He gaped at me, his chest heaving in air. I smiled. I leaned over, letting my hips rub against his thighs, and raked my finger through the icing on one of the cupcakes. I leaned back, placing the finger in my mouth, licking the icing onto my tongue. His eyes widened as I moved forward with my tongue still displaying the icing. He knew exactly what I was going to do because leaned in and graciously licked it off.
Oh, Oliver. Perfect naughty little Oliver. Did he realize who he was encouraging? He let out a whine as our tongues met and my hands gripped his thighs.
Pull away, Elle. Pull away.
There would be no nerd humping in the library. Well, at least in this section, anyway. Miraculously, I was able to unlock myself from his nerdy goodness for a second time. I pulled his hot little pouty lip out between my teeth as I enjoyed his taste combined with the icing. “Mmm.” I grinned. “My new favorite flavor…strawberry Oliver.”
He stared at me, licking his lips.
I pried my hands off his legs and stepped back. “We’ll have to continue this anatomy lesson another day.” I grabbed my backpack. “I hope you enjoy your cupcakes.”
He sat there motionless as I smiled and walked off. My legs moved me in the opposite direction of where my body wanted to go, but I managed to defy it. I walked directly by Sloan, who still stood on top of the table, wide-eyed and open-mouthed. I gave a quick motion for her to follow me before gingerly passing her by.
I knew I would to have to go to the coffee shop and face my girls before going to work. Oh, how I wished I could just go home. I was about ready to say screw Sloan and my job and go home when I heard her high-pitched voice speeding up behind me. “Eloise Duncan! Slow your little nerd loving butt down.”
I stopped as I came to the corner to cross the street in front of the coffee shop. “Yes, Sloan? Do you need something?” I asked innocently.
Her eyes were still the size of saucers, but I tried desperately to keep a straight face. “That—” she pointed back at the library, “—what the hell was that?”
I looked at her, confused, but then I couldn’t hold in the smile. She busted out laughing.
“Get your butt in that coffee shop right now, young lady,” she said, grabbing my shoulders, pulling me across the street. “I need details.”
I allowed her to pull me inside, knowing there would be no escaping them today. Honestly, I wanted to relive it. I wanted to relive the last thirty minutes for the rest of my life. If only there was a thing as permanent life repeat. I would choose that moment. I’d choose every moment with Oliver Edwards.
Chapter Thirteen
INSPIRATION
I felt courageous. I would say almost to the point of daring and dangerous. I, Eloise Duncan, was a rebel. Did I sit around waiting for a boy to approach me? Hell, no. I stalked him, buttered him up with baked goods, knocked him in the nuts, and proceeded to seduce him in public, because that, my friends, was how that shit was done. At least, I slowly tried to convince myself that was true. If I was being honest, I should’ve probably been glad I wasn’t in jail.
I sat smugly in the corner booth while Sloan wildly relayed a very detailed version of the events to Ava, who sat wide-eyed in complete shock. “Oh my gosh, Ava,” Sloan continued in her usual frenzy, “she attacked him. Middle of the table, knocking chairs out of the way, straight out corrupted his nerdy soul.”
Ava looked over at me, stunned. I shrugged like I was bored. You know, no big deal. I was smooth, confident, and skilled like that. Ava rubbed a hand down her face as she tried to process Sloan’s story. “Did he like it? What did he do?”
I started to answer but Sloan interrupted me. “Are you kidding me? She could have baked him into a nerd pie and he would have died happily.”
Ava smiled over at me. “Way to go, Elle. I have to say I’m impressed.”
“Impressed?” Sloan scoffed. “I bow down to you, oh nerd goddess.”
I let out a chuckle and rolled my eyes. “Okay, so are you two over this now?”
“Over it?” Sloan laughed, her eyes still wide and dancing. “I am officially inspired!”
She jerked herself around, eyeing Cowboy Joe behind the counter. She let out a purring sound as she snapped her teeth in his direction. I started to panic. “No, no, Sloan. Not in the middle of the coffee shop,” I urged.
