Page 62 of Waiting for Gilbert

And there’s John. No longer smiling.

24

GILBERT

LOVERBOY—WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND

John crosses his arms, and I can tell by the way he lifts his chin that he’s about to word vomit. Not sure what I did. Not sure that I care with Cordelia relaxed against my chest. She angles her face to mine. “John and I were planning a pizza party. Wanna come?”

“Gilbert has to work.” John twitches an eyebrow that says everything else to me.Right, buddy? Not dating because of all the work you have to do? But you’re flirting like a teenager. Make up your mind, because you’re being a tool.

“Hey guys.” Cameron saunters down the hall. “She’s paying rent, huh?”

Since Cordelia offers no resistance to the hold I put her in, at this point I’m giving her a hug. We’re hugging. The kind of hug by two people who are dating and familiar with the casual touch of each other.

She steps aside the same moment I drop her wrists and clear my throat.

“I have to work.” I nod like a bobble head. “Uh, big project. John, you’ll have to play without me tonight. I’m—yep, going to head out now and get started. Cam, you meet, um, CJ? This is CJ.”Breathe, Gilbert.Chill. Out. “Cam, CJ. CJ, Cam. I’ll catch you later.”

I’m three steps away when I remember she drove us into town. The tan carpet muffles my footsteps as I return. “Sorry.” I take Cordelia’s elbow. “Can I talk to you?” Without waiting for her answer, I tug her into the office and shut the door.

The room is small. A corner desk and a bookshelf filled with inspirational fiction, biblical studies, and commentaries fill the tiny office. I shove the swivel chair under the desk to make room for the two of us.

“Secretsecretclub meeting?” Cordelia smirks, and I find myself wanting to wipe it off with something too intimate. I can’t control my thoughts around her. When did this happen? I need to change this score before it crescendos.

Here I am, the weekend before the biggest chance of my musical career, and I’d rather spend time with some girl than do the work.

This. This is why I don’t date! I don’t have time for this nonsense. I can’t lead her on to expect more from me than I’m able to give. If I act on this feeling, I’ll disappoint her, and she’ll leave within a month…

Cordelia taps her finger against the side of my face. “What’re you thinking?” She’s been in the habit of touching me since we met. Brushing sawdust from my shoulders. Fixing my hair. Unbuckling my seatbelt. Every time she touches me, I freeze because I want to swallow her up. I want to drag her to my chest and hold her. Run my fingers into her tangled hair. Kiss her until she has to come up for air.

I step away. “I can’t do this.” Phone in hand, I unlock the screen and fiddle with it. Doing nothing but finding something to look at besides her.

“Do what? Pizza party? It’s cool. John says you have to work? I wish you’d told me about L.A.” She tucks her hands in her hoodie pocket.

“I didn’t want to distract you from your own deadline. And I was busy getting the set together. We’re booked for the mall tomorrow night, so John got us a room in Omaha and we’ll fly out early Saturday. Zip-zip and home again Sunday.”

“That sounds awesome. Celebrity band. I wish I could go.” A laugh bursts from her, and she claps her hands while bouncing on her toes. “When you’re super famous, can I be your traveling chef and paparazzi? Wouldn’t that be fun! I could make you food and film your gigs.” Her hands form a little camera box pointed toward my face. “John’ll manage websites, scheduling. He and I could set up a killer social media plan. Then you write all our new stuff. Dream team for sure. We’d be unstoppable!” She ends her little speech in a Captain Marvel pose, fist to the sky.

Phone camera on, I snap a quick shot of her. “You’re a goose.”

“Oh.” She deflates. Shoulders curve inward. Face points to the floor. “Why did you bring me in here?”

“I’m going home. But I don’t want to leave you stranded. John will jump on the chance to drive you home, but I don’t want you uncomfortable if you prefer to make plans with your sister. I just needed to touch base without spectators. Give you the chance to make your own decision about it.”

“That was thoughtful. I’ll talk to Diana.”

“Thoughtful would’ve been letting you drive yourself if I wasn’t planning to stay.”

“But we checked off another driving lesson. I think I’m getting better.”

I chuckle. “At this rate you’ll be on your own in five years.”

She makes a noise deep in her throat like a buzzer. “Just for that I’m throwing out that last piece of chocolate pie I saved for you.” Her pointer finger digs into my chest.

I remove her hand but keep it in mine. “What? No! I take it back.” The physical points of contact between our hands warms my whole arm until I feel it in my stomach.

“Yes, sir. I won’t eat it because I’m getting fat on pie. In the trash it goes. So sad for you.”

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