by King, C. M
My text alert went off and I flinched, part of me was hoping Ollie was cancelling.
Oh please let him cancel.
Much to my dismay it was the complete opposite, it was a ‘looking forward to tonight text.’
Oh shit!
He wouldn’t be saying that if he knew what was in store. I would have to drill it into B before we went, but then again her mouth had a way of running away with her.
She sashayed into the room with the towel leisurely draped around her. “Are you going to do my hair, E?” I rolled my eyes and she pouted. “Pretty please,” she begged.
Oh now she was just irritating.
“Hurry up and get some clothes on for starters, I threw the sweat pants and T-shirt at her. That would cover her up till she was ready to slip on her dress.
“What’s wrong, E, scared I will flash a boob?”
“Eww, don’t even go there. I’m turning round now, get a move on or else you can do your own hair.”
“Fine,” she snapped.
I heard some fumbling and then she cleared her throat. “Ready.”
I peeked just in case but thankfully she was covered. I quickly took her hair down and rubbed it with the towel ready to bring some life back into it.
After thirty minutes of blow drying and curling her hair, it was finally done.
“Perfect,” she beamed, checking it from all angles.
“I know I’ve weaved my usual magic again.”
“Do you not fancy becoming a hair dresser instead? You’d make a killing.”
I frowned at her suggestion. “Nope, you know how much I love to dance. I’m just a jack of all trades, I can’t help being this talented.” I winked at her in the mirror, and she rolled her eyes. Every now and then you had to blow your own trumpet.
“Now can you do my makeup?”
“Oh for the love of god . . .”
“Oh shut up, you love it really, and I want big lashes so plenty of mascara.” She emphasised just how big with her hands.
“It’s a quiet meal, not a nightclub for god’s sake.” I rolled my eyes at her attempt to always make everything such a big deal. The girl didn’t know the meaning of toned down. She pouted like it would change my mind, but I wouldn’t relent. She was not looking like a drag queen tonight.
I fastened her dress and she sighed, smoothing it down. “Maybe I should wear the other one—”
“Nope, it’s either this one or your jeans.”
“But I want to wear the shorter one,” she protested.
“B, please, it’s a meal, dress respectful tonight for me. I’m already on edge about what’s going to happen tonight.” I really needed this argument about the dress code like a hole in the head.
“Why, what’s wrong?” she asked suddenly looking all serious.
“I know you and your mouth.”
Only too well.
“Oh come on, E, I can tone it down when I want to.”
Who was she kidding?
“Yeah, but you have a habit of not engaging your brain before you speak,” I added, not caring if she took offence by my words.
“The cheek,” she fumed.
But she knew it was true.
“I mean it, B, you start tonight, and I will kill you.” That was me giving her a friendly warning. I was not about to put up with her bullshit tonight.
“I won’t, Brownie’s honour.” She winked, holding up her fingers.
“Please, how long did you last, an hour?”
“Not even that.” We both laughed together. She had been thrown out of her first session. It was typical B. Normally I’d laugh at her antics, but I didn’t want her setting us back. Things were going too well for her to throw a spanner in the works.
“I will try, but I can’t promise anything.”
“B please,” I pleaded. I needed this night to run smoothly.
“Okay, okay I’ll try to be good.” She rolled her eyes and pouted her lips as I added the last coat of her lip gloss.
“Done, now I need to grab my jacket and then we can go.”
B checked herself in the mirror. I could see her look of doubt that she wasn’t glamourous enough, but I was done with the makeover. Any longer, and we’d be late meeting the guys, and that wasn’t happening.
* * *
“Hey, you’re here,” I added with a smile, closing the gap between Ollie and me.
“Yeah, I was just hanging around at home so I set off a little early, but Luke was here to keep me company.”
My eyes flicked over to Luke. “Hey Luke.” I did the whole chin lift, and he reciprocated with a smile before I turned back to Ollie.
“So what were you guys talking about?” I asked suddenly feeling intrigued.
“Oh just guy stuff, football and all that.” He shrugged, not adding any more.
“You like football?” I hated it myself but it did have its perks, watching hot guys running around in shorts, now that was enjoyable.
He nodded in response. “Yeah, I go to the odd match with my dad.”
“That’s good, I guess, that you get to hang out together. My dad would have loved the same for me, but as I told him, I’m just not wired that way. We never did have many hobbies together, we’re so different it’s laughable, but I struck gold with my mother, she is amazing.”
“So when do I get to meet her?” he asked, and I smiled at the fact he was even asking.
“Anytime you like I just didn’t want to push you before you are ready, that’s all,” I explained, I thought meeting my mother would have been way down the line, I was actually taken back by the fact he had mentioned it so soon.
“She sounds like a good person and I’m ready.”
I felt his fingers interlock with mine and he squeezed them in a small way of reassuring me. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be so bad after all?
“Hey guys, we have a table,” B shrieked, turning the attention on her as everyone looked over at the source of sudden noise. We seriously couldn’t take her anywhere.
“She’s kind of loud,” Ollie muttered.
That was an understatement.
“Yep, she likes to be noticed. Will you be okay?”