“Oh, you’re one to talk,” Ava said, giggling as she scooted up in her seat. “Sloan, I think this is an amazing idea. I totally support you.”
“You haven’t even heard what her idea is yet.” I shot Ava a desperate look. I, as a former sideline girl, knew how to draw the line. I backed away from Oliver before we crossed that line between two crazy college kids, to making out weirdos on the evening news. Sloan had no such self-control. Sloan conquered. She would rule Preston and this coffee shop with the iron fist of public nudity.
I pointed at Sloan. “Do you see that crazed look in her eye right now?”
Ava looked to Sloan, who had Preston locked into her sights. This wasn’t good. This was going to end badly I could already tell. “Yep.” Ava agreed, taking in my worried expression. “That is Sloan’s ‘I’m getting me some of that cowboy’ look. I think she should go for it.”
Preston chuckled at one of the customer’s jokes as he dried off a coffee mug, and Sloan licked her lips.
“No, Sloan, don’t.” I reached for her across the table, but Ava wrapped her arms around me, holding me in my seat.
“Go, Sloan, go,” Ava sang as an evil smile stretched across her face. “Show that cowboy how to really go down south.”
Sloan shoved herself out of the seat, eyes still locked on her target. I pulled out of Ava’s grasp, but Sloan was gone. “Damn it, Ava!”
“Give it up, Elle. She’s going for it. There is nothing we can do but watch.”
Sloan strutted toward the counter, her hoochie boots tapping against the tiled floor. She flung her hair over her shoulder. I could barely watch. No, actually, I couldn’t look away.
“Well, hello there, Miss Sloan.” Preston smiled innocently, sitting his mug on the counter.
“Hello…Joe.”
Ava started slapping my leg with excitement. “She called him Joe. This is going to be good.”
Preston gave her a strange look, but continued. “I didn’t even see you come in. What can I get you today?”
That was about the time Sloan shoved the unsuspecting customer off the stool in front of him. The guy looked like he was about to get pissed, but I think he realized the look on Sloan’s face and decided it was in his best interest to back off.
“You want to know what you can get me today?” Sloan’s voice sounded like a purr as she sat her knee up on the stool.
“Uhh, yes, Miss Sloan.”
Oh, that poor boy. He didn’t even see it coming. I squeezed Ava’s shoulder as she bounced with pure giddiness next to me. “Sloan…Sloan,” she chanted under her breath like it was the World Series of doing stupid crap.
Sloan was primed for attack with both knees on top of the stool, leaning over onto the counter. “You can get me one hot cowboy…to go.”
His eyes widened and she pounced. Literally, pounced like a freaking puma, across the counter. One second she was there, and the next thing you knew, there was a loud commotion and they were both on the floor.
People in the shop gasped and a few stood, but Sloan and her prey were completely hidden by the tall counter. You could hear noises and groans. Ava and I practically sat in each other’s lap trying to peer over for the tiniest of glimpses of what happened.
Soft murmurs erupted from around the shop, and I only prayed Sloan kept at least a portion of her senses in check. I didn’t feel like bailing that idiot out of jail for public indecency today. Suddenly, two heads popped back up over the counter. Sloan grinned and Preston…well…Preston’s expression looked very similar to one I had seen earlier today. Shocked ecstasy? Sloan grabbed his belt buckle and pulled him forward. “Follow me, Joe.”
He swallowed befo
re throwing the rag he still had in his hand over his head. He didn’t even bother looking back over his shoulder at their audience. He followed her toward the back room like a lost duck. As soon as they disappeared behind the closed door, the shop went completely silent. Well, completely silent except for the insane fit of laughter coming from Ava and me. Every eye in the place turned toward us, and we shut up. Ava nudged me. “Come on. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
I grabbed our stuff and ran for the door. As soon as we were outside, we busted out laughing again. “Did you see her go after him?” Ava imitated a cat-like pounce in the air, pretending as if she landed on her prey.
“Yes. That was priceless.”
