by E. L. Todd
“Threats?” I asked.
“When you have something everyone else wants, they’ll try to take it from you.”
Her sentences were too cryptic. I wasn’t sure what her real meaning was.
“And I’m not close with my family. I don’t want anything to do with the business. My passion and interests lie in putting scumbags behind bars.”
“You aren’t?” I asked. “It sounds like you’re close with your father.”
“I used to be,” she said quietly. “We don’t talk much anymore.”
There was a lot more to her than I initially gave her credit for. “Why is that?”
She didn’t answer. “I’m starving. What about you?”
I let the subject change. “I’m always hungry.”
“Your body needs a lot of fuel.”
Did she just compliment me? “Are you calling me fat?”
Her somber mood was broken by the question. “No, not at all.”
“Because that sounded like a fat joke.”
“I just mean you’re a big guy. You look like you need a lot of calories.”
“Again…fat joke.”
She laughed then tucked her hair behind her ear. “You look like you work out a lot.”
“Okay, that’s better.” I gave her a playful look from across the table. “Are you a runner?”
“What makes you ask?”
“You have a runner’s body.”
“I am, actually.”
“Long-distance running?”
“I run six miles a day.” She said it like it wasn’t a big deal.
“Training for the Olympics?”
Her cheeks reddened and another laugh escaped her lips. “No, not in the least.”
“You fooled me.”
“I just like running. It helps me…think.”
“What do you think about, Beatrice?” I gave her my full attention, wanting her to know nothing else in the world mattered to me.
“Just…stuff.” She was extremely quiet about her personal life.
“You know what I think about when I work out?”
“What?” she asked with a smile.
“Food.”
She broke out in a fit of giggles.
I made her laugh again. How many times was that now? “I was doing weights one day when my stomach growled like a hungry bear. The guy next to me gave me a weird look and walked away.”
“That happens to me in class all the time.”
“What?” I asked. “People next to you give you weird looks and walk away?”
She smirked. “No, my stomach rumbles.”
“Don’t skip breakfast.”
“I’m not a breakfast person.”
She was skinny for a reason. “Then you should make something good. I make the best French toast in the world.”
“The best, huh?” Beatrice seemed interested.
“Oh yeah, they’ll be talking about it long after I’m dead and gone.”
“Who’s they?” she asked with a laugh.
“Society. Duh.”
Her face was permanently stretched into a smile. She hadn’t frowned once since our conversation started. “People always build things up, and when you finally give it a try, it’s never as good as everyone claims.”
“Not my French toast.” I shook my head. “I make orange slice French toast. It has a tang to it but not too much.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Orange? How do you add that?”
“Like I’m going to tell you,” I teased. “It’s my secret recipe.”
“Are you a closet chef?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m out and proud.”
Beatrice laughed loudly, her eyes watering. “Now I have to try this stuff.”
Should I invite her over? Should I ask her out? Or was that too soon? What if I ruined the fun we had? I had to play this cool. She’d warmed up to me a lot, but I didn’t want to sabotage all the progress we’d made. “You should come over and try it sometime.” I didn’t look at her as I said it, trying to sound indifferent.
She didn’t respond to the invitation.
Before it got awkward, I kept the conversation going. “I add whipped cream and strawberries on top.” I kissed my fingers then held them out. “Delicious.”
She chuckled. “I never expected you to be a chef.”
“And what did you expect?” I was curious to know.
“A party boy who only cares about girls and hitting the gym.”
Damn, she can read me well. “There’s a lot more to me than that.”
“It seems so.”
The waiter brought our food then walked away.
“That salad looks pathetic,” I said as I cut into my food.
“Don’t pick on my food,” she said playfully.
“If my mom ordered that, my dad would tease her until the sun went down.”
“You talk about your family a lot,” she said. “Are you close to them?”
“No. Like I said, they’re annoying.”
She picked at her greens. “You say that, but you still talk about them a lot.”
I shrugged. “My sister got in a bad car accident last year. I guess it changed my perspective…”
Her face turned serious. “Is she okay?”
“She’s fine now. But at the time, we weren’t sure if she would survive.”
“Wow…that must have been bad.” She kept picking at her food with eyes downcast.
“She was driving during a storm and a semi lost control and hit her. She broke a few bones and one leg. But she recovered, and now she’s running around like nothing happened. The scars are her only reminder.”
“I’m glad she’s okay.” She sounded sincere.
“I’ve always been a little mean to her, and it made me realize I should be a better brother.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“Well, I never spent time with her unless I had to. And when I did see her, I would pick on her. I don’t know…I was never a good brother. I was never protective when it came to her boyfriends and stuff like that.”
“Are you now?”
I thought about Slade and the fact that he’d used her for months. “Yeah.”
“That accident was horrible, but maybe some good came out of it…” She gave me a hopeful look. “You guys can be closer than you ever were before.”
