by Mills, L. C.
I sipped it and let the bubbles wash over my tongue. “It's a very good vintage indeed!” I placed my glass down.
“Here you can add that to your random collection of things!” He held the cork out to me.
I laughed. “Damn you caught me eyeing it up! I'm like a magpie I like collecting things!” I held my hand out for the cork.
He placed it in the center of my palm and closed my fingers over it and held his hand over mine.
“I like you Evangeline, you challenge me and will probably drive me mad but I'd like to get to know you!” He looked thoughtful for a second.
I stared at his hand over mine. My skin was so pale compared to his, like milk and honey but I liked it. He had nice long fingers with well-kept nails. My eyes flicked up to meet his. “I'd like to get to know you better too! I am what I am and I am unapologetic about that, but I am loyal!” I wanted him to know I was loyal to me that was a trait that was important.
He smiled and moved his hand. “That's a trait you can't be learnt! I look forward to discovering who you are deep down and what makes you tick other than collecting things and punching people!”
I smiled. I didn't ask what happened after I left that night, part of me knew he'd not tell me even if I asked. I had made a friend though. I wasn't sure if we'd end up being more than just friends, but I did want to get to know him and I got the feeling he needed a dose of normality! I could at least try and give that to him! He needed it!
“I will look forward to getting to know you too Cameron!” I smiled. I was looking forward to seeing how this new friendship worked out. I got the feeling we'd get on well, but we both clearly had issues that maybe could spill over given the right situation.
chapter 6
Elliot walked back into the room and the smell of food filled the air and made my tummy rumble loudly!
“See that is why giant pretzels are not food! I can hear your stomach from here! You should make sure you eat right!”
I rolled my eyes. “I eat okay! I had fruit for breakfast! I just have a funny idea of when to eat. I'll be sure to give you a food diary!” I winked at him in what I hoped was a sexy way and not like I'd just got a twitch.
He beamed a smile back at me as he laid the napkin across his lap.
I did the same with my own napkin, they were thick cotton and the loveliest shade of royal blue.
“Can I get you anything else before I leave you to your meals?!” Elliot loitered like he didn't want to leave quite yet, his eyes darting towards me every few seconds.
“That’ll be all, thank you!” Cameron turned his attention back to me as I picked out a slice of bread from the bread basket.
He made me feel a little self-conscious as he studied me intently.
“Well, I'll leave you to it.” Elliot sighed and walked off. I felt bad I'd have to try and see him before I left. I dunno get his surname so I could send him some sighed stuff to make up for the fact Cameron was acting so rude.
“You shouldn't feel sorry for him! He's here to work not talk to the customers!” He picked up his knife and fork.
I pulled a face. “I don't feel sorry for him Cameron, it's more that you were rude to him! He's still a human! Just because he works here doesn't make him any less good than you!” I inhaled through my nose and broke my bread roll in half crumbs spraying all over the table.
He licked his lips and took a deep breath. “If you are trying to provoke me then you’re going the right way about it! The fact is regardless of who he is or isn't, he's at work and should keep a level of professionalism about him!” He stabbed at the stake of veil with his steak knife.
“I'm not trying to provoke you at all! I just think different to you!” I rolled my eyes as I dipped the bread into the oil and bit into.
“Oh wow this tastes so good!” I closed my eyes and moaned a little. I had a love for artisan bread.
“You’re not all that different, when it comes down to it Evangeline your just like me and don't try to deny it! Also rolling your eyes is rude!”
A shudder ran through my whole body, the intense way had said it coupled with how he was looking at me scared me. I frowned. I couldn't be bothered to discuss it anymore, so I just didn't say a word. I finished my bread and then picked up my fork and eyed the salt up. I had a bad habit of putting too much salt on. I placed a piece of pasta into my mouth and chewed it. The flavours were divine it didn't need salt.
“Do you want to try some of my stake its good!” He grinned as he held it out on the end of his fork for me. A peace offering.
I wanted to say no, that I didn't agree with veil in general, but it was a small piece and be looked so pleased when I didn't say no so just allowed him to feed me.
He smiled from ear to ear as I chewed it.
It actually tasted good! The sauce was flavoursome. “Mm, that's actually really nice! Thank you.” I grinned at him.
“Glad you liked it! I'll have to introduce you some more new food types! I get the feeling you live off instant noodles and pre packed fruit!” He shook his head.
I couldn't deny it because it was true, I did. That and energy bars. “But Cameron instant noodles are like 0% fat though!” I shrugged.
He looked genuinely horrified. “You need looking after! You can't live off that kinda thing forever! I'll take your grocery shopping!”
I reeled. I didn't mind being told I needed to be looked after because he was entitled to his own opinion about my lifestyle, but I disliked that he'd taken it upon himself to insist on buying me food! I wasn't poor, I didn't need his charity.
“I am more than capable of shopping for my own food! I don't need someone to treat me like a child! I'm 21 next month! And besides I do have food at home! I only went food shopping the day before yesterday!”
I stabbed at another innocent piece of ravioli before shoving it in my mouth.
He raised a brow. “I'd still like to make sure you're getting enough vitamins though! You’re very pale Evangeline.”
