Crush: A YA Romance Collection

by Lavinia Leigh

  “Callum! Had a date. I hate a date.” She paused and started again much more slowly. “I went out on a date. It was very nice.” She wasn’t sure why it suddenly felt so weird to talk about it.

  There was a moment of silence on the other end.

  “Did he treat you well, or do I need to beat him up? I’m sure I have a pair of boxing gloves around here.”

  “No beating anyone up.” Then she changed the subject. “Millie’s going to love the director’s chair. I think that is pretty fabulous,” Emmeline said, biting a fingernail.

  “Good, I’ll be by later today to drop it off. I’ve got Mike looking after the shop today.”

  “Mike, are you sure? Remember what he did last time?”

  “I know, but he really felt bad afterwards about selling the chamber pot as a mixing bowl. I think he’ll be more careful now. At least I hope so.”

  Emmeline shuddered at the thought. “And how much did it cost you to make the customer happy again?”

  “Grrrr…” He grumbled deep in his throat. “I’ve been labeling things extremely precisely ever since.”

  “I have to go to work for the morning, but Millie and Pernella will be around. I almost never go in on a Saturday, but Kathy asked if I could cover for her for a few hours.”

  “How ’bout I pick Millie up and take her out to lunch? I can give her the director’s chair then.”

  Emmeline smiled. “Of course. I’ll tell her before I leave. I mean, not about the chair, about lunch.”

  “Awesome. See you later, kiddo.”

  Emmeline felt better about leaving for the morning, and she knew Millie would be pleased. She quickly got ready and told Millie that Callum was coming over to take her out for lunch. Her daughter squealed and started picking out something to wear. When Emmeline left, she was on the third outfit, this time with outsized sunglasses and a boa mixed with camo pants. Surprisingly it didn’t look all that bad on her. With clothes, as with everything, Millie had her own way of doing things. Emmeline wished she could be as confident as that kid of hers.

  The minutes ticked away slowly all morning. By the afternoon she had probably checked her cellphone at least a hundred times.

  Relax, girl, boys don’t call right away. She texted Ginny instead, who promptly answered:

  Ginny: If you want to talk to Sugar Boy, then just call him.

  Emmeline thought about it, but he said he’d call her. Maybe she’d give him a chance to. It didn’t make waiting any easier, though.

  Callum and Millie weren’t back by the time Emmeline got home. She was flustered and didn’t know quite what to do with herself. Pernella just shook her head and laughed at her. Emmeline felt ridiculous and was quite relieved when Millie and Callum came home.

  Millie didn’t have to say anything to show that she was in love with the chair: the look on her face said it all. Although she did cart it around the house with her, insisting dramatically over and over that it was like destiny-meeting, heart-exploding joy.

  Callum’s heart looked like it was exploding watching Millie. Clearly, he was pleased that Millie was pleased.

  “Thank you,” Emmeline said. She went up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I think this makes it official. Our little Millie has found her life’s calling.”

  “She’s a smart kid. I can hardly even begin to imagine what that girl is capable of.”

  Emmeline sighed as the two of them watched Millie quickly losing herself to her dream world. “Want to stay for dinner? I can whip up a batch of scalloped potatoes.”

  “You’re killing me, you know those are my favorite. I wish. I’ve got to get back and see if Mike has burned the shop down. It’s always a possibility, but worth it to spend time with Millie.”

  “Callum, I don’t know what she’d—or even me—would do without you.”

  Callum left a little while later, and Emmeline started some dough for pizza instead. The pounding of the dough was a good distraction from checking her phone every few minutes. As the hours wore away, a hollowness drilled its way through her chest as she began to worry that any interest Joel might have had in her was in her head.

  When he finally did call, she nearly jumped out of her skin. Thank God, she thought, I’m not crazy. They talked for ten minutes before Emmeline had to run and drop off Millie at her dance class. Routine-driven Millie would lose it if she was late for class. Emmeline promised to call him back that night.

