Crushed

by Pratt, Lulu

  Ford pointed to his ear, instructed me to lean closer. His scent was alluring as I got near, placing my hand on his thigh for support. I could feel him shift, certain he felt what I did.

  “I said, I was just thinking about you earlier,” I whispered, watching his cheek crease as a smile spread across his face.

  “Thinking about what?” He turned, his lips close enough for me to see every crease, which I committed to memory.

  “You looked like you saw a ghost when I came downstairs,” I said. My boldness was shocking even me. I wondered if the waiter correctly heard my order, because there was an addition of courage coming from somewhere I couldn’t explain.

  “You’ve grown up, Lottie – sorry, Charlotte,” Ford said flatly, as though that explained everything.

  Lifting my hand from his leg, I balled my fist before playfully jamming it into his side. Ford jokingly leaned forward, faking pain. I knew I’d barely touched him, but what I did feel was solid muscle.

  “What was that for?” His smile was evident even through the beard he’d managed to tame. The facial hair masked his mannerisms, but I felt I knew him well enough to read his eyes alone.

  “That’s to help you break your bad habit.”

  Ford grinned enough to show a flash of his white teeth before turning to whisper in my ear again. “Be honest,” he paused, his breath warm on my earlobe. “You like it when I call you Lottie.”

  He pulled away, staring in silence as he waited for my response. My heart skipped – too accelerated by his confidence, I couldn’t find my words. Instead, I looked at him, our eyes locking for a brief second that felt like a lifetime.

  “Let’s dance!” Jackie yelled, tugging at my arm as she pulled me out of the booth.

  It was the escape I needed but didn’t want. I liked the uncomfortable feeling between Ford and me. He was dominating but still on his heels about my unexpected growth. It had never occurred to me that my growing up could be a shock to him, but it appeared he was stunned.

  “What are you doing? I was talking to Ford!” I blurted as soon as Jackie had me far enough from the table.

  “Yes, Charlotte. Everyone in the bar could see you two flirting, including your brother!” she yelled.

  “What? No, Marshall wasn’t paying us any attention,” I explained, looking back to the table.

  Since we’d left the table, Marshall had moved closer to Ford. The two were talking and laughing, which relieved my onset of anxiety. They were the best of friends. I couldn’t imagine my brother ever suspecting his best friend would be interested in me.

  “Charlotte, are you crazy? The man has been staring at you since you came downstairs back at the house,” she urged as a waiter approached.

  “Two vodka cranberries, please,” she ordered before he could even ask for our orders. “Got ya!” She nodded and smiled before I could object.

  “Jackie, you know Marshall will flip!” I argued.

  “Then you better drink quick!” She yelled over the music, her smile outshining the fear. “I love you, but at some point, you’re going to have to stand up to your brother. He’s not your dad, and he needs to understand that.”

  I knew it was the truth I’d been avoiding longer than I cared to admit. Marshall was way too involved in my life, constantly interjecting himself where he didn’t fit. Jackie rarely intervened, but I could tell she was upset when he invited himself to our night out. I felt bad that she had paid for an expensive bottle of Champagne for Marshall to prevent me from even having a sip.

  “Here you go!” The waiter returned with our drinks faster than I expected.

  “Don’t look over there!” Jackie ordered as I fought the urge to check if Marshall could see.

  “Is he looking?” I nervously asked.

  “Ford or your brother?” She smiled, raising her glass in the air. “To my best friend on the start of the rest of her life!”

  Although it wasn’t my first drink, the shock of the strong alcohol taste caused me to wince. I still didn’t understand how people enjoyed drinking. Following Jackie’s instructions, I sipped quickly, returning the empty glass on a passing waiter’s tray just before Marshall and Ford joined us on the dance floor.

  “This place is kind of dead. We didn’t want you two to be the only ones on the dance floor,” Ford joked as we created a small circle. He was kind, but I knew it was Marshall’s idea to come over, curious about what I was drinking.