“Yeah…that’s true. But she’s in New York so we don’t see each other often.”
“What’s she doing there?”
I shrugged. “Something with fashion. She graduated from here last year.”
“Good for her,” she said. “That’s cute you went to the same college.”
I rolled my eyes. “I wouldn’t say it’s cute but whatever.”
She chuckled then finished her salad.
Deana leaned toward her and nudged her in the side. “It sounds like someone is having a good time for once in her life.”
Beatrice smiled and rolled her eyes at the same time. “Shut up and get back to your date.”
“Just admit it.”
Beatrice nudged her back. “I’m having a good time. Now leave me alone.”
Deana clapped. “It’s a miracle.”
Beatrice ignored her and sipped her wine.
When I glanced at Theo, he glared at me. I knew exactly what he was saying without actually speaking.
I turned back to Beatrice as the check came.
I snatched it then put my card inside. “You can take this.”
Beatrice’s eyes widened. “I can pay for my own food.” The playfulness was gone from her voice.
“I don’t mind. It’s easier this way.”
She grabbed the waiter by the arm. “Hold on.” She dug in her purse.
“No,” I told the waiter. “Just take it.”
Deana caught my attention and shook her head with a serious expression. “Just let her pay,” she mouthed. “Trust me.”
The last thing I wanted to do was piss off Be
atrice after such a great night. Even though it went against my beliefs, I let it go.
Beatrice handed the waiter the card. “Thank you.”
He walked away.
I sighed and tried to hide my annoyance.
Beatrice looked out the window again and ignored me.
Deana grabbed Theo’s hand across the table. “How about we head to my place for dessert?”
Theo sighed, clearly not wanting to talk to her for a second longer. But he was a horny bastard just like I was. “Sure…”
“Excellent.” She trailed her long nails down his hand.
Beatrice turned her gaze back to me but didn’t say anything.
I wanted to invite her on another date but I knew the invitation was pointless. “Homework tonight?”
She seemed relieved I didn’t ask her out. “I always have homework.”
“Story of my life,” I said with a light laugh.
The waiter returned with the cards, and we signed the receipts before stuffing our cards back into our wallets. When we left the table and walked out, Deana had her arm through Theo’s and was steering him to her car. Since she was on a mission, she didn’t say goodnight to either one of us.
Beatrice watched her friend then rolled her eyes. “Sounds about right…”
“Your friend gets around?”
“I think you know the answer to that, Conrad.”
I walked with her to her beat-up car that looked like it belonged in a junkyard. I didn’t understand how a rich girl ended up with a car like that, but I didn’t ask. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a woman exploring her sexuality.”
“I don’t either. But I know she’s looking for something serious. If she keeps giving all her goodies away, no one is going to stick around for what’s left.”
Beatrice was right about that, even though I didn’t admit it.
She fished her keys out of her purse then headed to her door.
“I had a good time tonight.” I leaned against the car with my hands in my pockets.
“Me too.” She pulled her hair over one shoulder, revealing her slender neck and kissable skin.
Our relationship had changed. She was more comfortable with me now, but her walls were still up. She wouldn’t let me in even if I tried. I had no idea why she was so distrusting but there was obviously a reason. “I hope you aren’t hungry in a few hours.”
“I don’t eat much,” she said dismissively.
“I picked up on that.” I flashed her a teasing smile before I moved away from her car. “I guess I’ll see you around.”
Surprise came into her eyes. She clearly expected me to ask her out or at least get her number. The fact that I didn’t caught her attention. “Yeah…”
“Good night, Beatrice.” I walked to my truck then left the parking lot without looking back.
I knew Beatrice got off work in an hour, so I headed to the library. I took my seat at the same table as before and spread my books out. I didn’t look her way once, trying to seem indifferent. Now that we were friends…or at least I thought we were…she would come to me if she spotted me.
The more I spent time with her, the less I believed I’d get her in my bed. She seemed too reserved and conservative to give me what I wanted. I was probably wasting my time with her, but I couldn’t stop myself. There were times when she gave me a special look, like she couldn’t stop staring at me. Her eyes brightened when I made her laugh. She seemed fond of me, letting me in more than she let most people. But I wasn’t sure what that meant.
I put my earbuds in then worked on my business ethics paper. It wasn’t due until next week, but I thought I may as well do it since I was stuck in the library. My eyes checked the clock as the hour passed, waiting until she was off work.
When the time came, I glanced at the desk. She was grabbing her bag and saying goodbye to a coworker. I quickly turned back to my computer and tried to act like she didn’t exist.
She stopped at my table. “Hey.” A smile was on her face.
I yanked my earbuds out. “Hey, sunshine.”
“Sunshine?” she asked.
I shrugged. “You remind me of the sun.”
