Page 32 of Nerdelicious
“I’m happy to help.”
But the words are dry in my mouth. And I’m not happy. If anything, I’m a little queasy. Maybe it’s the cake.
Or maybe it’s the impossibility of ever having someone who would put this much effort into wooing me.
Chapter Nine
I wouldn’t dare speakto her,
I don’t have the brains.
The way people speak and write nowadays makes my head hurt.
–Cyrano de Bergerac
Beast’s anxiety is a grey cloud circling the air around us.
“Take a deep breath,” I tell him. “You’re going to pass out if you don’t get some oxygen.”
He complies, big shoulders moving up and down as he inhales and exhales.
We arrived fifteen minutes early and thankfully, Caroline hasn’t shown up yet.
We commandeered a couple of empty booths near the back. I’m taking the one in the corner, where I can sit with my back to the diner and use the mirror overhead to get a view of the action.
To alleviate the burden of ordering using his phone or sign language, we already ordered coffees and water. The waitress is being tipped substantially to not mention that I came in with him.
“It will all be fine. Be yourself.” I pat him on the shoulder, only a possibility since he’s sitting in the booth and I’m standing next to him. I check the front window periodically for Caroline to appear.
He picks up his phone from the table in front of him. “That’s a terrible idea,”it drawls. Grace changed the voice and now instead of a robotic female, it sounds like Morgan Freeman.
“You’re yourself with me.”
“That’s different. I like you.”
I know he doesn’t mean it in a romantic way, but a zing zips down my spine anyway, followed by an immediate internal admonishment. I’m here to help him date someone else.
Outside, a small blue Honda pulls into the lot. A blonde steps out, adjusting her purse and tugging at her short skirt as she walks to the entrance.
“She’s here. I’ll be right behind you, okay?”
I pull up the hood on my sweater and sit in the booth directly behind him, our backs facing each other, my eyes on the mirror in the corner.
I fiddle with the plate of food in front of me, an attempt to not appear suspicious despite the hood covering the back of my head. Thankfully the diner has their AC pumping, otherwise I might be sweltering with this disguise.
Caroline immediately spots Beast from the front door and walks over to his booth, sliding into the red vinyl booth seat across from him.
“Hi! I’m so happy to finally spend some time with you outside of your work.” Her voice is peppy, upbeat, with a slight Southern twang. Her outfit is more modest than what she wears to Bodean’s, the neckline higher, only exposing slight cleavage. Church cleavage, if you will. A row of demure pearls decorates her neck and her hair is in flowing golden waves. She smiles and she has two perfect dimples, one in each cheek. She really is adorable.
Damn her.
“I am happy as well,” Morgan Freeman’s voice says.
Caroline giggles and her hands cover her mouth. “Well, if that isn’t the sweetest thing. You’re so smart to figure out how to use your phone like that.”
“It was a friend’s idea,” the phone spits out a few seconds later.
“Oh.” Caroline nods and smiles, and then the conversation stalls. “So, um.” She picks up the mug. “Thanks for the coffee.” She grabs some sugar from the side and stirs it in with her spoon while they sit in silence.