  “This is just the warmup,” Jackie explained with a playful smile. “The real party is on Friday when my best friend can officially party!”

  I could see the excitement in her eyes. She had been planning my birthday celebration for weeks. Her eyes narrowed as she turned to Marshall. “And because she will be twenty-one, you won’t be able to patrol her drinks.”

  “Your birthday is coming up?” Ford asked.

  “Yep! Friday!” Jackie answered for me.

  “About that,” Marshall said, his eyebrows folding together. “Turns out I have to work Friday evening, so I was thinking we could celebrate Saturday.”

  “Of course we can,” I nodded quickly. Marshall looked relieved. Jackie’s glare threatened to burn through me, but I had a plan. “We can go out Saturday, and Friday I’ll get to hang with Jackie.”

  She grinned, wrapping her arm around my shoulder, but Marshall’s face was pale with concern. I hated the toll caring for me took on him, but it wasn’t my responsibility to ease his anxiety.

  “No, Charlotte. You can’t just go out alone. I want to be there to make sure you’re safe.” Marshall looked ready to pass out as he moved closer to plead his case.

  “Marshall, there’s no way I’m delaying my twenty-first birthday celebration because you have to work. I’m going out on my birthday,” I felt my fists ball at my sides, ready for battle.

  “Charlotte, you need someone there in case you have too much to drink,” he continued.

  “Fine!” I yelled too loud wondering if the liquor was taking effect. “Ford can chaperone two adult women.” The sarcasm in my tone bordered on disrespect, but I was far from apologetic.

  “What?” Marshall asked, looking from me and then to Ford, who stood across from me with wide eyes. “Ford might be busy. He’s got a whole department to run.”

  “Well, let’s ask him – Ford, can you please take me and Jackie out on Friday to celebrate my twenty-first birthday?” I boldly stared into his eyes, trying my best to convey everything I felt in my glare.

  Marshall turned to his friend with pleading eyes I assumed were hoping he would turn me down. He didn’t like relinquishing control, even if it was to someone he trusted. Jackie laughed, enjoying the show. She’d wanted me to stand up to my brother for years, and her wish was finally granted.

  “Uh, I guess. Sure, I can look after you two,” Ford finally answered. I could see the restraint in his face and the way he nervously rubbed his hands together.

  I could identify it, because I’d done the same thing a few hours prior – pretending to be bothered when Marshall said he would be accompanying us tonight. Ford wanted to escort me on my birthday. He was as intrigued by me as I was by him. I felt it. And I was going to make sure he didn’t regret it.

  Chapter 12

  FORD

  “HONESTLY, I THINK a few dozen donuts is all the recognition they need,” Amy said. I could see she was exhausted after a long day at the office.

  “Okay. Should I call ahead to make an order that big?” I asked.

  My assistant had recently brought it to my attention that the team had reached a new benchmark in efficiency. And thankfully Amy had already made plans for a special acknowledgement at the top of the week.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle everything. I’ve still got your corporate card, since you never use it.” She shook her head pathetically.

  “I’m still not used to having one,” I chuckled.

  During the onboarding process, I’d grown to appreciate Amy. She never held her tongue or backed d
own from a confrontation. Although she wasn’t a mechanic, she didn’t allow them to talk down to her or belittle her in any way when it came to their business. She knew her job like the back of her hand, and I respected that.

  “I can tell. Trust me, it’ll all become normal soon. You’re doing great,” she assured me as she rose from her seat.

  “Hey,” I called to her. “Can I ask you something non-work related?”

  She turned to me skeptically. I could feel my heart in my throat, a mix of nerves and embarrassment for the confused state I was in. I was so used to having everything figured out, but now it was like nothing made sense.

  “What I mean is, do you typically buy a woman a present for their twenty-first birthday?”

  I’d been dancing around the idea since I learned I would be escorting Charlotte on her birthday. On one hand, I thought it might be inappropriate to buy her a gift. On the other, I feared it would be incredibly rude to show up empty-handed. Amy’s face relaxed like my question was an easy one to answer.

