Chapter Three #2
Grabbing my other cell phone, I realized it probably did look shady AF to have two phones. I gave Chad what I hoped was a trembling smile. “She said it doesn’t look good.”
Fuck, maybe I should have studied theater in school, instead of education. I was pretty good at this acting bullshit.
“Let me get the bill and I’ll drive you,” Chad motioned to our server for the check and my heart sped up.
“No, no need. I need to hurry. Thank you for dinner!” I called over my shoulder, weaving around the tables of other diners and not looking back.
Hurrying out of the restaurant, I practically ran for my car, hoping Chad didn’t feel the need to follow me.
Turning on the heater to full blast, I rubbed at my chilled hands, blowing on them. Putting my phone–my regular one–on hands free, I nearly squealed my tires racing away from the restaurant. At least I’d gotten an excellent meal out of this. My steak had been delicious.
“Why are you calling me?” Sadie demanded, in a tone I had heard her use on her own first grade class more than once. She was a petite omega with a fierce voice when she needed to use it. “It’s barely nine.”
“Do you not like me?” I stopped for a red light, glancing in my rearview mirror like I expected Chad to roll up on me any second. “Is that what this was? Did I piss you off and instead of telling me, you fixed me up on…whatever this was. How do you even know Chad?”
“He’s my brother's accountant,” she crunched something in my ear, probably a potato chip, knowing her. “He’s nice enough. I met him a few weeks ago.”
“A few weeks ago?” I was suspicious now. “Under what circumstances?”
She crunched another chip, then another, and the light turned green.
“Stop stalling,” I demanded, well aware of her stall tactics.
“I don’t want to tell you,” she mumbled over a mouth full of chips.
“Oh. My. God!” I screeched, knowing her family had been pushing her to meet someone too.
“You got fixed up on a date with him, didn’t you?
Ew, don’t be giving me your sloppy seconds!
Girrllll, I’m taking your Christmas gift back!
No, I’m keeping it for myself, and every time I wear it, I’m going to say, Oh look at my gorgeous scarf that I got for Sadie.
But she decided to be a d-bag friend so now it’s mine. ”
“Okay, drama queen, dial it down a notch,” she laughed at me. “He wasn’t that bad. He seemed pretty nice actually.”
“He wanted to come with me tonight to spend Thanksgiving with me and my family, so he could meet my parents. First date. This was a first date and he wanted to come on my holiday out of town with my family.”
Silence followed, another chip crunched. “Okay, that’s leaning a bit towards the psycho side of things. Honestly, he didn’t give me serial killer vibes, but that’s just weird behavior.”
“Right!” I pulled into my apartment building and parked in my assigned spot. “Besides, nice or not, boring or not, there was zero chemistry. Like none. I get more excited buying coffee.”
“Well, I mean, Josh makes a pretty sweet cup of coffee, but I get it. Oh, I bet Chad would be a terrible kisser.”
Punching in my code for the lobby, I entered the warmth of the building. Pressing the up arrow for the elevator, I nodded in agreement of her assessment of Chad’s possible kissing skills. “I mean, his name is Chad. Enough said. But seriously, if an alpha can’t kiss I have no use for them.”
“Fact,” she agreed. “I’m sorry tonight was a bust. I really thought you might be a good fit.”
“Ugh, let’s agree to not fix each other up. There is nothing wrong with being single.”
“Fuck, I hope my brother doesn’t invite any of his single friends to dinner tomorrow,” Sadie whined. “Imma sit at the kids table and hide.”
“You’re like child size so no one will probably even notice.”
“Fuck you,” she laughed, knowing it was true.
“Okay, I’m home.” The elevator dinged and the doors opened on my floor.
Walking towards my door, I punched in the door code.
It was really convenient not having to worry about keys.
Though I did sometimes forget to check the batteries until my door was screaming at me that the batteries were low, and then had to hurry and get maintenance to come change them.
“See you Monday,” she told me. “Have a great holiday and tell your parents hi from me. Love ya!”
“Love you, even if you tried to fix me up on the worst date ever,” I teased, opening the door then freezing, when I caught sight of the way-too-sexy-for-my-own good silver haired elf stretched out on my too short for him couch.
Somehow in my haste to escape my date, it hadn’t even registered that Bal whining about my snacks meant he was already at my apartment.
Kendrick
Past…
Grumpy Elf: Keegan said you’re not coming for Thanksgiving this year. Your short notice has messed up my schedule.
Me: So sorry my cold fucked with your schedule.
Grumpy Elf: I’m sensing sarcasm in that sentence.
Me: Your Spidey senses are spot on as usual. Half my class is sick and they decided to share for once.
Grumpy Elf: Well, I guess I’ll find something to do at the workshop since I don’t have to take time out of my very busy schedule to come to the human realm and fetch you.
Me: Consider it my early Christmas present to you. Don’t say I never gave you anything.
Grumpy Elf: …
Grumpy Elf: …
Grumpy Elf: Take care of yourself, Kendrick.