16. Eleanora
eleanora
. . .
D id that just happen? Did this extremely sexy, very hot, gorgeous rocker of a man just ask me when I got off work? Yes, yes, he did.
The tray I’m carrying wobbles. Not from my clumsiness, but because I’m standing in the middle of a very crowded aisle and the only way to get by me is to bump my shoulder. The man apologizes, and I believe I mumble some sort of remark about it being okay. I wouldn’t know though because my eyes are glued to the retreating back of said dazzling rocker.
“Excuse me?” The person next to me taps my arm. I glance over, but not before checking to see that Quinn has left the area. “Hello!” The voice is exaggerated, frustrated. If she only knew how I felt on the insides, watching the reason for my clammy hands walk away, they’d understand.
“I’m sorry, forgive me. What can I get for you?”
“The check, please,” the man says. I smile and tell him I’ll be right back. On my way to the kitchen, I pull out my phone and look at the time. Why do I still have two hours left? Why couldn’t Quinn ask me to meet him outside right now? Where did he go? Because he’s not in the green room. And why for the love of all things holy, am I so focused and obsessed with this? All he did was ask me what time I got off, nothing more.
I punch in my code and finalize the printout for the table wanting to leave. Every few seconds, I’m glancing at the door, waiting for it to open and for Quinn to walk back in. When it does open, my heart jumps into my throat with anticipation that I’ll see him, but no, it’s one of the line cooks, who gives me an awkward glance as he walks by.
For the next one hundred and twenty minutes, I bust my butt, making sure my tables are well taken care of, even working hard to ignore the woman who’s talking non-stop about how hot Quinn is. He is, in that brooding creative way, and so different from the guys back home. You’d never catch Rhett, for example, wearing a beanie. Yet, Quinn, he wears one all the time, and it works. It adds an air of mystery to him, which I like. A lot.
By the time my shift is over the Bean Song is all but empty. There are a few stragglers. Mostly people who have their noses buried in books or behind laptop screens. I’m guessing these folks fall in line with Quinn on the artistic side. I saw him scribbling on a napkin the other night and was tempted to ask him what he was writing. Of course, my imagination went rampant, thinking he was writing a song that he’d play tonight, but no, that Liam guy did all the singing.
“Do you have a ride home?” Zeke asks as I take off my apron.
“Of course,” I lie. I’ve walked home a few times, which freaks Kellie out. It’s true, this side of the Strip isn’t the safest, but a taxi or shared car service can be expensive, especially as some of the bars are closing now and prices are jacked up.
I breathe in the air. It’s a bit stifling and still warm out, and the air quality isn’t as good as it was in Idaho, but I still feel at peace. This is better than being at home, under the watchful eye of Roy and my parents, pestering me to make adult decisions I’m not ready for.
As soon as I reach the corner, the sound of a motorcycle stops me dead in my tracks. The overhead light illuminates the figure on the bike, dressed in all black. They idle there with the rider staring at me or past me. I can’t be sure. I swallow hard and contemplate my chances of running back into the café when the driver lifts the helmet off their head.
Beautiful dark hair sways back and forth. Gone is Quinn’s beanie, and I hate that I’m seeing him without it for the first time under the cloak of darkness and overhead street lights.
“Quinn, you scared me.” I hesitantly step forward.
“Sorry about that. I expected you to come out back.”
“You were waiting for me?” My voice rises at the end of my statement or is it a question. I’m not exactly sure. The only thing I know is that I’m surprised and relieved.
He nods, puts the kickstand down, gets off his bike, and walks a few steps closing the gap between us. My tongue feels heavy in my mouth as I look up at him. He has to be over six feet tall to my barely five-foot five height. His eyes, the ones that have captivated me from the first time I had a good chance to look into them, bear down on me. I could get lost in the sea of blue he carries with him. However, it’s his hair that I can’t take my eyes off. I’ve only seen it covered by the knit cap he wears, and I find myself wanting to run my fingers through it, to feel the silky strands touch my skin. It’d be so easy, to just fall at his feet, but that’s not me.
I stand tall and square my shoulders while keeping one hand on my bag. This makes him smile and I’m right back to where I was, willing to fall to the ground and beg him for attention.
“Would you like a ride home?”
