Running In Circles || Nicholas Ruffilo

six

Nicholas

Things went back to the way they were.

She had snuck out and cleaned her mess before I woke back up, and when we got back to work the following day, we didn't breathe a word to each other yet again. It's not like going out as a group helped anyway, we kinda talked to everyone except for each other anyway.

I got to the shop early since I have a client as soon as we open and I needed to finish drawing the stencil. Davis was the only one there and immediately trailed me as soon as I came in.

"Good morning, Davis," I said casually, rushing to my station to get my iPad on the charger so that I could work.

"What the hell was that the other night?" He started, making me turn around on him, feigning a face of disinterest.

"What was what?" I challenged.

"You two go from barely being able to look at each other to 'hey! Come crash at my place!' How do we even get from point A to point B?"

"Because despite everything, I have a sense of morality. She was right, Tyler didn't need to drive yet and I was a walking distance away," I argued.

"It's also dare I say unprofessional-" Davis started.

"What part of anything from that night was professional?" I shot back.

"So nothing happened?" Davis challenged.

"No," I lied, my face immediately flushing at the memory of her in my arms. It felt really good to have human contact again, even if she just wanted to pretend we were someone else. But I also can't shake how my reflexes immediately went to help her when she started getting sick. I usually am not the hold your hair back guy because it'll make me sick with them, but apparently not her.

"Bullshit, you're blushing," he called me out, crossing his arms.

"Because you're making a big deal and it's making me flustered!" I argued back, not wanting to admit anything. I sat down, turning my back to him, so that the conversation could end.

He huffed and went back to his desk. I was glad because I was feeling my cock grow at the thought of her touch and I needed to shield that and calm my mind down. Again, why do I want the people who treat me like shit? I focus on the drawing at hand, hearing Tyler come in and set his stuff down a little louder than usual at his station.

"Coffee's here," he grumbles out, making Davis and I share a what-the-fuck-is-this-guy-on look. Davis just got up and grabbed our usual orders, bringing mine to me.

"Thanks, Tyler," Davis said warmly, giving him one of his usual smiles to go with it. His eyes flexed wider as he set my coffee down, a silent signal to stay out of Tyler's way today.

I was putting the finishing touches on my drawing when Cassidy comes in, making more disgruntled noises as she settled in like he did. She settled down in her usual seat, but I felt her look to me before she did, making me turn around to meet her gaze. It was almost like she was... pleading. Probably for me to not say anything. I gave her a quick and simple nod, trying to convey that her secret was safe with me. I turned away before the five second interaction was caught, going to print off my design in a couple of sizes and start the shop music up while I was in there.