted today. “We should talk about last night.”

“No, thank you.” I snap, more out of fear of the conversation than anything else.

I spin on my heel, and head towards the door. He runs round the other side of the desk, and gets to the door just before I do, putting his hand on it, stopping me from pulling it open.

“It isn’t a request.”

“It never is.” I mutter, and he frowns.

I swallow, wishing I can take back my slip. It is never a request in the club. I’m not at the club. I am at the office.

“We shouldn’t act like this over one kiss.” He says, deciding not to address my comment. “What’s going on?”

“What’s going on? You mean apart from the fact that my boss kissed me because he doesn’t like that I come home late?!”

“That’s not the reason I kissed you. That’s just what happened leading up to it.” He explains, his voice soft, just as soft as the way his gorgeous blue eyes are staring down at me.

“Then what was the reason?” I find myself asking.

“Because… I’ve wanted to for a while.” He admits.

His face moves an inch closer to mine.

It’s enough to completely overwhelm my senses. When I don’t reply, feeling completely lost as to what I’m supposed to say, he decides to ask me a question.

“Why did you kiss me back?” He asks.

I blink up at him.

“I… just… same.” I whisper, noticing how his eyes darken slightly at my response.

Suddenly, I hear his hand sliding over the wood, and I glance over to the movement, seeing his hand go to the door handle, to the lock underneath..

Then he locks the door.