I had had enough of his bizarre need to treat me like I was his girlfriend and not just some girl he'd just met.
“Why are you so interested in me?! No other man or indeed woman would give a fuck what I eat or why I am so pale. Why do you care so much! Is it just because I helped your sister?!” I stared angrily at him.
He took a deep breath in. “Because I can and because I was trying to be helpful I didn't mean to offend you! Please forgive me for being pushy.” He seemed genuinely sorry.
I got the feeling he didn't have a great deal of friends outside of his social circle, but I could forgive his domineering side because I was sure somewhere deep down under all the ties and waist coats if I dug enough I would find who he really was. “Okay, well just so we are all equal here, you don't need to worry about if I eat! I love food and I'm naturally very pale!” He clearly had control issues in his life.
He smiled. “Duly noted!” He smirked as he cut his stake. I glanced up every now and again, watching him eat, his eye lashes threw shadows over his cheekbones. Women paid good money for eyelashes like that. I flicked my eyes back down to my pasta I'd eat pretty much the whole lot, I wanted dessert, so I wasn't aiming to eat the whole lot. As I glanced back up I caught him looking at me. He didn't look back down like I would have done if he'd caught me looking at him instead he looked thoughtful.
“Your face is very expressive, I could tell just from the way you were staring at the few left bits of pasta that you don't want to eat the whole thing.” He raised a brow.
“Rumbled.” I grinned widely. “I'm kinda after getting the cheesecake and if I eat the rest of this I'll have no room left!”
He smiled. “Fair enough, they do very generous mains here! You can leave the rest since you’re eating dessert!” He looked back at his own meal and continue to eat.
I wanted to say something to rebel against his given permission to not eat the rest, but I didn't see the point! Instead, I put my knife a
nd fork down in the bowl and picked up my champagne glass, then sat back in my chair sipped it while glancing out of the widows. Even from level 33 the view was amazing and I wondered if he'd take me to the viewing platform on level 72, if he didn't it was okay, I'd just come back another day. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and tried to ignore it, thankfully I'd left it on silent.
“You can answer it!” He placed his knife and fork down on his now empty plate.
I rolled my eyes and put the glass down before fishing out my iPhone. It was still ringing. “You have got to be kidding me!” I wanted to throw it out of a window, seeing Sean's name flash up made my heart ache painfully.
I just stared at it. Trying to calm myself down.
“I assume it's someone you don't wish to talk to! Who was it?!” He looked thoughtfully at me.
I took in a steadying breath and wondered how to explain it. “Oh well, it's my ex! Sean, he's not left me alone for three months! He never normally calls just texts! Sometimes, not very nice ones! I don't even want to know what he wants!”
I should have gotten his number blocked, but a small part of me was still worrying about his mental state. Clearly not satisfied with the fact I hadn't picked up his call he rang again. It was still early hours of the morning in LA what the hell did he want?
Cameron held his hand out for my phone. “I'll answer it if you wish?! All the colour has drained from your face you clearly don't wish to speak to him!”
I shrugged handing him the phone. I really didn't care who answered it, maybe he'd give up if he thought I wasn't interested.
Cameron looked like the cat that had got the cream as he sat back in his chair and hit answer putting it on speakerphone so I could hear.
“Evangeline's phone.” He spoke with his perfect crisp British accent.
My heart beat funny in my chest as I heard Sean's voice for the first time in months.
“Who the fuck are you?! Put Evan on I need to speak to her!” He sounded drunk.
I closed my eyes. I could just see him now, probably, been out and now sitting in his apartment feeling sorry for himself.
“This is a friend of Evangeline's, she doesn't wish to speak to you!” He smiled over at me and I hugged myself with one arm.
Sean laughed. “You ain't no friend if you’re calling her by her full name! Now tell her to stop being stupid I need to tell her that I love her!” There was a crash in the background and then swearing. He clearly tripped over something in his apartment.
“On the contrary Sean, I choose to call Evan by her full name because it's a beautiful name! Now we are having a nice relaxing meal out and she doesn't wish to talk to you! If you insist on constantly calling her, she will have no choice but to block your number! It must be what 4am in Los Angeles right now?! Go sober up because no woman wants to hear her ex drunk calling her!”
He cut the call looking very pleased with himself.
I bit my lip. No one had ever said my name was beautiful before and no one had ever just taken over before. It was kinda good to not have the responsibility or the pressure of talking to Sean.
“I dare say he will call you right back, might as well turn it off if it annoys you that he calls!” He held my phone out.
“Thank you, I don't even know where to begin with him! He doesn't love me and I don't love him...” I let a breath go. I turned my phone off before he had the chance to ring back and shoved it back into my pocket.
“You’re welcome! His type are all the same!” He sipped more of his champagne.
“Yeah, you’re right there! He pushed me too far! I can't have him in my life anymore!” I literally couldn't, I came undone around him and that had to stop. Distance was good, it was helping me work through it. Mostly because he couldn't just turn up here like he could in L.A or New York.
Elliot came back into the room all smiles. “Was everything okay for you both?!” He picked up the plates.
“Yes, thank you, we'd like the dessert menus... Please.” He smirked at me.