“Man, that makes me really sad I missed out on your nerd attack. I mean, that must have been some inspiration you gave her.”
“I guess so.” I giggled before glancing at my watch. I had to hurry or I would be late for work. “Look, if you talk to Sloan, tell her we have to meet for breakfast first thing in the morning. I need details, and maybe a pep talk before I go back to the library tomorrow.”
“Sure. Sure.” Ava continued to laugh, and I couldn’t stop smiling. “We’ll meet you in the morning.”
I hurried to my car and rushed the last couple of blocks to Sugar Cube and managed to get there with five minutes to spare. Gretchen was in the kitchen, stacking a four-tier wedding cake. “Oh, my.” I set my bag down on the counter. “Do you still have to decorate that monstrosity?”
Gretchen looked up, hopelessness in her eyes. Her normally perfect hair looked a little manic. “Yes. It’s going to be a long night.”
I grabbed my apron off the hook by the door. “What if I help? I can throw a batch of cupcakes in the oven, and I can decorate while they bake.”
Gretchen sank with exhaustion against the counter. “You don’t have to do that, Elle. Six dozen cupcakes is enough to keep you busy your whole shift.”
“I want to help.” And I meant it. Gretchen meant a lot to me. She sort of filled that spot in my life my mother left vacant. It was nice having someone you could bounce ideas off, and tell about your dreams without it immediately being followed by a lecture of why everything you want in life is wrong.
Gretchen stood and wiped her brow, smearing a smudge of icing across it. “I appreciate it. Thank you.”
“It’s not a problem. I’m happy to do it. Let me start my batter, and you can fill me up another bag of icing.”
Gretchen and I worked diligently the next couple of hours. I baked my cupcakes and placed them in the freezer to cool down. Gretchen’s wedding cake masterpiece had very intricate details. I carefully worked through the pattern inch by inch until we finally finished just before closing time. I wiped my palms on my apron. “I think it’s done.”
Gretchen stood back and admired the cake. “It’s perfect. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
I had to admit, I was pretty proud of myself. It was the first time I’d tried such a complicated pattern. It was relaxing. Therapeutic, almost. “Go ahead and cash out the register, and I’ll put it in the freezer. I need to start my cupcakes.”
Gretchen cleaned her hands. “You don’t have to do that tonight. I’ll finish them for you in the morning.”
“No, that’s okay. It won’t take long to top them off, plus you have to deliver this cake tomorrow. It’ll be fine.”
Gretchen held up her hands. “All right. You don’t have to twist my arm.” She came over and gave me a hug. “I really do like having you around. I’ve never met anyone who likes this stuff as much as me.”
I leaned into her hug. “I like being here. I’m pretty sure this job changed my life.”
Gretchen squeezed me tighter. That was when I realized Gretchen had made my list of special people too. She saw the real me. She saw the potential trapped inside the struggling girl with the quirky fashion sense. She helped me flourish. The doorbell in the store dinged, and we both glanced at the clock. It was two minutes past closing time. Gretchen went out front, and I moved over to the door to see who it was. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was.
Oliver Edwards.
He looked apologetically at Gretchen. “I know I’m late. I just need to make a quick request.”
Amused, Gretchen grinned at him. “Okay, what can I help with you with tonight?”
Oliver slipped his hands in the pockets of his jeans and rocked back on his heels. “I need to see Eloise.”
Gretchen ran her hand decisively along the glass of the showcase while she walked toward the counter. “Is there any particular reason?”
“Not really.” Oliver kind of smiled. “Other than the fact that I simply need to see her with my own two eyes.”
Gretchen leaned over the counter. Oliver anxiously bit his lip. “Is she here?”
In my boss’s defense, she at least thought about her answer first. “Let me go check.”
Gretchen came in the kitchen, laughing. I’d backed all the way up into the closet as if that would somehow help me. My confidence from earlier today had somehow vanished without my consent. Gretchen noticed the terrified look on my face. “I’m assuming you heard that,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.
I nodded.
“Well,” she said, waiting. “Are you here or not?”
