The Heart Series: Complete Boxed Set (92 page)

“Wow, slow down there, B, don’t want to scare him off.” Anyone coming off that eager would soon have the guy running for the hills.

“I won’t. I’ll keep my thoughts to myself, but do I need to remind you that he’s sexy as hell? Want to see a photo?” she teased, pulling out her phone from her pocket.

“Always.” I gazed at the picture that was thrust in front of me, and my heart dropped slightly, seeing the happy couple together. I wanted to be happy for them not to be envious. Brianne had been messed around by a lot of guys so she deserved some stability, for the guy to treat her like the queen. I just had to learn to suck it up and wait patiently for my prince charming to turn up, though right now I was pretty sure he’d taken a permanent detour.

“Hey B,” I greeted her as she rolled her eyes playfully walking through the door smiling. This was like her second home. She was always here, but my mum didn’t mind. She was like the daughter she never had. Brianne didn’t have the best relationship with her own mother, always having more of a bond with mine. My mother was cool if equally a little eccentric, but I loved that kooky part of her. She didn’t let anyone dictate how she was. She just made her own rules and never gave a damn what anyone else thought. She truly was my inspiration.

“Get the kettle on, E, I’m parched,” she ordered.

I quirked an eyebrow at her demands. “You’re barely through the door and already dictating. Some things will never change.”

“Oh quit your yapping and get on it,” she barked.

I stood up placing both hands on my hips. “I expect you’ll want some biscuits too?”

“Is the pope Catholic?” she bitchily responded.

I wandered through to the kitchen shaking my head. Some things never changed. After filling the kettle I walked back through to the lounge, watching B text backwards and forwards.

“Err hello, what am I chopped liver?” I asked lifting my hands in disbelief.

“Just a minute . . .” she continued typing while biting on her lip, looking deep in thought.

“Never mind a minute, I demand some attention too,” I whined. I’d had a tough day at school and been given more coursework than anyone should have to handle, so I lived for this down time together. I was ready to sit and have a good gossip; it was the highlight of my day.

She looked up chuckling. “Well, you are an attention whore.”

I pouted my lips. “I won’t deny it.”

How could I?

“Just one more text and then you get my full attention . . .”

“About time, I’m feeling unloved over here.” I groaned. I didn’t like being ignored; it was not something I was used to.

Her fingers worked the keys before placing the phone down beside her. “Done, now tell me, has Ollie been in touch?” Her eyes flicked up to meet mine, and my face dropped.

“Nope, I think he’s maybe lost interest.” I sighed. It was over before it had even begun.

“Who was the last text from?” she enquired. I could see the cogs turning in her head. She always was good as psychoanalyzing men, even I was afraid at times.

“Me.” I had never had this before. I was never the one who did all the chasing, it just wasn’t in my DNA.

“What did you say?”

“Just that we could rearrange.” I bit my lip in frustration. Had I scared him off? Maybe he was just being nice and he hadn’t really meant it. God, I must have come across desperate to send him running.

“And when was that?” B asked.

“Two days ago.”

“Let’s rectify that, shall we?” She grinned and grabbed the phone from my hand before I had time to react.

“B, give me my phone back.” I jumped up looking on in horror as her fingers worked the keys. I didn’t want her intruding in something that was none of her business.

“Nope . . . ooh sent. Let’s see if he replies.”

“Oh my god, please tell me you did not just embarrass me,” I shrieked.

This was bad.

“Oh quiet down and read it.” She tossed the phone over to me. I flipped it over and clicked the message open.

When are you free for our coffee date ;)

My eyes widened in complete horror. “Oh my god, you used the word date and a winky face, you bitch,” I fumed.

How could she?

She had gone too far this time.

“What? First off what’s wrong with being a little forward? And the winky face adds a little cheekiness,” she replied nonchalantly.

“But we’re not in a place to use the word date or winky face. Cheers, B, you’ve scared him off.” If I hadn’t completely blown it already, then I definitely had now.

The smile slipped from her face, staring into my annoyed eyes. “Sorry E, I was just trying to help . . .” she explained, but I was too mad to accept her apology.

The text alert went off.

“Holy shit he replied,” B said looking surprised grabbing my phone.

My eyes immediately widened. “Oh my god what did he say? Oh on second thought don’t tell me, you should have never meddled, B.” I had warned her to mind her own business, but she was never one to ever listen.

“He says he’s free after he finishes work at four, so wants to meet at Starbucks at five. Want me to text him a yeah?” She smiled smugly, enjoying my reaction.

The cow!

“I suppose I could be free . . .” I offered, trying to keep the smile from breaking out over my face.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” She quickly typed out a reply, and I grinned when a text promptly arrived back.

“Well five at Starbucks it is, you’re welcome.” If she was waiting for a reply then she’d be waiting a long time. It was lucky for her that none of this had backfired.

Then it hit me.

“Oh my god what am I going to wear? I haven’t got time to discuss, the television will have to keep you company, I have a wardrobe to plan,” I shrieked, running off.

“Fine, I’ll just hang out down here all by my lonesome with the biscuits for company,” she shouted after me, but I was too pre-occupied to even care.

* * *

My fingers wrapped lightly against the wood. I really needed to calm down but that was easier said than done. Why was I so nervous? My eyes flicked to the clock in the corner, he was five minutes late.

Five minutes was nothing.

But why was he late?

I was being stupid, just stupid.

Calm the hell down.

My eyes snapped up the moment I heard the door open to be met with a set of beautiful blue eyes. His smile had me losing my breath, it was like a jolt of electricity had brought every inch of my body to life. His eyes never left mine as he slowly wandered over. I took a few deep breaths trying to regulate my breathing.

“Hey.” He smiled and my heart skipped a beat.