  “Simple rule of thumb when it comes to ladies,” she bit her lips for a second, allowing the momentum to build. “You get them a gift for every birthday, but on milestones, you get them several gifts. A twenty-first birthday deserves a few gifts.”

  “A few? Okay, thanks,” I nodded.

  “I’m heading out for the night, okay?” she asked as she held the knob to my office door.

  “Perfect. Thanks for everything,” I flashed a quick smile, though my thoughts were still on Charlotte.

  “No problem. Have a good weekend, boss.”

  She closed the door, leaving me to overanalyze everything. It was still strange to be called boss, and even to have an assistant. At times, my new life shocked me in that way. And now I was going to take Charlotte out to celebrate her twenty-first birthday.

  Twirling the small jewelry box I’d purchased earlier, I wondered if my selection was too much. Typically a bit of a cheapskate, I didn’t care much about price when gazing through the glass cases at the jeweler. I only wanted something I thought she would like, and yet I still wasn’t sure if I’d achieved that.

  She deserved the best after all she’d been through, but Charlotte never appeared to wallow in her past. She was optimistic and ambitious, with dreams of becoming a baker. When I thought back to the younger version of herself, it made sense. She was always determined, whether it was to make a sports team at school, or to convince Marshall to allow her to do something.

  It was no shock she had grown to be such a kind and considerate woman considering how sweet she was when she was younger. Whenever I would come over, she’d offer me a drink and tell me about the drama in her school before running off to her room once Marshall appeared. She wasn’t intimidated by anything, except maybe her brother, and that brave nature had carried over into adulthood.

  A knock on the door jolted my thoughts. “Come in!” I yelled.

  “Hey, Mr. Delvey,” a young mechanic named Tony announced as he peeked his head in my office.

  “Please, call me Ford,” I corrected him. I’d been trying to stop the team from being so formal whenever possible.

  “Right,” he nervously smiled, looking down at his boots that were stained with oil. “I just wanted you to know we’ve finished up the updates. The night team is all set up and we’re heading out for the night.”

  “Thanks, Tony! Enjoy your weekend!”

  “Thanks. You too! Don’t stay too late,” he added with a smile.

  “Oh, I’m following you out. Don’t worry,” I said, and we chuckled together.

  Slowly, I gathered my things, delaying what I had been counting down for. Taking Charlotte out had been the highlight I was looking forward to, but now I felt nervous. It was unlike me to ever get jitters around a date. The thought of a night out with Charlotte being a date left me uneasy.

  “It’s not a date. You’re just looking out for her,” I whispered to myself as I packed my bag. Carefully, I placed the jewelry box on top of my files before shutting down the lights and locking my office. My pocket vibrated, an unknown number showing on my smartphone.

  “Hello?” I answered as I strolled through the office, waving to passing employees.

  “Hey, Ford?” a soft voice asked, continuing before I could answer. “It’s Charlotte.”

  “Hey, what’s up? We still on for tonight?” I asked, instantly kicking myself for making it sound like a date.

  “I hope so,” she said quietly.

  “So, what’s up?” I asked after she failed to continue.

  “I was, uh, wondering…” she began, speaking slowly like she was delaying a request. “I won’t technically be twenty-one until midnight. And I think the liquor store clerk will card me if I try myself. But I really wanted to have a drink at the house if that’s okay.”

  “You want me to stop by the store and get something?” I asked, feeling overwhelmed with desire. She was so pure, so innocent. Even her request was laced in naïveté.

  “Would you? Oh, thank you! That would be perfect. I won’t drink it until midnight, I promise.” She rushed her words excitedly.

  “Don’t worry. I’m leaving the office now. I’ll stop at the store on my way there,” I said.

  “Okay,” she breathed heavily into the phone. “I’m so thrilled!”

  “You should be,” I grinned picturing her face. “See you soon.”

  “Yes! See you soon!” she gusted before ending the call.

