Page 12 of Demure
Paul laughed. “Is there any culture where not liking pizza is acceptable?”
She thought for a moment. “Probably not, now that I think of it.”
The conversation lulled for a moment, but Paul was quick to pick it back up before awkwardness could overtake the air between them. “So, I know you’re a student. What are you studying?”
Sierra leaned her chin on her hand. “Age and fragility. You finished your studies a couple of years ago, right?”
He nodded, clearly impressed that she had read his profile. “Yes, I’m 28 now. Finished my bachelor's a couple of years ago. I’m working full-time right now as a graphic designer. But enough about me; tell me about your studies.”
Sierra opened her mouth to answer him when a firm hand landed on the table between them with a thump. Both she and Paul looked up in shock, only for Sierra to, unfortunately, recognize the man in the black beanie putting his large hand on their cozy table.
“Aodhan,” she said solemnly. What was he doing here? Had she somehow summoned him when she had thought his name just a few moments before?
“Can I talk to you outside?” He motioned to the door of the pizza place.
Sierra looked at Paul, who she could see was quickly beginning to rethink her date with her. Great, he likely thought Aodhan was an ex, or some other type of baggage he didn’t want to deal with, and she was just starting to like him. Either way, Aodhan had ruined their cadence, and likely the date. She sighed. “Yes, one moment.” Aodhan stalked toward the door as she looked at Paul, hoping he would understand. “He’s my coworker. Let me find out what he wants.”
Paul nodded, but his eyes were no longer lit up like they had been before Aodhan slammed his hand on their table.
Sierra slipped on her jacket and walked toward the door. Aodhan held it open for her as they stepped out into the night. Sierra turned and watched the door close before she spun toward Aodhan and let him have every ounce of fury that had been building under her skin this past week.
“What the fuck do you think you are doing?!”
Aodhan seethed. “What am I doing? What are you doing out with a man like that?” He motioned to the door. His face held emotion for once, lips poised in a snarl of sorts while his eyebrows scrunched in anger. Sierra had to admit, he actually looked kind of attractive.
Brushing off that thought, Sierra was quick to continue her rampage. “What am I doing? We—” she motioned between them with her finger, “Are nothing, absolutely nothing. I am my own person, and I can date whoever I want!” He opened his mouth to answer, but before he could say anything, she cut in again. “You know what? I don’t owe you anything. Not even this argument. We spoke like six sentences to each other and had one failed date. You have no right to be?—”
Before she could say anything else, Aodhan was pushing her up against the wall with his muscular frame, his full lips pressing onto hers.
For a second, Sierra was so shocked that all she could do wasstand there, his mouth moving forcefully against hers. But it was just a second, and then she was back to her fury, gathering her strength and pushing him off her.
He took a step back, breathing heavily, and she regained her footing now that he was no longer pressed against her. She looked down and quickly adjusted her jacket before looking up to bring her eyes to his. She knew the shock was evident in her eyes, but it became even more pronounced when she noticed his eyes were still trained on her lips, and whatever anger had been occupying his face was now replaced with another emotion that Sierra couldn’t quite read.
She thought of what to say, expletives coming to the forefront of her mind, but as the silence between them grew, she began to feel awkward, making it even more difficult to know how to navigate this situation. Why the fuck was Aodhan kissing her? And why did she sort of…like it?
Then she did the only thing she could think to do, and that was spin on her heel and reenter the restaurant, sliding down into her seat in front of Paul, trying to keep her breathing calm so she wouldn’t alarm him.
Aodhan, thankfully, didn’t follow.
Chapter Nine
Later that night, Sierra lay in her bed in the dark, staring up at the ceiling, the day’s events spinning around in her head.
As much as she hated to admit it, whatever she had seen in Paul had been gone when she had returned from outside speaking to Aodhan. Whether it was on his end or hers, she didn’t feel as excited by the rest of the date as she had in those first few minutes. They had enjoyed their pizza, and the conversation had flowed, but it had been nothing special.
It was the first Tinder date she didn’t regret, however, as she did have a good time. But at the end of the night, as they had bid each other farewell, Paul hadn’t tried to kiss her, nor had he said anything about another date, he had just said he had enjoyed it before walking off into the night without looking back.
What transpired outside the restaurant during said date rose to the forefront of her mind, and she brought her hand to her lips as she remembered Aodhan’s forceful kiss. Although it hadn’t been welcome or expected, it hadn’t been bad. Actually, it had been one of the better kisses she had shared in the last few years.
Sierra rolled over, trying to find a comfortable position so shecould get some sleep. But her thoughts were running wild, wondering why Aodhan had kissed her like that.
Sure, she had dated in the United States, but her studies had always come first, leading her to more frequently date fellow students who were inexperienced in the more physical aspects of a relationship. She had honestly had more bad kisses than good ones.
Did Aodhan like her? She didn’t think so. At least the way he acted didn’t make her think he did…but then again, he was strange. Maybe this was his way of showing affection, like some kind of prepubescent boy?
Sierra groaned and sat up in bed. She wasn’t going to get any sleep with her thoughts swirling like this. Wanting a little mindless relief, she made her way to the couch and flipped on the TV, looking through her Netflix account for something to watch. She had class tomorrow, so she didn’t want to binge all night, but she definitely couldn’t sleep with the way her thoughts were whirling around in her brain.
The conversation with Tyler came to her mind, and she skipped over a few movies that she knew were books. Although she didn’t owe Tyler anything, she wondered if he had a point about books being better than the movie. Maybe she would have to read one eventually and see for herself.