“Hey back, what’s your poison?” I asked standing up, ready to go place our orders.

“A mochaccino please.”

“Ahh a guy with good taste, anything to eat?”

“Err, a brownie would be good.”

I grinned. “Now we’re talking.”

I headed over to the counter where Luke was quick to serve me.

“Elijah, right?” he asked, finishing off the order ahead of me.

“Yeah, hey Luke.” I could feel my cheeks heat. God, he was hot. I was still recovering from him knowing my name. Yeah, B had probably told him but hearing my name rolling off his sweet lips was something else.

“So what would you like?” Luke asked moving onto me.

“Two mochaccinos and two brownies, please.” I grabbed the wallet from my back pocket ready to pay.

“Coming up. So how’s Brianne?” A smile touched his lips the moment he mentioned her name.

“Err, you should know, you text non-stop.” I scoffed. She was practically attached to her phone these days, it was hard to try to squeeze in conversations in between.

“Hmm, well, you know how it is . . .” He blushed a little.

“She is a little smitten.” I smiled.

She was totally smitten.

“I like her too,” he finally admitted.

“She must really like you as she never normally acts this way, it’s usually the other way around. She has her way then leaves them.”

Whoops, should have kept that to myself.

“Well damn, don’t I feel special . . .” He busied himself finishing the drinks while I tried to think of some plausible excuse to tell B about my little slip up.

“Just treat her right, underneath all that bolshie cover is a girl that is fragile,” I warned. I didn’t want to see my cousin hurt.

“Fragile? You are talking about B, right?” He chuckled, shaking his head looking mystified by my words.

I scowled. “Hey, she hides it well.”

“Maybe too well,” Luke added.

“Don’t tell her about this as she will kill me, but she really likes you and that doesn’t happen often,” I trailed off.

“Well I like her too, but it is early days, we’ve barely been seeing each other a week.” He looked slightly horrified by my omission.

Oh B was going to have my balls for this.

“I know I’ve probably said too much.”

“Well, I need to get onto my next order,” he mumbled awkwardly as he took my money, quickly handing over the change.

“Thanks, but remember keep it zipped, I’d preferably like to keep my balls intact.” Else I’d have to hide all the sharp objects away from her revengeful hands.

“I swear I won’t, talk to you later.” I barely had time to open my mouth when he was straight onto the next customer.

I grabbed the tray maneuvering my way over to the table. Ollie was sat awkwardly playing with the sugar sachets.

“Hey, sorry about that, just got talking and well you know.”

“That’s fine.” His head dipped slightly, but I wasn’t too slow to notice a look of annoyance in his eyes.

“Not that way, he’s my cousin’s boyfriend.”

“Ahh okay.” His face brightened up a little, and I couldn’t help but smile.

Was he jealous?

I hoped so.

“So I got you a brownie, you can have the marginally bigger piece,” I offered smiling.

“Wow, you’re so generous.”

“I know, what can I say? It’s my good nature always winning over.”

God, I was selfless.

“You make me laugh.” Ollie smiled.

“Well I’m glad someone finds me funny.”

“I needed it today, my dad had a right go at me earlier about an order that was put through incorrectly, and of course I got the blame.” He shrugged and looked defeated like that kind of thing happened a lot.

“Tough day then?” I asked, hoping he would share more with me.

“Yep, my dad’s in a bad mood, it’s all because he wants to leave my mother. He told me so himself, though he can’t remember because he was drunk at the time, but I remember every word. I wish he would. They are toxic together, always sniping at each other and then there’s Jessica, god, my sister is such a bitch.”

“Well I know that from experience . . .” I added. She had more than proved that to me on many occasions.

“Oh yeah, no one escapes her when she’s in one.” I got the impression he regularly got her bitchy side which made me feel sad.

“You know you can come hang over at mine anytime you want. Even if it’s just to escape the family,” I offered, hoping he’d take me up on my request. I more than welcomed his company.

He sighed before smiling. “I’d like that.”

“Cool.” We both sipped awkwardly on our drinks. I’d never been speechless before, but for the life of me, the words refused to come.

Think, Elijah, think.

“So do you go out much around town?” I asked casually. Had he even ever been to a gay bar?

“I have been to a few clubs,” he responded, stirring his drink.

He wasn’t giving much away then.

“B sometimes sneaks me in, it depends who’s on the door. I can’t wait to turn seventeen, it’s a step closer to eighteen. I hate being young.”

“Ahh, I remember those days, having to settle for a few ciders in the park.”

I chuckled at his remark. “Yep, nothing like knocking back a bottle on the swing.”

“I turned eighteen a couple of months back and you think that everything is going to change but it feels no different. Trust me, I know.” He sighed.

“At least you can drink and drive, well not together,” I added taking another sip of my drink.

“There is that I suppose.”

“I’m going to start lessons once I turn seventeen next month, I can’t wait. Maybe you can give me some tips on how to do an impressive three point turn?” I asked hoping to bring a smile to his face.

“I am an expert at them, but I don’t like to brag . . .” He grinned and my heartrate picked up.

“Oh well I definitely need some one on one guidance.” I winked and his cheeks instantly heated. I cursed myself for taking it too far. I had to remember this was just coffee, not a date. He was not giving off any interested vibes, well apart from his sexy blush.

Don’t screw this up, Elijah.

“I can take you out,” he eventually said. He bit his lip as he awkwardly stirred the remains of his drink. When he looked up, my eyes instantly fell to his lips. They were deliciously plump and perfect. I felt my heartrate quicken again and I knew I needed to stop staring, but all I could think about was how soft they would feel against mine. I wanted to know what he tasted like. I wanted my tongue to explore every inch of his month. Oh god, this was not the place to have a hard-on, in Starbucks of all places.