The kids immediately calm down, nodding in agreement with him.
“Great,” Gabriel continues. “Do you have more questions for Jeremiah?”
“I think we’ll wrap up,” Mrs. Miller says. “Thank you, both. This was great.”
“You’re welcome,” Gabriel says, while I mumble the same.
The kids file out while I turn around to switch off the remaining equipment. When I look up, Gabriel is staring me down with narrowed eyes and arms crossed over his chest.
“That was a shit move.”
I swallow hard, slightly disappointed in myself for being so petty, but not ready to give in. “I was just giving Pluto his time in the spotlight.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You don’t think I picked up on that little analogy? Poor Pluto, not allowed to sit with the other planets, but someday, he’ll be a big planet again. Really?”
Gabriel glares. “That was not the meaning.”
“Really? Then what was that?”
“You know what, Jeremiah, you wouldn’t understand. Your life is…”
“Oh, please, don’t stop. Please share with me what my own life has been like based on your extensive knowledge of me so far.”
Gabriel rolls his eyes, shaking his head. “Whatever.”
“Right, because you don’t know me.”
“Does anyone?”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Just trying to figure out which version of you is real. Is it the guy who lights up telling little kids about planets and climate change? Or is it the guy who laughs and smiles with his friends? Or the guy who runs this place like a tight ship? Or is it the jerk who took pleasure in trying to throw me under the bus and embarrass me?”
“Maybe you only get to know one version.”
Gabriel steps forward so abruptly that I flinch, as if expecting him to punch me. Instead he leans in close, hovering slightly over me.
“If you want to be a jerk, two can play that game.”
I push him back slightly, but it’s like trying to move a wall of bricks. “It’s not a game, Gabriel. This is my life.”
“It’s my life too.”
As we glare at each other, Gabriel’s nose flaring as he breathes hard, my body betrays me by responding to his closeness, pulling me reluctantly nearer. What? Traitorous libido!
My dick twitches in my pants, slowly thickening as my body heats.
Holy moons of Jupiter.
But who could blame me? Gabriel is inches from my face, so close his breath warms my cheeks. The longer we engage in this standoff, the softer his expression turns. His eyes are darker than night, but somehow warm and inviting, even though he probably wants to break me in half at this point.
I want to tell him to back off, get away from me, leave the planetarium, but instead it’s like I’m caught in his gravity, unable to break free as he draws me closer. Gabriel’s arms drop to his side and he swallows hard. My lips part as my brain searches for words to end this torture, but instead I find myself swaying toward him, my eyes fluttering as my resolve weakens and I give in, allowing myself to be sucked into his orbit. Gabriel moves closer too, our lips now mere centimeters from touching. Oh, gods of Venus, we’re doing this? We’re going to kiss?
“J,” Gabriel whispers, his hand moving to my lower back.
I nod, agreeing to the unasked question and closing my eyes.
“Guys, hey, oh—”
We nearly jump back from each other when the auditorium door opens and Julien rushes in looking for us. His eyes shift between us.
“Um, sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“What’s up?” Gabriel asks, while I try to regain my composure.
The two of them are talking about something, but words no longer make sense to me. I think we were seconds from kissing. Me and Gabriel. My arch nemesis.
“We’ll be right out,” Gabriel says. “Just finishing up here.”
Julien leaves, closing the door behind him. My eyes meet Gabriel’s.
“Um, is something wrong?” I ask, snapping out of it.
“No. He was just explaining why he was late. Accident on the roundabout.”
“Oh. He’s okay?”
“Perfect. Are we?”
I exhale slowly. This is fine. I’m fine. Everything is fine.
I force a smile. “Yeah, of course. Um, I guess I should apologize. I have manners, and what I did wasn’t cool. I just sort of reacted in the moment. Poorly. I’m sorry, Gabriel.”
He nods, his brow furrowed. “Thanks. Should we talk about…” He waves his hand. “Whatever that was a few minutes ago?”
I shrug. “What?”
He nods, picking up on my avoidance. “Right. So we’re good?”
“Yep, all good.”
“Great.”
“Yeah.”
Neither of us move, still holding each other’s gaze, until Gabriel speaks. “I think I’ll go check on the gift shop. Penelope was gonna show me the point-of-sale system.”
“Oh, that’s good.” I nod. “I’ll probably go back to my office.”
“Okay. I’ll see you later, I guess.”
“Yep.”
We walk out together but quickly split in separate directions. It takes all of three seconds of walking down the hall before I’m accosted by Samuel and Julien. I roll my eyes before they can even speak.
“Nothing happened,” I say preemptively.
“But was something gonna happen?” Samuel asks. “Because word on the street is, he was about to kiss you.”
I shoot a stabby glare at Julien, who simply shrugs.
“No one was kissing. We had a mild argument, as we are wont to do on a daily fucking basis. We had...a moment.”
“What kind of moment?” Samuel asks, waggling his eyebrows.
“The kind that doesn’t end in kissing.”
“Would’ve if I hadn’t come in,” Julien notes. “Are you happy I interrupted, or do you want to kill me?”
“You didn’t interrupt anything.” I push through them, trying to get to the safety of my office.
“Looked like something,” Julien mumbles as I pass.
Once I’m safely at my desk, I slump in my chair, rubbing my forehead. It was something. Something powerful and dangerous and exciting. Something addictive and unrelenting. Something I really wish I could have. Unfortunately, all of that comes in the worst person possible.
I know I’ll get shit from Samuel when I get home tonight, and from Aiden once he’s clued in. I’ll let them tease me. That’s fine. Then I’ll ask them what the actual fuck I’m supposed to do about being wildly attracted to the person who could take away everything important to me. What’s even more surprising is that I think he’s into me too. Maybe he’s turned on by people he hates. Weird, but no kink shaming from me. How can I when I apparently share that desire. I’m more attracted to Gabriel than any viable option I’ve ever had. So in addition to being painfully gorgeous, kind of funny, sweet with kids, a sci-fi buff, and owner of the prettiest eyes ever, let’s add job stealer to the list of traits possessed by the one guy who actually makes my knees weak.
I shake my head. Falling for Gabriel would be the worst decision I could ever make. We can’t even be friends. Ugh. I don’t even know why I’m surprised by this chain of events. Life has never been kind to me. Why start now? Dream job taken away by dream guy? Sounds about par for the course with me. The best thing for me to do is get back to work, rebuild my mental wall, and drown out those eyes of his.