Chalk Butterfly: Part One (First Time Erotic Romance) Read Online Free Page B

reflection,
but his smile widened.
     
    Just then the door cracked open and a
janitor entered with his mop and cart. Alexander took one last look
in the mirror, wiping away the sheen of moisture that shimmered
across his forehead, and squeezed out past the janitor.
     
    He ducked behind a small pillar outside the
restrooms and fished out his cellphone from his deep jacket pocket.
He dialed Elijah’s extension and leaned against the wall,
waiting.
     
    “Soho Public Library, branch of the New York
Public Library, this is Elijah Grey,” came Elijah’s practiced
response. “How may I help you?”
     
    “It’s me,” Alexander said. “You’ve got that
down.”
     
    “Oh, it’s you again.” Elijah snorted, and
Alexander could picture his friend perfectly; his feet propped up
on his desk, a half eaten donut on his chest, bright blue eyes set
to rolling. “In that case, what in the hell do you want?” Elijah
asked, fondness lurking beneath the harsh tone. Alexander laughed
and Elijah huffed. “Seriously, what’s up?”
     
    “I’m going to be a tad late, missed my stop.
I’m in Astor Place,” Alexander explained.
     
    “How’d you accomplish that?” He took a loud
slurp of what was undoubtedly his third cup of coffee that
morning.
     
    “I was distracted,” Alexander said. His face
reddened as he spoke.
     
    “You take that route every morning,
Alex.”
     
    “Never on Wednesdays,” Alexander pointed
out.
     
    “That has nothing to do with it, c’mon. Are
you okay?” Elijah began to sound worried, and Alexander groaned,
deciding to let him in on the events of his morning.
     
    “You worry too much, I’m fine. I was…
talking with someone, and lost track of time.” He attempted to
sound casual, disinterested even, but Elijah let out a low
whistle.
     
    “Alexander Price, distracted? Must have been
quite the girl.”
     
    “No, Eli, just some… some interesting
conversation.”
     
    “You’re telling me all about this when you
get in,” Elijah said, taking another noisy swig of his coffee.
     
    “No, definitely not. It was only
conversation. Every normal person does it, and Jesus, we are not
blowing this out of proportion.”
     
    “Alexander, I blow everything out of
proportion, you should know that by now. And I hate to remind you,
but you’re far from normal. You’re still the same shy-as-sin
Alexander I met back in Massachusetts. This is an event to
celebrate. Maybe she’ll cart you around and take you grocery
shopping, and I’ll get a week off?” Elijah teased and Alexander
sighed loudly.
     
    “I have to go, Eli,” Alexander said. “Need
to make sure I don’t miss the next train.”
     
    “Fine. But later, you spill.”
     
    “Fine, fine! Now go do some actual work, you
wanker.”
     
    “Yeah, yeah. See you later then,” Elijah
said through a mouthful of what Alexander knew to be a strawberry
jelly donut, Elijah’s trademark breakfast food.
     
    “Yep,” Alexander murmured, shifting the
phone against his shoulder and ear. “Oh, and Eli?”
     
    “Hm?
     
    Alexander grinned widely. “It wasn’t some
girl.”
     
    “Wait… what?”
     
    “See ya.”
     
    “Alexan-”
     
    Alexander ended the call with a satisfying
smirk, and he could barely contain the giggle that threatened to
escape. He allowed himself a large, self indulgent grin, because
really, today was progress.
     
    He sunk his hands into his pockets and
became part of the crowd again, something that felt odd but not
entirely bad.
     
     
    Chapter
Two
    back to top
     
    “There you are,” Daniel greeted, motioning
for Alexander to sit across from him. Alexander nodded and shuffled
awkwardly, squeezing between two tables. Daniel had grabbed one of
the few tiny tables outside the crowded Starbucks, and Alexander
settled himself in as best he could. There wasn’t much room to get
comfortable, as the tables were packed tightly together, chair
backs grazing other chair backs.
     
    Alexander pulled his chair in