I anxiously bit my fingernail on my thumb as I eyed the empty doorway. “It’s complicated.”
“How?”
“I don’t know. I mean…I might have kissed him in the middle of the library earlier today.”
Gretchen’s eyes threatened to pop out. “You did what?”
I winced. “I told you it’s complicated.”
Gretchen moved closer to me. “I can’t believe you spent the entire afternoon here with me and didn’t think it newsworthy enough to tell me you kissed your crush in the library today.”
I shrugged. “I didn’t think it was a boss kind of conversation.”
Gretchen touched my shoulder. “I’m more than your boss, Eloise.”
I knew that. I didn’t know she knew that. “Okay,” I said, shaking my hands as they started to clam up. “So, I kissed the boy I’ve been crushing on.”
Gretchen ran her hands down her face. “Does he know it’s you who has been leaving him the cupcakes?”
Again I winced. “No, but I fear that maybe he’s figured it out.”
“You fear?”
I threw my hands out as if it should be obvious. “Rejection is scary, or have you’ve forgotten the horrors of dating in your—”
She pointed her finger at me. “If you say old age, I swear, Eloise Duncan, I will invite that boy back here, right now.”
I took a deep breath. “What should I do?”
“He came here to see you. See him.”
I bit my lip. “Are you sure?”
Gretchen smiled. “I’m going to close up, and when I finish, I’m going out the front door to go home. You lock up when you’re finished.”
“You’re going to leave us here…together…alone.” I made it sound like Oliver was an ax murderer, but I couldn’t help it. My confidence was so darn wishy-washy.
“Yes. I trust you.” Then she gave me the mom look. I didn’t really know what a mom look was, but I imagined it looked like Gretchen. “I am very much trusting you to remember this is where I cook, and it should be treated with respect.”
I nodded. Yeah, Gretchen was more than my boss. She knew me too well.
She took off her apron and hung it up on the hook by the door. “All right, then. I’ll send him back.”
I stood there in the door of the closet and I didn’t move. Maybe I could turn into the invisible girl. Or I could fashion myself a fondant mask. I didn’t know if I could simply stand here and let him see me. The real me.
Oliver appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. He had on a sky blue button down shirt with a pinstriped bow tie. He touched the edge of his glasses and smiled. “I knew it.”
I forced out my own smile and stepped back
out into the kitchen, twisting my fingers together behind my back. “How long did it take you to figure it out?”
He stepped a little closer to me. “I figured it out about the same time the blood flow went back to my brain.”
I held out my hands, gesturing toward myself. “Surprise.”
He didn’t laugh. He didn’t look freaked out or scared either. He simply cocked his head to the side. “Why didn’t you tell me it was you?”
My hand found the counter to keep myself balanced. “It isn’t obvious?”
He walked over to the other side of the counter. That was smart to put something between us. Not that I couldn’t climb that counter if I wanted. Sloan had proved without a doubt that you could perform such a feat. He leaned his elbows on it. “I’m a guy, Eloise. When is anything ever obvious to us?”
“I didn’t tell you it was me because…well…I’ve been secretly gifting you cupcakes. It’s a little embarrassing. That isn’t something normal people do.”
“You only did it because you overheard me, right? You heard me tell your boss how much I liked your cupcakes that day I came in here.”
I twisted my lips. “Yes and no.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means yes, I did overhear you telling Gretchen that you liked my cupcakes. But…I’d been aware of you for a lot longer than that.”
He pushed his glasses up his nose, highlighting the ring of lush lashes around his perfect crystal blue eyes. “Aware of me?”
I took a deep breath. This was it. The confession. “You said you remember seeing me at the library a lot, right?”
“Well, yeah.”
“I chose that seat for a reason. I was there all the time for a reason.” I couldn’t look at him. “It wasn’t to study.”
His brows pulled together like he was confused, but then it hit him. It hit him hard. He stood up straight. “You sat there because of me?”
I tucked my hair behind my ear. “What can I say? It was a nice view.”
Confession Of A Nerdoholic Page 10