Page 61 of Nerdelicious
After I help Eliza catch up, I wait on a couple of tables that have filled. I’m at the bar, waiting for Eliza to put the last drink on the tray, when she asks me, “What’s up with Beast?”
“There’s nothing happening with me and Beast.”
She laughs. “I didn’t ask— You know what, never mind. Will you slice more limes when you’re done bringing these drinks to table nine?” She puts the drink on a tray.
Keeping busy is a good idea. I can’t get the image of Caroline out of my head. Leaning toward him. Kissing him. Her lips on his skin. I used to be the last person he’d kissed. The only one. Now it’s Caroline.
And I thought she was nice and normal and good for Beast. Pfft.
Once I drop off the drinks at table nine and bus a few empties, I grab a bag of limes and a chef’s knife.
It’s rather satisfying, slicing through the hard citrus and chunking the results into the garnish holder.
“What did that lime ever do to you?” Eliza asks, a laugh in her voice.
“You asked me to cut them.” Slam. Slam. Slam.
“I can see that. Very exuberantly. I like your enthusiasm.”
Somehow, I make it through the rest of the shift. Somehow, I only glance twice—maybe three times—at the front where Beast is manning the door. Somehow, I don’t scream at the top of my lungs every time Caroline reaches over to touch Beast. Somehow, I don’t throw the knife at Eliza when Beast is stacking chairs at the end of the night and she casually mentions she purchased him a size too-small on purpose. I have to grind my teeth, but I get through it. Time moves inexorably forward. And then finally it’s over.
But with that realization comes a new wave of anxiety. I have to talk to Beast. Tell him why I’m upset.
How do I explain that I want to be around him all the time? That I want to know everything about him? That I don’t want any other women touching him or kissing him? I’m a total psycho.
Beast is outside in the front lot with Caroline while I lag behind, taking too long to say good night to the others.
I know I can’t avoid him forever, but I’m hoping to avoid witnessing the inevitable good-night kiss with Caroline. Or worse. What if he drops me off at Granny’s and leaves to meet up with her?
I walk out with Lucas but stop on the front porch.
Lucas keeps walking. “You and Beast drive careful.” He looks up at the sky and then back at me. “Storms a’comin.”
“Okay. You, too.”
He waves a hand and gets in his car.
On the other side of the parking lot, Beast is at his truck, leaning against the driver’s door, Caroline standing in front of him.
They hug. My heart twists. Caroline kisses his cheek. My stomach revolts.
Then she leaves. She gets into her vehicle and pulls out behind Lucas.
I force my gaze back to Beast.
He’s watching me. Thunder booms in the distance. He jerks his head at his truck and then gets in without waiting for me.
Up in the dark sky, the stars are concealed by clouds.
I glance around, looking for Storm and the rest of the X-Men, but it’s just me and Beast and this ridiculous cliché of a storm settling a sense of foreboding deep in my gut.
Chapter Seventeen
“This isthe only time that it’s cool to be a geek.”
–Overheard at Comic-Con
The first drops of rain patter around me, tapping my shoulder, striking my cheek. I slam the door shut and the smattering becomes a deluge. Sheets of water slide down the windows, surrounding the quiet warmth of the truck.