Leaning to the side, I glance at the bike again. I’ve never been on a motorcycle, and honestly, it’s not on my priority list. But this is Quinn, and something tells me if I say no, he’ll take it to heart and the offer to get a ride home from him will never come my way again.
“I have an extra helmet, and I’ll go slow.”
Slow? W hat if I want it hard and fast? The fantasy I had about Quinn and me, plays in my mind. All I can see is me pushed up against the wall with him between my?—
“Nola!” Quinn yells my name.
My hand immediately covers my face in embarrassment. I can’t believe I was thinking about him and me when he’s standing right in front of me.
“If you’re unsure about the bike, I can call us an Uber or Lyft, whichever you prefer.”
I shake my head. “The bike is fine. I’m sorry, I was just thinking.”
He leans down and whispers, “Good thoughts, I hope.”
Oh boy, you have no idea. Thankfully, those thoughts stay inside my mind and don’t come flowing out of my mouth. Quinn reaches for my hand and pulls me behind him. I really want to press pause on everything that’s happening right now because this guy is holding my hand, although, in hindsight, it probably means nothing.
Except, it means everything to me.
Quinn hands me the helmet, and when I struggle to put it on, he’s there to help. Every time his hand brushes against my skin, goose bumps rise and send a cold chill over my body. The last time I felt like this was… well never, if I’m being honest. I’ve never had the all-consuming anxiety I feel right now. I want to scream, dance, jump for joy, sit in the corner and ask myself why this is happening to me, and then launch myself into his arms so I can kiss him.
Stop, I tell myself . This is nothing more than a ride home.
Then why does it feel like more?
“I’m going to get on first, then you can use my shoulder to steady yourself and swing your leg over, okay?”
“Okay,” I reply. He moves, as if he’s in slow motion, swinging his leg over his bike. He looks at me and nods, my cue that it’s my turn to do the same. Setting my hand on his leather jacket, I heave my leg over the side and hop until I’m seated dead center.
“Comfy?”
“Sure,” I tell him. I don’t know what to do with my hands. As much as I’d love to wrap them around his waist, no. I’m not that bold.
Quinn puts his helmet on and starts the bike. I had it in my mind that he’d have to do that awkward jumpy thing with one leg, but no. This guy, who performs in a coffee shop, can afford one of those fancy push start bikes.
He revs the engine and I’m done for. The vibration between my legs… I don’t know if I’m going to be able to make it home before… oh, thank God he can’t hear me moaning. I’ve never been happier to wear a helmet than I am right now.
He walks the bike to the stop sign, he turns and yells, “You might want to hang on.”
Right, okay. But to what?
The bike lurches forward, and I grab the sides of his jacket. Where’s the “oh shit grip” when I need one? It takes me a few minutes to grow accustomed to riding, but once I do, the exhilaration I feel is indescribable. I want to take my helmet off, to feel the wind in my hair and against my cheeks, but I don’t dare.
He drives us down the Sunset Strip, which is alive and happening. People line up for miles, waiting to get into their favorite club, and parties spill out onto the streets. This is why I wanted to be here, to experience this different way of life.
At the stoplight, he turns to me. “Where do you live?”
I give him the address and we’re off, speeding down the road. I’m laughing. I can’t help it. The way I feel right now, I never want this moment to end. Except it does when he slows down and drives over one of the speed bumps. My ride didn’t last long, but it was freaking amazing.
Quinn helps me off the bike. I hand him the helmet and hope his fingers brush against mine. When they don’t, I try not to let my disappointment show on my face.
“Thank you,” I tell him.
“You’re welcome. Are you working tomorrow? I mean tonight since it’s already well into the morning?”
I shake my head. “No, thank God.” If I’m not mistaken, I think his face falls. Was he planning to come see me? Should I call Zeke and tell him I need another shift? Kellie would kill me. As it is, my time here is limited, and she wants to go out tonight.
“Well, I guess I’ll see you around.”
“Bye Quinn and thank you again.” I step away and wave. He pulls off. The loud engine of his bike echoes in my complex. When he’s out of sight, I all but run up to my apartment and throw the door open. I’m praying Kellie’s awake because I need to talk to someone.
“Kellie?”
“In here,” she yells from the living room. Our place is small and had I taken a few more steps I would’ve seen her sitting on the couch, watching television.
“I’m in love,” I say, plopping down on the couch.
“With who?” she asks after turning off the TV.