  Emmeline tucked Millie into bed, listening to her begging for twenty minutes for a video camera. Millie refused to go to sleep until Emmeline promised to think about it.

  Before she called back, Emmeline made a quick stop in the bathroom and brushed her hair, then chastised herself. It’s not like he could even see her. But it made her feel better. She dialed his number and waited for Joel to answer. They spent the next two hours chatting. She could listen to him talk forever. His husky voice made her shiver, and lulled her into a dream-like state. Many times, she had to remind herself that this was just a boy, not a Greek god she was talking to. How did she let herself get so swept up in a flurry of emotions? Didn’t she ever learn?

  Joel met her for coffee Monday afternoon at the bakery on her lunch hour. She had to resist the urge to bounce up and down as soon as she saw him. They decided to take their coffee to go and walk along the river that crossed under the downtown street, away from her boss’s prying eyes. She knew no matter what she would be teased, but at least it would be nice if Joel wasn’t in the room when Kathy started in on her.

  Keep it slow, girl, she reminded herself.

  It wasn’t awkward, not even for a moment. They seemed to snap into place like puzzle pieces with no effort. They made plans to see each other again. And he was really accommodating when she explained that she needed to keep some strong perimeters around her time with Millie. He didn’t even freak out that she wasn’t ready for them meet any time soon. He understood, and explained that he had a nephew and his brother was uber protective of his son.

  She also got up the nerve to tell him that she wanted to take things slow. Not like they were even at that part in their relationship, but as strong as the attraction was, it would be best to lay things down on the line right away.

  As Emmeline was muttering on about how she would understand if he thought she was being too much, she just didn’t have any real relationship experience, he reached out and grabbed her hand. “It’s okay, everything, all of this is good. I mean really good. I used to mock my sister about her dreamy-eyed Disney princess lovey-dovey talk, and look at me. Emmeline, I’m a mess. One date with you, and I’m mesmerized. You’re so strong, and interesting, and damn it, you’re so beautiful. I can’t even imagine what you’re doing with me!”

  Emmeline felt her cheeks burning. “Really? You aren’t just saying that to make me shut up, are you?”

  Joel laughed. “No, whatever you do, don’t stop talking. Tell me everything. I mean, I want to know every single thing about you.”

  “I’m sure that is going to be a short story,” Emmeline insisted as she looked at the time. Her break disappeared in the snap of her finger, and she started to lead him back toward her work. They paused just outside the bakery before she went back in. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in close.

  “I’m not sure I’m ready to say goodbye yet,” he said.

  “Me, neither,” she said in a half-whisper. Kiss me, kiss me, a little voice in her head chanted.

  “When can I see you next?”

  “Let me talk with Pernella. I think she won’t mind if we go out Sunday night after Millie’s gone to sleep. I hate to take advantage of Pernella, asking her to babysit unless I really need her to. Besides, I can see her slowing down. She’s even taken to having afternoon naps.”

  “You’re so good to look after Pernella like you do. I’m not sure I could do it.”

  “I don’t do much. Besides, it works for us; she was there for me when I really needed her. When everyone was freaking out, I fou
nd peace in her home.”

  “So, Sunday, hopefully. You’ll break my heart if you can’t make it.”

  “Mine too,” she said. Their breathing became heavy as Joel leaned in and kissed her. For the second time, she just melted into his arms, her insides turning to goo. She wanted this moment to last forever.

  He pulled back, and her bottom lip jutted out, pouting. He reached up and gently pinched it. “You be careful with that pout. It’s not like I wanna stop.” He winked at her.

  “I should go, I’m sure I’m late.” She glanced down at her watch. “Oh, crap, I really am late. Tonight, I’ll call you tonight.”

  The rest of the day had her in a daze. She could hardly focus. She burned her hand, she walked into a wall. She wasn’t normally so clumsy. It was too soon to behave like this, she told herself over and over again.

  She went home and made arrangements with Pernella for Sunday night. That was six painfully long days away. The thought took her breath away and ached in her gut. She decided to call Ginny first to tell her about her progress with Joel instead of calling him. Maybe Ginny could talk her back down to earth.

