Eight Steps to Alpha: A Nerdy by Nature Novel

by Taylor Sullivan

  “Is that ma?” she whispered to him, making him turn in her direction.

  He held up one finger, and nodded. “Yeah, yeah, we’ll be there soon. Yeah, as soon as they’re ready. I love you too. Bye.” He set is phone on the counter, then picked up his drink and took a long sip. He studied her for a moment, as though there was something on his mind he wanted to say. “Want one?”

  Fe moistened her lips and nodded. “Sure.” Placing one hand on the counter, she dragged it along the cool surface, and tried to push down the nervous fluttered that were crawling up her insides. David was the least approachable of her brothers, and the one who was the most likely to make things difficult.

  He opened a cabinet, seeming amused by her behavior and pulled out a glass. He filled it a good inch with whiskey, then lifted his own glass and took a long sip. The sound of Elliot’s voice still carried across the hallway, and made David smile. “Quite the song bird you have there.”

  Fe paused, hearing Elliot belt out something about true love. Lifting the glass to her lips, she took a drink, attempting to hide her amusement. “He sings when he’s happy,” she stated. But then she sobered. Because somehow, that realization bothered her. She turned in the opposite reaction, sure her reaction was evident on her face.

  What did he have to be happy about anyway? He’d just been tortured by her brothers, was about to be given the third degree by her entire family, yet here he was, in an unfamiliar shower, washing off all the layers of dirt pushed into his skin when he was tackled a million times, singing. She looked out the window above the sink, realizing her heart was suddenly beating faster than usual.

  Rarely did she find Elliot in a bad mood. Rarely was he ever unhappy. She took another large sip of her drink, hoping the whiskey would settle her nerves. She set the glass on the counter, realizing she was completely ignoring her brother and turned around.

  He was watching her, almost like he could read her thoughts. “I never pictured you with a guy like that,” Dave said, flashing his eyes toward the hallway again.

  “Like what?”

  He tilted his head to the side. “A nice guy, I guess.”

  She laughed, then smoothed over her dress to straighten it. “You don’t picture me with a nice guy?”

  He lifted his shoulder. “Hasn’t been your MO in the past.”

  She shook her head. “That’s not true.”

  He walked toward her. “You’re like me, Fe. You date the ones you know are unavailable. The ones you know can’t hurt you.”

  She wanted to deny it, to tell him he had absolutely no idea what he was talking about, but for some reason, she couldn’t look at him. His words had hit too close to home. Rung to close to the truth for her to even acknowledge him.

  “He obviously loves you. I can’t really ask for more than that.”

  Her eyes shot up, her breath seizing in her throat. What? Her mind yelled. But then Elliot appeared in the hall, disrupting their conversation, and pulling her attention away.

  He was already dressed in the jeans and the white linen shirt they’d purchased at the mall earlier, and he was doing his best to roll up the cuffs of his sleeves, but failing miserably. He immediately locked eyes with her, then lifted one side of his lip into an amused grin. “Can you help me?”

  The sight of him struggling like that, looking so adorable, caused a physical tightening of her throat. She stepped forward, set down her glass, and began folding his sleeves.

  She’d always found Elliot attractive, but there was something different about him now. His skin had gained color in this afternoon’s sun, giving him a healthy glow that made his eyes even bluer. His shirt was left open at the neck, showing that indent at his throat that she’d always found attractive. But it was more than that, he stood now with his hands at his side while she worked, completely comfortable in his own skin.

  “Done,” she whispered, stepping backward.

  His eyes moved down her body, then up again, but he said nothing. He didn’t have to. His eyes said it all for him. What was going on? She thought to herself. Maybe he was playing a part, but he was playing it too well, and confusing the crap out of her.

  “Did you find everything okay, Elliot?” David asked from behind her.

  Elliot broke his eyes away, as though he was almost in a trance. “We forgot to buy shoes,” he said then.

  At first, she looked down to her own feet, where lavender toenails were peeking out of the open toed high heels, but then she looked back to Elliot, and immediately covered her mouth. “Do you?” She glanced over to David again. “Have anything that would fit him.”

