Mismatched

Ch. 11

I woke up with a racing heart and a rush of desire.

My sheets were strewn all over my bed like I had been wrestling with them. My dreams replayed in my head as I willed them to go away. It was just flashes of Riley and me, our hands all over each other.

I had dropped him off last night with just a chaste goodnight kiss, and then I had crawled into bed alone. My dream seemed to pick up where I left off. I could still feel every imaginary touch, every fictitious word, and it sent electric shocks throughout my body.

This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. I was supposed to be in control. But the way I kept finding myself being pulled back to Riley was starting to feel like an addict chasing a high.

I planted my feet down on the cold hardwood, stumbling to the bathroom to force myself into a cold shower. But even cold showers were ruined for me now, just bringing back memories of Riley and I in the cold water, our bodies pressed against each other, and our lips interlocked –

Cut it out, Nate.

This was ridiculous. I wasn't even gay. I'd just been out of the game and Riley was the most exciting thing to happen in my life for a while. That was the only reason I was having these feelings.

It had nothing to do with Riley specifically.

And luckily, the solution was living just two floors beneath me.

Knocking on Bea's door was like night and day from knocking on Riley's last night. I was exuding confidence as I leaned against the doorframe. I could hear her footsteps approaching, and I ran a hand through to tousle my hair.

"Hi, neighbour," Bea said, pulling the door only half open so I couldn't quite see inside. She was wearing sweatpants that were hanging low on her small frame, and a tight long-sleeved black shirt. Her straight brown hair was pulled into a messy ponytail.

"Hey, I was wondering if you had plans for dinner?" I asked, cutting straight to the point, as I had to leave soon to open the store.

"I do not," she replied, leaning inward and staring at me with her sultry brown eyes.

"Would you like to?"

See, I told you. I was good at this.

"I'd love to," she said with the hint of a smile.

"I'll pick you up at eight?" I asked, and Bea just nodded in response.

"And Nate? If you're going to knock on my door before 9AM, you better have a coffee in your hand next time," she warned with a flirty smile.

My friends were going to die when I told them that I had a date with Hot Neighbour. And while I was pretty proud of myself, Lesley did not share in that feeling.

"You did what?" I had to dodge as Lesley whipped a magazine directly at my head.

"You heard what I said," I replied, and Lesley looked at me in horror.

"So, you wasted my time planning this incredibly romantic date with Riley, just to immediately mess it all up by running around with some girl?"

"This is not just 'some girl', okay? This is Hot Neighbour. I've had a crush on her for forever," I explained, but Lesley just rolled her eyes.

"Whatever, Nate. Run away from your feelings, like usual," she snorted, grabbing her purse off the floor.

"Where are you going? And what is that supposed to mean?"

"You'll figure it out," Lesley called out from the front of the store, grabbing her rain jacket off the coat rack and leaving, slamming the door behind her.