The Checklist (Explicit Version)

Chapter 3

   "What's with all the questions?" He grinded his teeth before narrowing his eyes to the storage cabinets. "Need a fucking question jar for you."

   "Question jar?" I almost smiled when he turned his glare to me.

   "Put a damn dollar inside the jar every time you open that mouth of yours and ask a question."

   "It's not my fault you get riled up easily," I joked before shrugging a shoulder. "I'm in journalism. I guess I'm ingrained to ask questions about things I don't know. And you are an enigma."

   "That's a big word to a guy who barely finished high school, princess."

   Barely finished high school? A question threatened to spill from my lips, but I swallowed it back. I tucked that information for later.

  "Mystery. Puzzle. Hard to understand," I explained, sipping some more water. "You don't like talking to me, but you helped me yesterday. You helped with Remi."

   He made a low noise. "I never said I don't like talking to you." His gruff sentiment made me jerk my head back in surprise. "And I told you why I helped."

   "Ah, yes. Your New Year's resolution." I smiled and cocked my head before drawling sarcastically, "You can give Disney a run for their money if you keep acting so nice."

   His face wrinkled in disgust, and I almost choked on a laugh. Apparently, me implying that he was nice did not sit well with the guy. At all.

   "Again referencing Disney. They must be shitting fucking gold because I don't get why you like them so much."

   "I don't like Disney per-say." Myles gave me a bored expression, clearly assuming otherwise. "I like their movies. I like what they represent."

   "And what do they represent? Marrying someone they don't know?"

   "No—well, yeah. The earlier movies!" I rushed out when his mouth twitched in a short-lived, satisfied smirk. "Yes, the earlier movies are like that. But still. When I was a kid, it was all I watched." It helped me feel less lonely. "Now, the movies are more meaningful. Come on, didn't a movie ever let you escape from reality?"

   His expression flickered with something, but before I could examine it further, he turned his head away. My eyes widened before I grinned. "There is, isn't there?" He didn't respond, still adamant in ignoring me. "Come on, what is it?"

   "I won't stop talking until you tell me," I teased, rocking back on my heels. "Heck, I have a list of questions in my head already. I can ask them all day. In alphabetical or—"

   "Batman," he gritted, eyes narrowed into slits when he focused on me again. He looked angry—as if he was mad at himself for yielding to my command. "I watched Batman."

   My cheeks started to hurt by how hard I was smiling. He glared harder. "What now?"

   Shrugging innocently, I said, "You just feel a little more human now. Batman?" I tried to think if I ever watched the movies, but I came out blank. "I don't think I watched it. Is it a series?"

   He let out a deep noise of agreement before bringing his hazel eyes to mine. My cheeks rose with colour when he lingered his focus on me. I wasn't used to getting attention from someone who wasn't Remi. Heck, I've never gotten attention from someone like him. Maybe something is wrong with me, but I spent my entire life avoiding people who were like Myles. Someone who towered over me. Someone big and muscular. Tattooed. Intimidating. Someone who was clearly on the wrong side of the tracks.

   I didn't come from a wealthy family, but my parents brought in a good income. Living in Detroit most of my childhood, where crimes happened daily, they always encouraged me to stay safe and recognize the potential for danger before I ever stepped into a situation. Myles had the potential.

   But right now, with attention only on me, I didn't feel scared because in the two encounters I had with him, he helped me both times.

   There was a sudden, hard knock on the office door, and I lurched in my spot.

   Blinking back to reality, I glanced at the door and sighed in relief when I saw it still closed. Myles was already moving away from me, ripping the door off its hinges before impatiently barking, "What?"

   The person on the opposite side seemed used to his short temper. "Your two-p.m. slot's here."

   "And he's fucking early. He can wait."

   I kept my grimace at bay. I wasn't shy at swearing, but Myles seemed to do it after every other sentence. "I'll go. I have class in an hour anyways," I admitted, quickly finishing the cup of water before throwing it in the recycling next to the water dispenser. When I turned to Myles again, I smiled when I saw his eyes already on me.

   Stopping in front of him, I asked, "What time is it exactly?"

   He made a frustrated sound but he still shoved a hand into his jacket pocket and pulled out his phone. The moment the screen lit up and unlocked, I snatched it from his hand.

   "What the fuck?" I heard him growl, but he didn't try to take it out of my grip.

   Fearful he was going to take the phone too soon, I looked for his contacts list and was immediately stunned when there wasn't anyone saved. Questions were on the tip of my tongue, but I showed restraint. I added a new contact: me.

   "What are you doing?" He demanded, but it didn't sound as aggressive as I assumed it would.

   Saving my information, I turned off the phone and handed it back to him. "My name is Althea, by the way," I introduced with a chirp. Ignoring his question felt good.

   Surprisingly, he didn't make a move to delete me from his contacts. Although, he did glower before grumbling, "Myles."

   "Now we're fully introduced," I grinned before skipping to the exit, only to notice the doorway empty. I hadn't even realized the speaker left.

   With a short wave, I offered him a smile before stepping out of the office—but not before shouting, "Don't be a stranger!"

   I left the tattoo parlour feeling better than I did when I entered.

───⋅☾ ☽⋅───

happy Friday loves!
anotha day anotha chapter

I'm getting close to my exams
so that means I start to breathe
easier soon :') hopefully that also
means I can write some chapters

wishing you the best weekend x