  Dave smiled, pushed himself from the counter and beckoned Elliot down the hall. “Come on,” he said. “I’m sure I have something that will work.”

  Both men disappeared a moment later, and Fe picked up the bottle of whisky and poured more into her glass. Damn if she didn’t need it.

  But most of all, damn her brother for stirring up all her thoughts about Elliot. He’d been right about one thing. She’d been closing herself off to relationships for a long time. Possibly her whole adult life.

  Even choosing Elliot as a roommate had been her unconscious attempt at avoiding love. She wasn’t even sure why? She had parents who adored each other, who’d been happily married and in love for over thirty years. But maybe that was it? Maybe the bar was set too high? Maybe that sort of effortless love wasn’t something she was capable of? Her mom, who was beautiful, and sweet, and agreeable to a fault was hard to keep up with. She never argued, never so much as had a disagreement with her father…about anything. Fe would have an argument with a rock.

  Yes, she was aware sometimes it was silly, but public relations had never been her strong suit. She played with her lip between her teeth, worrying. No, she couldn’t see herself in the roll her mother put herself in. Holding a man’s hand, allowing him to carry her over a threshold, always having the softest most manicured hands a person was capable of.

  She poured herself another inch of whiskey and played with David’s words over and over in her head. He’d been wrong about one thing. Elliot didn’t love her. Not like that anyway—and he never would.

  Hearing her brother’s voice come closer, she flipped around, finding Elliot coming down the hall with Dave. He wore a pair of brown leather loafers, that somehow made his outfit more polished and sophisticated. “Very nice,” she said, giving him a once-over.

  Elliot promptly turned around, like he’d done in the dressing room all those weeks before, showing off the entire ensemble. He then came closer, leaned so close to her ear she could smell his clean skin, and whispered. “You look amazing, too.”

  She laughed, startled by the compliment, and ignored the butterflies that were suddenly beating bruises in her stomach. “I never said you looked amazing.”

  He grinned, taking one thumb, and trailing it down her cheek. “Your eyes did.”

  He pulled away then, and David dug his keys out of his pocket and set them on the counter. “You drive,” he said to Elliot. “I’ll have Craig bring me home after the party.”

  She bit her lip, barely able to contain her fluster as she walked toward the door. He was playing a part, the roll she’d cast for him, but her skin still pebbled where his breath touched. She tucked her hair behind her ear feeling extremely unsteady, then glanced over at David. “I’m ready when you are.”

  Chapter 28

  Stepping into Aunt Mary’s backyard was like stepping into a five-star resort. There where tables with bright red umbrellas encircling the large, beautifully kept patio. White votive candles were everywhere, making everything look both rustic and magical at the same time. Over a hundred-people filled the small space, and if she wasn’t so nervous, she would be excited to see them all. Her parents, cousins, aunts and uncles, along with about fifty other people she didn’t recognize.

  They were over an hour late, which meant news of their arrival had already spread like wildfire. Gossip like that traveled fast through the P
orto family.

  Panic rolled inside her stomach, and for a brief moment, she thought about confessing everything. About Elliot, about her lie. Telling them that he was in fact only her roommate, telling them the truth. But that would’ve only brought more questioning, which would only make things more difficult.

  A server came toward them then, a full tray of wine glasses high on his shoulder. Not even waiting for him to come to a full stop, Fe took two glasses from the tray and handed one to Elliot. “Here, you’ll need this,” she said, taking a large drink.

  He rocked on his heels, shoved one hand in his pocket, and smiled.

  She glanced over at him, trying to make sense of why he appeared so happy. “What are you smiling about?” she whispered. “You’re about to get the third degree from my entire family, aren’t you nervous?”

  He laughed. “No.”

  She raised her brows. “I don’t think you understand, Elliot. They’re going to grill you. Embarrass you, ask you questions that will make you blush. If you thought my brothers were bad, you have no idea what you’re in for.”