She looked down at her clothes. “I’m not wearing yellow.”
“But you give love to your plants so they can grow. So you kind of are the sun, giving light and warmth to those who need it.”
Her eyes softened for the first time. “Well, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It was meant as one.”
She eyed my computer. “What are you doing?”
“Just watching porn.”
She had the grace to laugh. “You can’t do that at home?”
“I guess I just like to mix it up.” I closed the computer. “I was working on an essay.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean to bother you.”
“You didn’t,” I said a little too quickly. “It’s not due for a few weeks. I was just getting a jump on it.”
“Studious,” she noted.
If only she knew. “Yeah, I guess.”
“Can I join you?”
Yes, please. “Sure.”
She sat down across from me then put her bag on the table. “I have to read a few chapters. I’ve been falling behind.”
“What’s been tying up all your time?” I asked.
“Work and stuff.”
I rested my hand on my computer, feeling the warmth. “Can I ask you something?”
“You can ask me anything, Conrad. But like I said, I may not answer.”
“Why do you work?” It was something I couldn’t figure out. A girl like her had all the money in the world. She was practically volunteering.
“Because I need food and a place to live.” She said it with a sarcastic laugh. “Why does anyone work?”
“Doesn’t your family give you money?” I asked.
“No.” She shook her head dramatically. “I’m on my own.”
She is? “You support yourself entirely?”
“Yep.” She didn’t sound bitter about it. She opened her textbook and a notebook. “And my tuition too.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean?” she asked. “I’m an adult. I need to make my own way in life. And I don’t want a cent from my father. I’d rather be homeless than take anything from him.”
It was apparent she had a beef with him. There must have been a falling-out of some sort. “That explains your crappy car.”
“Excuse me?” she said in an offended voice. “That’s my baby you’re talking about.” She had a teasing tone to her words.
“That baby is about to fall apart,” I said with a laugh.
“Hey, it gets me where I need to go and in one piece.”
“Does the AC work?”
“No. But I can roll down the window.”
I’d die without an AC. “That thing has to be ten years old.”
“Fifteen. But she’s a good car. She’s been loyal to me.”
I really didn’t like her car. There was a crack in the front window, and the doors looked like they might fall off. If she got into an accident, she’d be crushed to death. When the engine started, it cranked a few times before it got going. It was a total piece of shit. “I think you could find a more reliable used car if you shopped around.”
“No, I’m broke.” She flipped the page of her textbook and read through the lines.
I opened my laptop again but kept sneaking glances at her. “If your car breaks down on you, give me a call. I don’t mind giving you a ride.”
“Thanks. But I usually take the bus when that happens.”
The idea of her taking a bus rubbed me the wrong way. I wasn’t sure why.
“What are your plans for the weekend?” she asked.
It was nice that she was talking to me like a friend. Before, she was skittish around me. Every time I was around her, I thought about the curve of her waist and how her blouse fit tight against her chest. I wanted to kiss her hard on the mouth an
d feel her warm breath fill mine.
“Conrad?”
“Huh?” What did she say?
“I asked what your plans were for the weekend.”
Oh. My daydream got a little too intense. “Nothing really. I’ll probably just watch football on Sunday.”
She nodded. “No dates for the weekend?” She stared at her textbook like she didn’t care what my answer was.
If she didn’t care, why would she ask? “No, I’m not seeing anyone.”
“But you went on a blind date the other night—with me.”
“My friend dragged me.” It was a lie, but I hoped she would buy it.
“Theo?” she asked.
I nodded. “He dragged me to the speed dating thing too.”
Her eyes widened for a moment before they narrowed again. She seemed to like that response. “I know how that is…”
“I like to keep to myself and do my own thing. I guess I’m not as adventurous as my friends want me to be.”
She twirled her pen in her hand then scribbled a few notes on her paper. She wrote with her left hand, gripping her pen like an artist held their paintbrush. Her bracelet reflected the light every time she moved.
She didn’t have a comment to that? “Do you have a date this weekend?”
“No,” she blurted. “I’m too busy for stuff like that.”
Stuff like that? Didn’t she have needs? Was she a robot? “Work and school aren’t everything, you know.”
She made a few more notes without looking at me.
“You should get out more.”
“I’m not the one who studies in a library all day…”
To see you. “I have a good balance.”
When she concentrated on her schoolwork, I focused on mine. The silence stretched between us then became comfortable. I typed my essay while she read her textbook. When she was reading, she pressed the end of the pen against her bottom lip. Sometimes she nibbled on it. For some reason, I thought it was cute. She reminded me of a small rabbit.
Hours passed until the lights started to dim.
“They’re closing,” she announced.
“Good,” I said. “I’m starving.”
“What’s new?” she teased. “And yes, that was a fat joke.” She packed her things then shouldered her bag.
I smiled then walked beside her. “You know what?”