Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 3

"I should get going. Thanks for the company."
    "Jesse?" Omar smiled his sunshine smile and Jesse felt the knife twist in his gut. Another thing he wanted but couldn't have. "Thank you for a lovely evening."
    "No problem. See you around." The light went out of his world as he spun on his heels and started to walk away.
    "Wait."
    Jesse stopped but couldn't turn back. His chest tightened as he felt the warmth of Omar's arm creep around his waist, the weight of Omar's chin on his shoulder. His body thrummed from the touch and made breathing difficult.
    "Perhaps we can try that kiss before you go?"
    A smooth turn and Omar's lips grazed Jesse's.
    And the world stopped…
    A single moment in time that stretched on and on…
    Lips so soft slightly parted. Hot breath, fresh like mint and spring sunshine. A single kiss. Full of life and possibility.
    And then it was over.
    Jesse trembled in those strong arms. Just as he'd imagined, like a safety shield from the rest of the world, and he wanted to stay right there… forever.
    Omar brushed Jesse's hair away from his face and smiled. "That's better. You seem happier now."
    Jesse nodded. Wow, what a kiss. He knew he was staring, couldn't find any words. Still felt the thrum of energy from Omar's hands on the small of his back and he wanted… wanted so much more.
    "Did I do it wrong?" Omar's brow crinkled again and a pang of guilt stuck Jesse's heart.
    "It was perfect." Barely more than a whisper escaped. His heart was still pounding out a heavy beat. "You're perfect." Impossibly perfect . "What part of heaven did you say you were from again?"
    Cool night air seeped into the space where Omar had been, leaving Jesse cold. He stepped forward to close the gap, feel the warmth, but Omar backed further away.
    "I never said that. When did I say anything like that?"
    "Hey, it's a joke. Perfect man, you must be an angel, right?"
    "I'm not. I told you." Omar looked over his shoulder. "I have to go."
    "Omar, wait."
    "Bye, Jesse." And Omar disappeared into what was left of the crowd.
    "Damn it. Way to spook the guy, jackass." Jesse touched his fingers to his lips and smiled. It'd been a while since he'd had a kiss like that. A kiss that held real promise. Now it was gone and he didn't even have Omar's number.
    Taking in the cool night air, Jesse ambled back to his apartment still buzzed from the close contact, still sensing an echo of his mystery guy. There was something so tantalising about him, so off and yet so addictive. Rounding the corner of the hall, Jesse could have sworn he caught a glimpse of Omar leaning against the wall by the front door. "Way to lose the plot and hallucinate," he mumbled.
    "Hallucinate?"
    "Damn it, Paige. I nearly had a heart attack. What are you doing here?"
    "I'm here to find out how your date went. As a good sister should."
    "I messed it up." Jesse unlocked the front door and stepped aside for Paige to go through first.
    "Did you declare undying love for the guy already?" She flicked the back of his head as she passed. "You look like you've been swimming. Why are you so…damp?"
    "Way to make me feel better, sis. I thought you were here for moral support?" He threw his keys on the table and slumped into his favourite armchair.
    "Guess I should put the kettle on."
    She rambled aimlessly about how he shouldn't feel so bad, what a great catch he'd make for the right guy, all the things a supportive sister should say, but Jesse still felt like shit. Not just because of Omar and losing the perfect kiss, but because poor Paige had been there for every one of his break-ups to hold his hand and make the tea. Not once, in all the years they'd been on the dating circuit, had he managed to return the favour. And he was the oldest, even if only by ten minutes, he should be the one looking after her, not the other way around.
    "It'll be okay, Jesse," she said, patting his hand. "If he's the right guy, he'll show up again."
    "Oh yeah, where exactly?"
    She handed him a cup of coffee and her trademark smirk. "Well, he knows where you shop."
    ****
    Three weeks of hanging around the supermarket and Jesse hadn't even caught a glimpse of Omar. He placed his empty coffee cup gently on the table, resisting the growing urge to throw it and sighed. Three weeks of bad coffee and supermarket café lunches. Three weeks of waiting, of not following any potential dating leads in the hope the impossible would happen. Omar the bloody Impossible, indeed. What a joke that had turned out to