  Elliot laughed, then took a sip of his wine and shrugged. “Sounds like fun.”

  “Fun!” She scoffed, “Fun?” Then downed the rest of the glass and turned her back for another.

  Out of the corner of her eye, a billow of white hair came around the corner, and her eyes bulged. She turned in Elliot’s direction, downed his glass too, and put both empties on the table. “Brace yourself.”

  “For what?” Elliot laughed.

  “My aunt Maria.”

  “Meu amorzinho, Meu amorzinho, they said you were coming.”

  Fe turned around, barely facing her aunt before the old woman grabbed hold of her face and kissed both of her cheeks. “You look beautiful!” the woman said, leaning in close to whisper in her ear. “It must be love, amorzinho. Your mama told me about your man.”

  Heat crept up her cheeks. “Happy birthday, Tia! I hope you’re having a good birthday.” She hugged and kissed her aunt before stepping backward. “I’d like to introduce you to my—” She cleared her throat. “Boyfriend, Elliot.”

  The little old woman tsked her tongue, then slapped Fe’s hand again, and turned toward Elliot. “I’m eighty you know,” she said with a flirtatious grin, before glancing him up and down.

  “This,” she said poking Elliot’s leg with her cane. “Must be the young man I’ve been hearing about.”

  Fe grabbed another glass of wine and took a sip. “Tia, this is Elliot. Elliot, this is my Tia—Maria.”

  Maria narrowed her eyes, making the creases in her forehead all the more prominent. She beckoned Elliot closer with the crook of her finger, then waited until he stepped toward her. “Meus lindões, let me look at you.”

  He leaned in closer, until he was almost bent in half and grabbed hold of his face. She tilted it left and right, taking in every detail, then shook her head. “What happened to your eye?”

  Elliot grinned, but remained completely still. “I played football with Fe’s brother’s.” It was just a small scrape, but enough for Maria’s old eyes to notice.

  “Ahh,” she said in a low voice. “I’m glad you survived, Meus lindões.” A smile then spread across her face, and she shoved him away. “You make beautiful babies!” she exclaimed to Fe.

  Trying to contain her laugher, she covered her mouth, but it was impossible. Elliot looked so shocked by Maria’s sudden dismissal, his mouth was practically hanging open.

  She tried to warn him.

  His cheeks were flushed when aunt Maria caught hold of his arm and pulled him forward. He was twice her height, could toss her over his shoulder with little effort, but it was apparent who wore the pants between them.

  Maria waved a server down with a finger, then took another glass of wine and handed it to Elliot. “Drink up, Meus lindões, the night is young, and you have a beautiful woman who loves to dance!”

  Elliot glanced over at Fe, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, before he set the glass on the table. “I’m afraid I’ll have to pass, Maria. We have to drive back to San Diego this evening.”

  Maria shook her head and tsked her tongue. “Nonsense.” She took hold of her cane and poked it towards Fe’s belly. “You stay.”

  Fe laughed. “I’m afraid it’s true, Tia. We have to get home.”

  Maria narrowed her eyes. “It’s my birthday, Meu amorzinho.”

  “Yes, I know, but…”

  “I may not live much longer.”

  Fe took a breath, because she could tell by her aunt’s manipulation, she wasn’t getting out of this one.

  “You stay,” Maria said with a nod.

  Fe glanced over at Elliot and cringed.

  He immediately lifted one shoulders and made a face. As if he realized just like she had, that they were screwed. There was no getting out of this one.

  All the alcohol must have finally started doing its job, because when she looked around the yard again, seeing her aunts and cousin’s dancing. Her mom sitting in her father’s lap, sipping wine, she was filled with nostalgia. It had been so long since she’s spent time with her family, and she missed them terribly. “Okay, Tia. We’ll stay.”

  Maria grabbed her face once more, and kissed her firmly on the mouth. “You make an old woman very happy, Meu amorzinho.”

  Fe laughed, as the old woman took her hand, spun around, and announced to the whole world. “Look who I found!”