“I’m sure I can handle myself against your cousin,” he replied reassuringly, but I wasn’t so sure.
“I don’t know, she’s pretty intense, but I’m here, I’ve got your back.” I gave his hand a squeeze before dropping it, heading over to the table Luke and B were now sitting at.
“Mmmm, what’s everyone having?” B asked, holding out the menus for us all to peruse.
“I think I’m having the steak,” Luke replied without even looking. My eyes slowly scanned that hot body of his, and I could see that it took a lot of food to keep that engine running.
“I think I might have the salmon,” Ollie mumbled.
B pulled a face, she was not a lover of fish at all, but I liked to have it now and then.
“I might join you with that one, I’m trying to tone down on all the meat.”
I heard B scoff, and my eyes fixed with hers in a silent warning, any sausage jokes, and she was getting lynched from the table. She coughed to hide her laugh, turning to whisper to Luke.
Ollie looked on in bewilderment, but I was not about to explain to him B’s pathetic immature mind right at this moment.
“What about you, B?” Luke asked, propping his menu back up.
“Oh I’ll have the sausage, the extra-large one.”
Luke coughed at her reply and she patted his back. “Are you okay, baby?” she asked innocently as I narrowed my eyes. I knew where this was heading, and it wasn’t happening. We were not getting into any cock conversations.
“I think I’ll have a coke, how about you, Oll?’ I turned my attention towards him cutting B off before she barely begun. She narrowed her eyes, knowing exactly what my intentions were, and I narrowed mine back.
Not today, B, not today.
“Yeah, coke sounds good. Can I have extra ice?” Ollie asked.
God, he was perfect.
“Ahem, I’ll have an orange J20, if you’re asking,” B replied, breaking our moment.
“I wasn’t actually, but good to know.”
“Luke, can you get me a J20, pretty please.” She pouted.
He rolled his eyes. “Coming up, B, I’ll go to the bar with Elijah.”
B automatically smiled, and I could see a plan hatching behind those evil little eyes of hers. No way was I leaving Ollie alone with her. “You coming, Oll?”
He made to move, but B grabbed his arm. “I think he’s fine here, keeping me company.”
Ice ran through my blood wondering what her motives were. Ollie shrugged and sat back down, looking slightly nervous as I gave B a silent warning not to overstep the mark.
I reluctantly walked off with Luke. It took all my self-control not to head back to the table to control the present conversation going on between them.
“He’ll be fine. You need to relax,” Luke said, smiling reassuringly.
“Easy for you to say, you know what’s she like. Ollie isn’t used to her behaviour.” That thought alone made me unnerved.
“He’s got to learn to stand up for himself if he’s going to be around her, you can’t be there all the time to protect him.”
I guess he was right, but my instinct was I just wanted to shield him from the harsher side of B. Even I could still be taken back by her at times.
“I know but it’s just early days, and he’s easily scared.” One wrong word from B would have him running for the hills. It was my worst fear to lose him now, each day I was beginning to fall for him a little more. I liked having a boyfriend, even though we were taking it slow and hadn’t given ourselves that label yet. I liked the security, the way we were monogamous to each other, that was something huge for both of us.
I glanced over and could see Ollie’s cheeks heat as B smiled at him wickedly. I made to move, but Luke grabbed me holding me back.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine for a few more minutes, relax and let him speak for himself.”
I looked around agitated. We needed to be served soon before I blew a gasket. Thankfully the bar man came over, he was cute, but I couldn’t even enjoy having a cheeky perv, my mind was too wrapped up in making it back to Ollie. Luke picked up the tray of drinks, and I shot over, giving B the evil eyes as I sat down.
“So what have you all been talking about?” I asked innocently, trying to hide my anxiety.
“Oh just this and that,” B replied vaguely, sipping on her drink.
I turned and whispered to Ollie. “She hasn’t been too full on has she? We can leave now and go somewhere on our own,” I offered. He only had to say the word, and we were gone.
“No, it’s fine.” He shrugged, but his answer did nothing to cool the fear slowly building inside me.
“Are you sure?” I asked again, trying to catch his eye, but it was kept solely focused on his drink in front of him.
“I was just asking him what his intentions were towards you?” B piped up. No wonder Ollie’s mood had taken a nose dive.
“And what the fuck has that got to do with you? That’s between us.”
She huffed at my remark. “Calm down, E, I am family. I want to know that it’s not just a phase he’s going through and will end up leaving you high and dry when he suddenly decides he’s straight again.”
“I should go . . .” Ollie made to stand, but I grabbed his arm.
Luke’s eyes flashed to mine, giving me an apologetic look, but I was too pissed. I knew she’d start something, despite her many promises they meant nothing in the end. She had ruined our night, and I wasn’t about to let her have any more of the floorshow.
“Listen to me, B, and listen good. You want to be in my life then you respect whom I choose to be with. You know nothing about Ollie, so don’t even pretend you had my best interests at heart. You were stirring and trying to get a rise out of him. I told you to watch your mouth, but you went ahead anyway. I’ve made more than enough excuses for your behaviour over the years, but this time you’ve pushed me too far. Come on, Oll, we’ll eat somewhere else.”
