Page 12 of Bound To Me

God damnit.“Uh, yeah. I’ll be serving at Bon Appétit,” I answered hesitantly.

“Oh, the one off Melrose? I love that place.” There was still a smile in his voice. “That’s a great place to be working. I bet you’ll get a lot of good tips.”

His optimism was infectious. “Let’s hope so.” I shrugged to myself.

“Maybe I can take you out for a celebratory dinner? As friends,” he clarified.

I bit my lip as I smiled and shook my head. “I can’t. I start tonight.”

There was a pause. “Okay. Maybe a brunch sometime this week?”

I had to give it to him—he was persistent. I secretly loved it.

“Yeah, maybe,” I said flirtatiously.

There was another pause. “Please let me know if I’m bothering you. I already feel really weird about being friends with a beautiful twenty-eight-year-old.”

Me? Beautiful? Not anymore.I suddenly felt horrible that he felt this way.

“No, no…you’re not bothering me. I just…I really need to make it clear that I can’t be in a relationship. Like, ever. I’m truly a fucking mess,” I blurted out.

“I understand that. Just friends,” he said, as if we were making a deal.

Why do I still feel terrible?

“And it’s not that I don’t find you attractive. You’re…God, you’re gorgeous. Too gorgeous. Like I said, I am just—”

“A mess,” he interrupted, teasing me.

I let out a small laugh. “A mess.”

“I appreciate your compliments. You’re gorgeous as well. But you seem to be…much more than that,” he admitted, almost sounding like he was surprised at himself for saying it.

“Nope. It’s all just trauma under this layer of skin, I assure you.”And on top of my skin.

He chuckled softly. “Okay. I believe you. I hope you have a really great first night. If you feel like it, let me know how it goes.”

I wish it were possible to go through this phone and give him a hug. I was desperate for some sort of physical touch, but the last time I was that desperate, I ended up literally going crazy.

“I will. Thanks, Elliott,” I said, smiling into the phone.

“Bye, Jacqueline.”

His voice and the way he said my name continued to make my pussy pulse.God, I’m fucked.

“Bye,” I breathed into the phone and quickly hung up.

* * *

My first night went extremely well. I made enough tips to last me another week at the hostel. The customers were friendly, the cooks, hosts, and fellow servers were extremely helpful and nice, and my confidence boosted 110% when I got hit on several times.If they only knew what I looked like underneath these clothes.

As I took the bus home, my mind immediately wandered to Elliott. I couldn’t count how many times I had muttered “Fuck it” to myself while in LA. I opened Instagram and messaged him:Hi. I think it’s time we exchange numbers? Here’s mine…

He responded back quickly, this time through text message:Hi, it’s Elliott. How did your first night go?

I couldn’t help but smile whenever I thought about him.

Elliott who?I sent and laughed to myself.

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