  Chapter 29

  The evening seemed to explode after Maria’s announcement. There was so much wine, no time to breathe, and people. One after the other, her aunts, cousins, and friends came to say hello, and meet the elusive boyfriend.

  Elliot was a total trooper. He smiled and laughed at all the appropriate times, answered all of their questions, even the too personal ones, and not once seemed uncomfortable. He actually appeared to be having a good time, like he was in his element, which allowed Fe to sit back, relax, and catch up with all the people she hadn’t seen in years. Her aunt Polly, who couldn’t seem to stop talking about Elliot and how nice of a butt he had. Or her cousin Peter, who was trying to convince her to buy into the next multi-level marketing scheme. It was a good hour later, when her aunt Beatrice grabbed hold of her arm and whispered into her ear. “Don’t look now, but I think your father is growing impatient.”

  Fe swallowed her sip of wine, then nodded her head. She wasn’t avoiding him, but she’d be lying if she said his judgmental eyes hadn’t made her turn in the opposite directions a few times tonight.

  She was his only daughter, she understood that, but his protectiveness was sometimes over the top. He was still upset with her about moving out in the first place—and that was when he thought her and Elliot were only friends—she could only imagine the lecture she had coming to her now.

  Fe finished the rest of her glass, said hello to a couple more aunts, then locked eyes on a little girl running around the dance floor. Before the little girl could make her next round, Fe stooped down, and grabbed hold of the little girls dress.

  The little girl stopped, looked up at her with big eyes and giggled.

  “Ella, right?” Fe asked.

  The little girl nodded.

  “Ella, I’m your cousin, Fe. Can you do me a favor?”

  She nodded.

  “See that man over there? The one holding the cigar? That’s my papa. He loves children. Can you come say hello with me?”

  The little girl giggled, and squeezed Fe’s hand. “Perfect.”

  When they came within ear shot, Ella’s fingers clutched in Fe’s hand like a security blanket, she cleared her throat.

  Fe’s father was talking to another gentleman and deliberately ignored her. She squared her shoulder, glanced back over at Elliot to make sure he was account for, then cleared her throat again. “Papa, you remember Ella,” Fe said, interrupting them.

  Her father took his feet from the chair where they’d been resting, and settled them on the ground. He turned to the l
ittle girl, leaned forward, and smiled. Making his salt and pepper mustache turn up at the corners. “Well hello, Ella, how are you this evening?” he said in a pleasant voice.

  The little girl twirled her dress back and forth, never letting go of Fe’s fingers. “Goood,” she said in a sing song voice.

  “I bet you are, Ella. That’s a pretty dress.”

  “Thank you,” she said shyly.

  “How old are you?”

  The little girl glanced up at Fe, then held up four fingers.

  Fe’s father was captivated with the small child, and Fe couldn’t have been happier. This was a brilliant plan. The little girl was sweet, perfect, and her father would never raise his voice when she was around.

  “Four?” he asked sweetly. “That big?”

  She nodded her head, and began chewing on one finger.

  “Ella,” he said, learning forward even closer. “I have a question for you.”

  The little girl giggled. “Okay.”

  “Do you love your papa?”

  “Yes,” the little girl stated.

  “I bet you would never keep secrets from your papa, am I right?”

  The little girl giggled nervously, and Fe crouched down to her knees to let her off the hook. “Thank you, Ella, but you can go play now.”

  The little girl nodded, peered up at Fe’s father once more, then ran back to the dance floor where she began spinning.

  Fe rose to her feet, the heaviness of the situation making it almost impossible to stand. Here she was, twenty-three years old, and feeling like she was five again.

  “You’re here one hour, and now you say hello to me?”

  Fe took a deep breath, already shaking her head. “It hasn’t been an hour, Papa. It’s been—” But then Elliot’s hand snaked around her waist and all the air expelled from her lungs. “A half hour,” she breathed out.

  Elliot set his wineglass down on the table, then reached out to shake her father’s hand. “Mr. Porto, it’s good to see you again.”

  Her father rose to his feet, pulling Elliot forward. “I hear you’re dating my daughter?”