  Ginny didn’t. She just laughed. Uncontrollably. Emmeline momentarily regretted calling her.

  “So, tell me everything. Really. I want to know. But if you’re calling me to talk you out of this dreamy state you’re in with Sugar Boy, you can forget it. It’s about time!”

  “So, it’s really okay?” Emmeline asked.

  “Yes! It’s really okay,” said Ginny.

  Chapter 27

  Date three went better than two and one, and led to them spending as much time with each other as they could squeeze out in a day. Joel mostly worked on his own schedule, which meant he had a bit more freedom and came by the bakery regularly on Emmeline’s lunch.

  These stolen minutes meant so much to Emmeline, who felt like she was coming back to life. Years of loneliness and longing for what could have been were slipping away, replaced with a newfound joy. Joel brought excitement with his sugar-melting kind of kisses. After one such knee-buckling kiss, Emmeline told him his nickname, which seemed all too true at that moment. He snorted. Emmeline couldn’t tell if he was amused or annoyed, but whether he liked it or not, it was too late: Sugar Boy was the name he was stuck with.

  Before she knew it, three months had passed, and Millie absolutely knew something was up. She didn’t quite know what, but she kept questioning Emmeline. It was hard to keep anything a secret around her for long.

  Besides, Emmeline really wanted to let Joel meet Millie. Things were going really well during their stolen moments. The question was, how much would Millie really understand, and how would she take it? With most seven-year-olds you could just say “This is Mommy’s friend” and leave it at that without too much fuss. With Millie, however, you always had to be prepared for her to push her questions further until you spilled your guts.

  Maybe she would be fine. Emmeline needed to take the chance. Finally, she decided to bite the bullet and tell her as she handed Millie her after-school snack and some watermelon juice, hoping for the best.

  “Angel Face, I told you sometimes Mommy goes out and spends time with her friend after you go to sleep.”

  “You sneak out all the time,” Millie said, unimpressed, and then slurped down her juice through a crazy twisty straw.

  “You’re asleep, how do you know?”

  “I don’t know, I just do.”

  “Listen, Mommy’s friend is really special to me. It makes me happy to spend time with him. You like to spend time with your friends too, right?”

  “Sometimes, but mostly all they do is want to play ponies. I mean, ponies are fun, but seriously, there are so many more things that we could do.”

  Millie seemed to struggle at times to connect with other kids her age. She didn’t complain about too much, but Emmeline wasn’t sure if that was because Millie wasn’t overly bothered by it, or if she was embarrassed to talk about it. Generally, when Emmeline asked, Millie gave the typical “I’m fine” answer that most kids gave.

  “Could I introduce you to my friend one day? Would you like that?” Emmeline knew she was being overly cautious. She wanted to say, “There, you’re going to meet my dreamy new boyfriend, and you’re going to love him,” even though she knew that would set Millie off on the wrong foot for sure.

  “Maybe.” Millie eyed her suspiciously. “Does he know who I am?”

  “Don’t be silly, of course he does. He knows all about you. I always talk about you.”

  “Does he know that I like to eat my pancakes in heart shapes?”

  “He might not.”

  “He knows nothing, then.”

  “Millie, you don’t have to meet him. I won’t be mad.” Emmeline clenched her teeth and waited for an answer.

  Millie was quiet for a moment. Emmeline could almost see the wheels in her head moving. Smart she was, subtle she wasn’t. “Who is Sugar Boy?” she asked finally.

  Emmeline burst out laughing, while Millie looked offended.

  “That’s Mommy’s nickname for her friend.”

  “Is he actually made of sugar?”

  Emmeline tried to stifle her laughter this time. “No, he’s not. He just has a sweet tooth, so Auntie Ginny and I started to call him that. We thought it was cute.”

  “Does he know?” She looked very concerned.

  “Yes, he thinks it’s funny.” At least she hoped he did.

  “Does he know that you shouldn’t have too many sweets? It can cause diabetes.”

  “How do you know about diabetes?”

