Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

Penn

I walked into the shop and it felt like the sun was shining everywhere, despite it being dark and gloomy out. But even as happy as I felt, there was still the nagging bit of my psyche that was still coming to terms with just how far Mitchell and I had gone on our date.

Usually, I preferred to keep things PG until the third or fourth date, partially out of respect, but also because, prior to Mitchell, it took a while for me to build up the desire to want to be intimate with my partners .

Which probably should have been my first clue.

And there I was, on my first date with a dude, with my dick down his throat by the end of the night.

Did that make me a slut?

Archie came in at that exact moment as my existential crisis hit.

“I’m doing a half day today, leaving around ten.”

“What?” I said, blinking, trying to dispel my thoughts.

“I told you yesterday, it’s my cousin’s birthday.”

“Right,” I said, trying to remember.

Archie came over to me, approaching me like a wary animal.

“Yikes? Was it that bad?” he asked, his eyebrows furrowing with concern, his words pulling me from my thoughts.

“What?”

“You’re grimacing. Either it’s a cake disaster or your date tanked.”

“My date... Yeah, uh, about that...”

Archie grabbed an apron, tying it around his waist as I ran my hands over my face.

“What happened?”

“Things, uh, might’ve gotten a little hot and heavy last night.” I chewed my lips, avoiding his gaze.

Archie yelped with excitement. “Yes! That’s awesome! It is awesome, right? Or did it suck?”

His choice of words made my cheeks flush with heat, and before I could say anything, he slapped me on the back.

“They grow up so fast,” he said approvingly.

“No, it didn’t suck. It was probably the best blowjob I’ve ever had, to be honest.”

Archie smirked. “Of course it was. So what’s the problem then? Why the long face?”

I let out a deep breath as I grabbed the rag and cleaner to polish up the counter.

“I mean, I’ve never done anything like that on a first date before,” I admitted.

Archie picked up what I was throwing down.

“Ahh, I see. So you think he’s going to think you’re easy, is that it?”

I bit my lip, my jaw tensing. “I mean, I don’t want him to think that’s all I’m about, or what I’m after, you know?”

Archie sighed. “Did you feel pressured?”

“No,” I said, turning around, shaking my head. “Not at all.”

“Who made the move?” Archie asked. My cheeks heated once more.

“What do you mean?”

“Did he offer? Or did you ask?”

My cock twitched at the memory of the words leaving my mouth, of the memory of his warm tongue wrapped around my aching cock.

“I asked,” I whispered, even though at this hour there was no one here but us.

Mitchell was meeting me after work for the event, and my parents were only doing the orders today, so they’d be in and out by noon. Which meant, for the majority of the day, I’d be here by myself, prepping cupcakes for tonight’s event.

“And you asked because you wanted it , right? Not because you thought you had to?” Archie pressed.

“Well, yeah, I mean, it just felt right at the time, I guess.”

Archie smiled softly. “If it feels right, it’s right, Penn. No matter who it is, or when it happens.”

Something about his words settled something inside of me, and I sighed.

“I guess that makes sense.”

Archie nodded. “Don’t over think everything. You’ll drive yourself crazy. Just do what feels right. Listen to your heart and shit.”

I shook my head, a light laugh escaping me. “Is that what you do? Listen to your heart?” I teased.

Archie smirked. “I listen to my dick, but one day when my heart speaks up, I’ll know.”

“How do you know I’m not listening to my dick?” I taunted him.

“Oh, I know you’re listening to your dick,” he drawled, both of us laughing. “But I also know that you’re not the type to casually get intimate either. Your heart pumps blood to your brain and your dick. They all work together you know.”

“I know, I was the one who actually passed Biology, remember?” I said as I went about my cleaning.

“All I’m saying is you don’t do anything half-assed. Give yourself a little more credit, Penn. Trust yourself.”

I nodded in understanding. Archie was right. I did need to give myself more credit. I knew my worth, and I had a feeling Mitchell knew it too.