The smile spread across my face that he'd actually said please.
“It was really delicious! Had to save space for the chocolate cheesecake, though!” I grinned.
“Okay, that's one chocolate cheesecake, and anything for you, sir?!” He looked at Cameron.
“No thank you, I will get just as much pleasure watching Evangeline eat!”
I swallowed hard. Oh god he was going to sit and watch me eat. Why did men do that?! What was so sexy about eating?!
Elliot raised a brow. “Okay, one chocolate cheese cake coming up!” He smiled a brilliant smile at me and I returned it. He was sweet really. He blushed red and scuttled off keen to get away from us.
“See I told you! It's best not to encourage these kids!” He rolled his eyes like he was correct all along.
I pulled a face. “Well, what harm does it do?! A smile here and there prolly made his day more bearable!” I winked at him again.
He smirked. “If you keep winking at me like that I may not be responsible for my actions Miss Watson!”
I tried not to smile, but I but I couldn't help it. “Well, I'll look forward to that Cameron!”
I'd used his owns words against him, but I could only imagine what he might do and I had a very active imagination!
“You shouldn't tempt me!” He brought his head level with mine as our eyes locked.
“Maybe I like to live dangerously!” I was flirting now and I was feeling good about it.
“Oh, I can see that!” He reached out with his hand and placed it on the right hand side of my face.
I drew a breath in. I would normally have lent away, but I couldn't look away from his intense eyes. His thumb stroked down over my cheek bone. Every nerve in my body tingled. I clenched again.
“You shouldn't have tempted me Evan, I'm not good for you.”
I closed my eyes for a second as I leant into his hand. I didn't understand why he was saying he was bad for me, but he'd said my name so sweetly. I was the one who choose who was good for me and who wasn't. When I opened them again, he was still staring at me.
“I think you’re wrong!” I brought my hand up to his, it shook a little. I was nervous he'd pull his hand away if I touched it. I placed my hand over his. “I think you've just never meet a girl that can stand up to you and get away with it or should that be that you let get away with it.”
I couldn't speak anymore. His face was almost unreadable but his eyes gave him away. He looked freaked out. I dropped my hand. I'd not meant to scare him.
“Why did you drop your hand Evangeline?!” He looked a little hurt.
I blinked. “You looked freaked out so I um didn't wanna push my luck!” I smiled at him.
My smile was greeted with one in return. “It's okay, I'm just not used to people acting of their own accord around me but I like it! I like you a lot Evangeline.”
“You've only just met me, how can you tell you like me like that?!” I blinked rapidly trying to understand what he'd meant. His stare was intense and it scared me. He stroked his fingertips over my cheek as he removed his hand.
“I don't know I just know that I like you! Would you permit me permission to be your friend?!”
I took a breath in. “None of my friends have ever stroked my face the way you just did, but there is something about you that I'd like to know.” It didn't make any sense that he'd want to be my friend, the way he looked at me made me feel he wanted more than that and I wasn't sure I could even cope with dating someone so obsessive.
He smiled at me. “Evangeline I think you’re very special, no other woman has ever caught my attention the way you have, naturally I'd like to get to know you better and see where things take us! Trust me, I'm not like the Sean's of this world! I won't treat you badly!”
Elliot came back into the room and gained a dirty look from Cameron.
He rolled his eyes and placed the cheese cake down in front of me. Sensing th
e atmosphere he didn't say anything, he just glanced between Cameron and myself and turned on his heel and walked away.
I didn't know what to say. I hadn't expected any of this to happen. When I'd woke up this morning all I wanted to do was go shopping and explore, but what I'd got was so much more than I'd bargained for. My brain was spinning. On the one hand, I liked him, I even fancied him if I was honest and I knew he'd be nothing like Sean but on the other hand, I knew he'd be obsessive and I knew things would be always be intense and his need to be in control all the time scared me! I also knew he had traits I intensely disliked. I didn't have a passive bone in my body yet part of me wanted to see him again regardless of all of that.
“Please say something Evan, you've been staring at the cheesecake for five minutes and the silence is driving me crazy.” His fingers touched my chin as he lifted my head up. So I had no other choice but to look at him. I liked it when he called me Evan.
“Okay, I'd like to be your friend, but I need you to understand something about myself and I don't know how things worked with you and your little supermodel girlfriends but I'm my own person! I won't stand for you telling me what to do and when to do it... Unless it's going to help me!” Sometimes I did need telling.
He licked his lips. “I understand and as to how things with me normally work, none of that applies to this situation! Normally it would have but I don't see that for you! They were never my girlfriends never in the sense you mean. So this will all be new to me too, so please give me a chance.”
I chewed my lip. I wanted to ask how it had worked for the others and why I was so special, but part of me knew I'd probably not like the answer so I just nodded. “Okay, I'll give us a chance.” I didn't know what else to say. I just felt confused. How did I feel like this for one guy I'd only known since last week?! But I couldn't deny I had some kind of feelings for him.
“It's okay, I understand that things are moving fast, I'm just a man of action! If I see an opportunity I take it! I don't like hanging around and then having someone else take what I want!”