Page 30 of Nerdelicious
“Well, yeah, if I’m going to help you, I’ll need to know these things. Like what’s your goal?”
He stares at me for a long second, then his gaze flips down to his phone. His fingers move quickly. His eyes flash back to mine and then he pushes a button. “I thought I would have to convince you more.”
“Well you don’t. I’ll help you with whatever you want.” I don’twantto watch Beast woo Caroline, but at the same time, he’s asking for help. He never asks for help, he only provides it to others. How could I say no? I set my plate on the counter and cross my arms over my chest. “Honestly, you’re not going to need much help. Just talk to her like you are to me.”
He shakes his head slowly. Then his fingers move. “I’m not sure. I get nervous and don’t know how to respond.”
“I guess that makes sense.” I can’t imagine dating when you don’t talk—or talk only with a phone. It would be difficult. As it stands, he only communicates with family, and me, so pretty limited. Of course, going on dates when youcantalk is nerve-racking enough on its own.
“Question. Why didn’t you ask Jude or one of the others? And you know, I’ve only had one boyfriend. I’m not, like, a dating guru or anything.”
He watches me for a moment, thinking before his fingers move over the screen. “They are into their own lives.” He pauses again before typing. “I don’t mean that they are self-absorbed.”
“I understand.” They are happy, in love, focused on their own journeys, as they should be.
“That leaves Granny or Grace, and they are out for obvious reasons. Besides, you are smart. Even Grace, with her tech mind, never thought about communicating with me via a cell phone text-to-speech function.” His jaw tenses, like the thought troubles him.
I lean toward him. “It’s easier for me to think outside the box since I’m not in it. She’s used to communicating with you without words. If that’s all she’s known, and it works, there’s no reason to use any other method. I’ve seen you guys. It’s like a Vulcan mind meld.”
Some of the tension leaves his jaw and one corner of his lip quirks up. This time he signs,True.
Did he almost smile? Then he goes back to typing.
“There’s something about you that’s comfortable.”
I laugh. “Uh, Beast? I’m the most socially graceless person on the planet. I’ve embarrassed myself around you too many times to count, I talk too much, and what I say is usually inappropriate or unintentionally rude and insensitive.”
His gaze is thoughtful on mine before he types. “You might say the wrong things, but you also apologize and explain yourself. Most people don’t do that. Most people can’t admit to any kind of fault.”
We lock eyes and understanding zings between us like the oldPongvideo game.
He types some more, breaking eye contact. “And you’re brutally honest.”
Snort. “That’s a nice way to say I’m an asshole.”
His mouth twitches on one side.
“Uh-oh, don’t go smiling at me now.”
He presses his lips together and focuses on his phone. “Honesty is a good thing because I know you’ll lay it on me straight.”
“And you’ve witnessed enough of my mistakes that it’s not as scary. I get it.”
I’m a steaming pile of embarrassment. Which is good for making people feel normal, I guess. And probably one of the many reasons Beast wouldn’t consider me in a romantic way.
He rubs his chin with one hand, then types more. “There’s something else.”
“Oh, goody.”
He gives me a look that’s equal parts amused and irritated. He types again. “She gave me her number. Do I text her now? Do I wait?”
“It’s up to you. Personally, I think waiting is like playing games. If you want to text her now, do it. You can make sure she got home okay. That’s innocent enough.”
He pulls out the paper from his back pocket and sets it down. Elbows on the counter in front of him, he types into the phone, brow furrowed in concentration. My eyes rove from his profile down to his biceps straining at the fabric.
I swallow and resist the desire to step closer.
He holds up the phone to show me the text, not sending it yet.