“Quinn. Sofia’s brother.”
She rolls her eyes, picks up her phone and presses a few buttons. She shows me her phone. “Look at Sofia’s status.”
Brother came to visit!
“Huh,” I say, looking more closely. I expand the picture and study it. I can’t remember if this is the same guy she showed us while in school or not, and I was certain that Quinn’s her brother. I had seen his picture enough that I thought I had his face memorized.
“So, see, clearly not the same guy.”
“Yeah, but?—”
“No, buts,” Kellie says. “I told you the chances that you’d find him were slim. Besides, you don’t want to hook up with your bestie’s brother.”
“Why not? You want to hook up with mine.” I raise my eyebrows at her and smirk.
She waves me off. “That’s different. Your brother is a sex?—”
I slap my hand over her mouth and pretend to gag. I don’t want to hear what she thinks about my brother, although hers is pretty good looking too.
For the next hour, I tell Kellie about my night and Quinn. I’m trying not to get excited, but I’m literally counting the days until I can see him again.
“Hey, do you know a musician named Liam Page?” I ask before I head to bed.
“ Hell, yes! Liam Page is a DILF.”
“I’m sorry, a what?”
“A Dad I’d Like to—” I hold my hand up, letting her know she doesn’t need to finish her sentence. “Why?” she asks.
“He was playing with Quinn tonight. I didn’t know who he was.”
Kellie’s eyes go wide. “Just more proof that Quinn isn’t Sofia’s brother.”
“How so?”
“Because 4225 West, Liam’s band, is like this massive family. Quinn has two sisters if I remember correctly.” Kellie pulls out her phone and starts tapping again.
“No, don’t,” I tell her. “I’ll ask him when I see him again. I don’t want to find out his life through Google.”
“Suit yourself,” she says.
By the time Kellie and I are done gabbing, the sun is rising and we’re heading to bed. The moment my head hits the pillow, my phone rings. I’m tempted to not answer it, but I have to keep up the charade.
Susannah’s name, coupled with a picture of us from high school, is on my screen. “Hey,” I say, trying to stifle a yawn.
“Hey, right back. I have news!”
I sit up and rest against the headboard. “What is it?”
“TANNER AND I ARE GETTING MARRIED!” she screams into the phone.
“What? How? When? Oh, my God, Susie, this is the best news ever!” Tanner and Susannah started dating in high school. They had a pregnancy scare our senior year and a lot of us thought they’d break up after that, but it brought them closer together.
“You have to be my maid of honor, Eleanora.”
“Yes, of course. Just tell me when and I’m there.”
“Tanner is going to join the Army at the end of the summer, so we’ll do it before he leaves for basic training.”
“Oh, wow. The Army huh?”
Susannah sighs. “Yeah, but I’m happy with his decision. It’ll be good for us and he really doesn’t like working for his daddy. So, you’ll be home, right?”
“Yep, I’ll be home for my mama’s party. You know I can’t miss it.”
“I can’t wait to see you. We’re going to have a blast planning my wedding.”
“And mine after,” I hedge.
“Oh,” Susannah pauses.
“What?”
“Tanner says I shouldn’t say anything, but you’re like my sister and I think you should know.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “What did Roy do?”
“Well… the rumor is that Jessica Williams is pregnant and Roy’s the daddy. They’ve been hanging out while you were away at school. I’m sorry, Eleanora.”
A huge smile breaks out across my face. “Don’t be sorry. Believe me, everything’s fine. I’m so happy for you. I’ll start looking at some Pinterest boards for ideas.”
“You’re the best. I love you!”
“Love you too.”
We hang up and while I’m tempted to lay back down, I can’t. This information about Roy can’t fester while I’m sleeping. Instead of calling him, I send him a text because I know how much he hates it. Hey, Roy. Jessica Williams is pregnant, huh? Is she becoming the next Roybert Aldridge?
I don’t even have time to set my phone down because the conversation bubbles pop right up. I imagine him red in the face and his fingers haphazardly typing on the screen he can’t stand.
Eleanora don’t be foolish. If you were home, none of this would be an issue.
Well, I’m not home, and we’re done.
I shut off my phone, so his reply won’t wake me up. I have nothing more to say to him. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll call my dad, but whatever. My dad can’t honestly expect me to marry someone who is having a baby with another woman.