Love in 24 Frames (2019 Advent Calendar | Homemade for the Holidays Book 15) by C.S. Poe

Author:C.S. Poe [Poe, C.S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 9781644057872
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2019-11-30T18:30:00+00:00

THE CHARLESTON report had eaten into my stop-motion time. Just shy of three hours didn’t produce much content. And after trying to squeeze in a final twenty-four frames for the night, I was late locking up the studio.

As I entered the lobby, Shota clicked off the wall-mounted television and buttoned his coat. He glanced toward the elevator and said, “There’s my last straggler.”

“I’m so sorry.”

He waved off the comment, picked up his clipboard from the desk, and marked the final client as having left for the night. Shota tapped a security code into the panel on the wall, and then we both exited. He locked the door, pulled the woven security gate down, and tucked his hands into his pockets. “The pho was delicious.”

“Good.”

Shota leaned forward and nudged my shoulder with his. “What?”

I considered explaining Noah’s hard-swallowed rejection. But the kid would probably be over it by tomorrow. His ego had been ever so gently bruised. And he clearly wasn’t interested in hooking up with Shota beyond anything physical. Noah wasn’t heartbroken.

He wasn’t in love.

“Nothing,” I answered. “You’re going home now?”

“Yup. I share a house out in Bensonhurst with two roommates.”

“That’s a bit of a trek.”

“I know.” He checked his watch. “I’ll be in bed by one-ish.”

“What time do you go into work?” I asked, frowning a little.

“I used to go in at lunch. But one employee had a baby, and two have the flu. We’ve all been covering their shifts so they don’t lose their jobs. I’ve been leaving around six.”

“That’s… a really long day.”

Shota looked a little tired, now that I really had the opportunity to study his face. But he smiled and shrugged. “You do what needs to be done. I know I don’t live a very glamorous life, but it suits me. And pays the bills.”

“But you spend so much time commuting.”

“It’s not so bad,” Shota insisted. “Anyway. I’d better go. Longer wait time for trains this hour of night.”

“Right. Of course.” I stepped to the side. “Have a good night.”

“You too.” Shota rubbed my arm briefly before moving past me.

“Sh-Shota?” I called after him.

He stopped and turned on a heel.

“You’re welcome to spend the night with me—at me. I mean, at my apartment!” I shook my head and took a breath. “I don’t live far from here. And I have a couch. If you—you know—”

Shota started back toward me.

“—you’re too tired to go back to Brooklyn,” I finished, my voice dropping to a whisper as he stopped in front of me.

“Why would you make that offer?”

I’ve been in love with you for half a year.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

Shota smiled.

He didn’t take me up on my offer.

But he touched under my chin, pushed my jaw up, and leaned in to kiss me.

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