Impress Me Not: The Architect

Chapter 28

Wasn't it right of him to ask these questions? Wasn't he in the right, worrying about someone who had their arms over his shoulder? Wasn't it right of him to want to know who he was talking to? To try and be a part of his world the best that he could?

That's what he had thought in the beginning of the day. He just enjoyed finally having someone again. Someone who didn't treat him like she did. Valentino chased most of his other dreams away with promises of happiness and laughter when he awoke. He brought him nothing but joy during the short time they had been together.

He couldn't help but fall for him harder. They seemed to be moving at such a fast pace. He had no clue that it was too fast for Valentino. He had no idea that he was already falling into another familiar mindset.

"I'm not like your ex in Miami, Mir."

He didn't know that he was doing that to him. He hadn't even talked about her much to Valentino. But now it was clear to see that he had fallen into a familiar pattern, one that he had with her. He wasn't used to being with someone else. He was used to being with her, and in her world. They used to tell each other absolutely everything all the time. That was just how they worked. They talked to each other about their days and who they talked to or met. They spent most of their time together.

He hadn't realized that he had brought Valentino into that. He was so different from her. He loved him for it. He just didn't know that his mind had brought him right back to those times. It was clear to see that he was accusing Valentino of those things because of her. They had those kind of discussions all the time. She loved him acting protective of her. But a man putting arms around another man's shoulders usually wasn't seen as a flirtatious gesture. It was if it was a man and a woman but not for Valentino and his coworker. He did trust Valentino, but he still walked around during all times of the day on his free time to sneak a peak of him working.

It was exactly what he had done with her after their first break up. That was what had gotten him into so much trouble in Miami. He couldn't keep on doing it. He knew that now. It was a bad habit to break, but he would break it for this man. Casimir would do anything to keep the man that he had just barely gotten. The one that was so different, yet still managed to capture his heart all the same.

"I'm sorry," he apologized again. "I'll never do something like this again."

"You're going to have to be more specific," Valentino said, his voice as cold as the icy wind that wiped his hair from his face. The gears shifted in the manual car as it sped down the streets. The brunette looked stunning like this. Those knee-high boots were slammed on the gas pedals as those eyes stayed glued to the streets in front of them. Casimir couldn't even focus on the roads right now to figure out where they were going. His heart was too worried about somehow convincing this man to forgive him.

"I'm sorry that I accused you of cheating," he said. "It wasn't fair of me to do that without talking to you beforehand. I'm sorry for going to your work when you weren't on lunch to check up on you, too."

"You know, I can handle myself when it comes to people hitting on me, right?"

"I was just thinking about how much you like compliments," he rubbed his face a bit. "I'm sorry."

This man somehow knew just how to get the truth out of him. He didn't know why, but he couldn't say no to the brunette, no matter what. He just wanted to keep him in his arms, and keep him as his. That's all he wished for at the moment. Because he really didn't think he could ever want someone else.

"Your compliments," Valentino huffed. "I like your compliments. Most people just annoy me."

"Really?" he asked. "I didn't think you were that picky."