  “I know stuff.” With that, she skipped off, and Emmeline wasn’t sure if that meant Millie wanted to meet Joel or not. Either way, it was going to happen now.

  Later, Emmeline dropped Millie off at her musical theater group. It was something that Emmeline had signed her up for, taking her out of ballet when Millie decided that she wanted to be a movie director. If Emmeline was being honest, she missed the little tutus, but Millie flat-out refused to go back, saying that she needed to focus on her movie career.

  With Millie in theater class, Emmeline met Joel at the beach for the hour. She wanted to approach him with the idea of meeting Millie. He was waiting for her on a bench by the parking lot with two cups that promised a cappuccino from her favorite coffee shop. He was wearing the jacket that Emmeline loved so much. Thank goodness there was more to him than just his good looks, because she might have fallen for him no matter what.

  “For you,” he said, handing her the steaming cup of coffee.

  “My favorite, thanks.” She kissed him on the cheek and took a sip. “Millie’s been asking about you.”

  “I thought she didn’t know anything about me.”

  “Well, she asked me who Sugar Boy was.”

  “You make me sound like some sort of lollipop.”

  Emmeline raised her eyebrows and then stifled a grin. “Anyway,” she continued, trying to maintain control, “maybe we can make arrangements to get you two together. I mean, if you want to meet her.”

  “Are you sure it’s time? I’d like to meet her, but I want to make sure you are a hundred percent sure.”

  “We have to stop sneaking around like this. I feel like I’m hiding my boyfriend from my parents. That kid, I tell you, she’ll be an adult before I will!”

  “She sounds like quite the character.”

  “You have no idea,” Emmeline muttered, shaking her head.

  “Where does she like to go?” he asked. “Maybe we can take her to her favorite place, we’ll stack the deck in our favor.”

  “You aren’t nervous, are you?”

  “I’d be stupid not to. She’s your kid, and I want her to like me. That’s the final test, isn’t it? I have a feeling that if she doesn’t like me, then we’re done.”

  “I don’t know what I’d do, to be honest. It would definitely make things uncomfortable. She’s always going to be my first priority. Millie didn’t end up with the life she was s
upposed to have with her father dying so young. It’s hard for her, even if she doesn’t know many details of what went on before she was born, and then what happened after that. She doesn’t really have grandparents. My parents are on the verge of freaking out every time they’re near her. Either they come on too strong and it’s too much, or it’s cold stony silence. Don’t even get me started on Nicholas’s parents. That’s a disaster that I don’t think we have time to go into.”

  “That bad, huh?”

  “Worse.”

  “What does Millie like to do?”

  “Right now, she’s pretty obsessed with movies. She carries her video camera around with her all the time.” Emmeline had given in a month ago and said yes to Callum’s begging to let him buy Millie a proper video camera. It seemed wrong to keep saying no to Callum, who really wanted to do it for Millie, especially when Emmeline couldn’t really afford it herself. It was a little detail she hadn’t told Joel, although she didn’t understand why herself. Joel knew that Callum was a big part of their lives.

  “Are you sure she’s seven?”

  “It would explain a lot if she wasn’t.”

  “Listen, the travel company that I’m working with is filming a short vlog for the website. It’s not a big deal, but there will be a director there, and video equipment. What do you think if I make arrangements for you guys to come and meet me there? I have a short piece to do about traditional local cuisine, which should only take an hour or so to film.”

  “Seriously? I think she would love it.”

  “Yeah, and then we can take her out to dinner. I know this great restaurant where they put out all kinds of raw ingredients, then you pick what you want, choose the spices, and then they cook it for you. It’s kind of fun, and there should be lots of variety for her.”

  Emmeline grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “I can’t even believe that you’re real! What are you doing with me?”

  Joel leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips. “It’s you I should be saying that to. You are the most fascinating person I’ve ever met. You’re strong, and determined, and real. I’ve met so many women who are just putting on a façade, or insist on playing games. You have never tried to be anything other than who you are. I appreciate that more than you can imagine.”