Page 12 of His Shy Girl

I’m not worried about things not working out. What I’ve found with her, I know I won’t find with anyone else. Our foundation has been laid. We know we have fun together. And it’s not like we have to sleep together anytime soon. I’m cool with taking things slow, waiting until she’s ready. But kissing her would be nice. Holding her hand. Cuddling up with her while we’re watching football together. Doing all the things to her body that I do online.

“So what? I’m just supposed to be cool with being friend-zoned, forget that she actually exists in real life, and is only twenty minutes away from me when she’s sending me dirty messages online?”

“Dude, that’s hot.” He nods.

“Yeah, it fucking is.” It’s beyond fucking hot. She’s come right out of her little shell and tells me exactly what she wants now. “I can’t fucking let this go. It may sound crazy, but I think she’s the one, Chase.” Now, he’s choking on his food, looking at me like I might be nuts, but I’m dead serious. “She’s so perfect, man. We can talk online for hours about anything and nothing and I never grow bored.” I’m never rolling my eyes or making an excuse toget offline. “She’s really fucking awesome. And what other girl do you know can talk football stats and likes to play fantasy football?”

I don’t know one girl who I have anything in common with. I love my mom, but even she doesn’t get football. And she’s watched me play for years. And forget about Kanturia. The one time I tried to explain the game to her, her eyes glazed over.

“Well then, what are you waiting for? Get off your ass and go get her. At least you’ll get your answer.”

“So what? I’m just supposed to go talk to her?” I’ve been on the fence so many times, debating whether I should show up at her school, but I always talk myself out of it.

“That’s exactly what you should do. You should go kiss the shit out of her, and then tell her how you feel. If she doesn’t bite, then at least you know now before things get too deep.”

Things are already fucking deep. I think I’m in love with the girl. In fact, I know I am.

“You don’t think me showing up will scare her off? I don’t want to pressure her. She seems a little skittish.” And innocent. I haven’t asked her point-blank, but I know she’s a virgin. So am I. But I’ve messed around with girls before. I’m getting the impression that Willow hasn’t even dated anyone before.

“It sounds like she’s shy or afraid of rejection. But once she knows your intentions, I think she’ll give in. And if she doesn’t, you’ll go back to burning up her internet firewall with your dirty talking, getting her real walls to come down.”

And what if she ghosts me?I don’t voice my fear. But that’s what’s always riding my nerves. Every time we finish playing our sexy game, I’m worried the next time I log on that I’ll see she’s unfriended me. I’m always afraid I’ve taken things too far with her. Worried I was too aggressive with my verbal demands. Crossed way into the sea of perversion, but she hasn’tunfriended me yet. And last night, she made demands of her own. And I gave my girl exactly what she needed.

“You’re right. I’ll go there after school. I’m going to make her tell me to my face that she’s not interested.” Though, I’m hoping once our lips connect, she’ll feel the spark and won’t be able to say no. “Can you keep things on the down-low with the guys? I don’t want them coming at me for details if things go south.”

Chase nods his head. I trust that he’ll keep this between us.

For the remainder of the day, I’m counting down the seconds until I can go to her school. She said she would be working in the library today, so I’ll be waiting in the parking lot. Watching for my pretty girl to appear through the doors. And then I’ll strike.

I’ve been herefor almost two hours. Most of the parking lot has cleared out, and I’m wondering whether she’s even inside the building. Maybe she changed her mind and decided not to stay after today. If I had her phone number, I could text her, but I don’t. Which is something I need to remedy—stat. Maybe I should cut my losses and head out. Go home and see if she’s logged onto the game. For all I know, she could be home playing Kanturia without me, waiting for me to hunt her down.

The doors of the building open again and another couple of students come walking out, but neither of them is my girl, but right before it closes, I see a flash of red. I grip my steering wheel, leaning forward in my seat. My heart stopping. The air frozen in my lungs. Waiting. When the door pushes open again, I see her. My pretty girl comes walking through, looking down toward the ground as she makes her way down the front steps.

I climb from my truck and swiftly take strides across the parking lot to get to her. I’m waiting for her to look up and meetmy stare, but now she’s distracted with her bag. Digging around, probably searching for her keys. When she stops by the side of a Volkswagen Bug, I can’t help but smile. Her car suits her perfectly. Everything about her is unique and a little quirky, and really fucking awesome.

“Willow.”

Her head turns at the sound of my voice, and her eyes widen as soon as she sees me. Obviously, she’s shocked. She’s probably wondering how I even knew it was her in the first place. I still haven’t told her that I’d come to see her that day. I was worried she’d be upset that I didn’t respect her privacy, and I never knew how to explain the fact that I took off without introducing myself. I was a nervous fool, worried I was going to make a bad impression. But with the way she’s looking at me now, I think I should’ve mentioned it.

In my mind, I was expecting the shock, but I thought it would morph into a smile. But something resembling dread is all I see in her eyes right now. Her shoulders have tensed, and it’s making me think I may have made a mistake by coming here.

“I’m sorry. I hope you’re not upset that I came to see you. I’ve just been dying to meet you, babe.”

She’s shaking her head, backing up towards her vehicle. Coming up short when she bumps into the metal door. Looking even more terrified now that she has no place to run.

“H-h-how’d d-did y-y-you f-f-find m-m-me?”

Fuck. She’s so scared, she’s stuttering. I stop moving forward, giving her some space to settle. I know it’s probably a little unnerving, but it’s me. Not an actual stalker. From everything that’s happened between us online, you’d think she would be comfortable with me by now. I was hoping she’d wrap her arms around me and give me a kiss. But she looks like she’s ready to bolt.

“I cheated, babe,” I tell her, feeling sheepish about the whole thing. “I came here one day after school when I knew you were working in the library. That’s how I knew what you looked like. I’m sorry I never told you. I just didn’t want you to be freaked that I invaded your privacy. I would’ve come up to you that day to introduce myself, but I was so struck by your beauty, I got nervous.” I didn’t want to ruin my chance at making a good first impression, but look at the bang-up job I’m doing now.

She swallows hard. Still looking blanched in the face. Like she’s seen a ghost. Something’s not adding up. She really doesn’t want me here, and that’s stirring up one huge question of why.

“Do you think we can go somewhere and talk?” I ask, an uneasiness settling into my gut. We’ve been talking online for weeks now, but she’s acting like I’m a complete stranger who’s trying to kidnap her. Or… maybe Chase was right. There’s another guy in the picture which she failed to mention.

She shakes her head.

“Can you tell me why not, baby?”

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