  Any apprehension I had about going melted away instantly. There was no reason to be nervous and overthinking things. I was taking Charlotte out for her birthday – nothing more and nothing less. Above all else, I was helping out my best friend, looking after his sister. As I walked to my car, I grinned thinking of how crazy I’d allowed my imagination to roam.

  When I neared downtown, a few blocks from Marshall and Charlotte’s house, I stopped at a shop that sold alcohol. The recent renovations to the downtown area had increased high-end stores and plush wine bars where there used to be shabby bars and sneaker shops.

  Still on the fence about whether I approved of such a drastic change in the city I loved, I was grateful to the older man working in the shop who was very informative. Coming from behind the small counter as soon as I walked in the store, I knew he would be the help I desperately needed.

  “How can I help you?” he asked, his hands resting on his hips like it was time to get down to business.

  “I’m helping a friend bring in her twenty-first birthday,” I said, pausing to see if there would be any smirking on his behalf. Thankfully, he remained professional, watching me closely as I continued explaining my dilemma.

  “So, you want something celebratory, but nothing too strong,” he surmised after listening carefully.

  “Exactly,” I nodded, following him as he walked towards the back of the store.

  “I think a nice Champagne or prosecco will be just what you’re looking for,” he said as we reached the back wall lined with glass bottles.

  “What’s the difference?” I asked, ignorant to anything other than beer selections. And even then, I always picked whichever was closest to me, never caring much about the brand or taste.

  “It’s all about the region in which they’re made,” the man explained, reaching for a bottle.

  “What about that one?” I asked, pointing to the Moët. I had noticed the excitement on Charlotte’s face when Jackie got her a bottle of Moët for her celebration. Of course, she wasn’t able to enjoy any of it because of Marshall. My hope was that we could recreate the memory, this one with a more favorable ending.

  “Oh, you’re into the finer things, huh?” The man smiled as he lifted the Moët, pausing just before selecting the rosé Champagne. “You might want to stop down a few shops for the best chocolate in the Midwest. You can get a few hand-dipped strawberries to go with the bubbly.”

  “No, no,” I shook my head, accepting the bottle. “It’s nothing like that.”

  I led the way
to the counter, silently repeating the words to myself – ‘It’s nothing like that, Ford. This is only a favor you’re paying to a friend. You’re a glorified chaperone.’

  I tried to accept the words, but there was still a part of me that didn’t believe the mantra. I could still feel the alluring tension between me and Charlotte. She was confident, and yet shy. Sexy, but also casual. As many times as I’d replayed our night together, there wasn’t a detail I hadn’t overanalyzed or an expression I hadn’t tried to read into. Regardless, this night was about Charlotte, and I was determined to keep that focus in the forefront of my mind.

  Chapter 13

  CHARLOTTE

  MY HANDS NEVER shook when decorating cakes. I liked to think of myself as an expert professionally when it came to executing my designs, but this was different. It’d taken me twice as long to complete the buttercream flowers that cascaded down my two-tiered birthday cake.

  Partly for my celebration, but even more to announce my change in careers to my online following, it was my signature design. Using the minimal icing technique I’d grown to love, you could see the different colors of cake peeking through the thin layer of buttercream. My flowers were an added touch of design, but also an ode to my style and technique. Not everyone could decorate with the delicate texture of buttercream, but I loved it.

  Finally finished, I stood back for a second, pleased with my results. The cake was stunning. Had it just been delivered, I would have tipped heavily, already mentally preparing my raving review. Almost too beautiful to eat, I reached for my phone before starting the photo shoot.

  Angles and lighting were the two most important factors to getting the best photo for my fans. I needed to highlight the cake while also showcasing my skills. My followers would soon be able to purchase my cakes and see how they were even more delicious than they were stunning.

  After squatting awkwardly long enough to leave my legs sore, I finally got the perfect picture. Atop the cake, I’d inserted a few spiral lollipops for effect. It looked like a party, perfect to celebrate my birthday and huge announcement.