Her face filled with a look of horror. “E, please, I’m sorry. I’ll be good, please stay,” she pleaded, but it was pointless.
“No, I’m done. Come on, Oll.” I grabbed his hand, and we left moments later. Once outside I kicked the wall, damaging my new shoes, but right now, I was just too pissed to even care.
“It’s okay, Elijah, I’m fine. She was a little intense, but I survived. Please don’t fall out over me,” he begged, and I was surprised by his ability to still try to diffuse the toxic situation she had just created.
“I told her over and over again not to question you, but she just didn’t listen. She thinks she can get away with murder because I’ve let her in the past, but this is one time too many,” I fumed, turning and banging my fist against the wall. I flinched with the pain, and Ollie grabbed me, steadying me and held up my hand, kissing the broken skin on my fist lightly. I winced a little, but he soon took my mind off things when his lips crashed against mine.
I lost all train of thought and didn’t care as long as his lips stayed there that was all I could think about right now.
He pulled away moments later. “Did I do a good job distracting you?” he asked smiling. It was only then that I noticed we were outdoors, no hiding. He had kissed me out in the open for anyone to witness. This was huge.
I leaned in for another but when he pulled back my heart sank. He had no doubt registered that too and reverted into his shell.
Two steps forward and three steps back.
“We should go somewhere more private,” he mumbled awkwardly, seeing my confusion.
“Yeah, that’s fine, whatever.” I made to march off, but he grabbed my hand and held it tight in his not giving me the chance to try to shrug him off. At least we were holding hands—that was something. I sighed at just hating to relish the small things that other young couples took for granted.
Would it always be like this?
We walked over to the car and climbed in. Ollie started the engine, and I stared out the window. What was supposed to be a great evening had been the dinner date from hell.
Chapter Eleven
“Do you want these extra fries?” Ollie offered, and I shrugged finally shaking my head. I had eaten enough carbs today. So much for the diet.
“No, I’m stuffed,” I replied, disinterested. Balling up the burger wrapper in front of me and tossing it in the bin.
“Oh, so you won’t want this then?” Ollie held up two crème egg McFlurrys. My eyes instantly brightened.
Ice cream and chocolate was my one weakness.
“When did you get those?”
“Remember when I went back in to change the wrong order, well, I picked them up then and hid them.”
“Sweet lord, these are amazing,” I said between bites.
“I know, right,” Ollie agreed, taking another mouthful. We ate in silence the only noise was the odd groan of pleasure that left our lips.
After the last spoonful, I fell back onto the bed, feeling the full effects of our binge session. “Oh god, I couldn’t eat another morsel. I can barely move.”
Ollie flopped down beside me, and we lay there before slowly falling into a carb coma. I woke up a while later and stretched, turning to see Ollie still flat out beside me. I smiled as I took in all his features. He really was beautiful.
His blonde hair gently fell across his forehead, and I longed to sweep it away to press my lips up against his and fall into a sweet kiss. As if he could hear my thoughts Ollie popped open an eye.
Oh shit caught out.
“Were you watching me sleep?” Ollie asked, and I bit my lip to hold back the smile that was about to break out across my face.
“Maybe,” I confessed. He had caught me outright looking I could hardly lie.
&nb
sp; “Do you usually watch people sleep?”
“No, you’re my first. I couldn’t help it, you looked—”
“What?” he asked, urging me with his eyes to finish.
“You looked beautiful.”
He scrunched up his nose. “I don’t think you should ever call a guy beautiful.”
“But you are, those eyes, this face, it’s stunning.”
He blushed and swallowed slowly. I could tell he didn’t receive many compliments. I moved forward along the pillow, so our noses were practically touching.
“I love that you don’t realise how good looking you are. It’s sweet the way you react when anyone pays you a compliment.”
“I just feel awkward.”
“I can tell.” I chuckled. “But you had better get used to it as I’m going to be giving you compliments all the time. You may even grow a bigger head from it.”
“Doubtful,” he replied as a small smile tugged on his lips.
“When I was watching you sleep all I could think about was all I wanted to do was kiss those lips.” It was all I ever thought about.
He licked them slowly with his tongue like he was enticing me even more. My eyes stared deep into his, and I watched as he gave me a silent exchange.
I stroked my nose up against his and he gasped lightly. I held off for a few beats, giving him time before our lips gently pressed together. At first it was a soft, gradual kiss that slowly turned into something deeper. I wanted it to last forever, to feel this wave of emotion that filled me each time we connected, but then Ollie broke apart and I was left feeling a deep sense of rejection.
“You know it’s not true what B said about me using you.” His eyes flashed with the pain at the thought I might have even believed B’s words were true.
“Hey, I know,” I soothed, he didn’t have to explain to me.
“I just don’t want you to think that I would toy with your feelings like that. I know I’m constantly telling you that I need to take it slow, but I do want to be with you. I would never hurt you like that.” He frowned just at the thought of it.
“Shhh, I know what we have, what we share. B doesn’t understand, she’s just stepping in and handling the situation in her usual bull in a china shop way.” I stressed, hoping to alleviate his embarrassment at B attacking him so publically.