9. Chapter 9
Chapter nine
“ I didn’t know you hated tattoos,” Mollie says. I hear shuffling, clattering. “You hate tattoos?”
“I told him I hate them,” I say. At the ice cream parlor, I noticed another dainty flower on his arm. A rose, or maybe a tulip. It was cute, and I was dying to know the meaning behind it.
“And you said that as opposed to ‘ Please let me see you without clothes’ because?”
“Because he’s not the kind of guy I want to see me without clothes,” I tell my sister.
“Right,” she says as something else clatters. “Because of the commitment issues or whatever.”
“You sound like him,” I tell Mollie. I sit on my bed and pinch the phone in between my ear and shoulder. I reach for my shoes, pulling them on. “His casualness is the biggest turn-off.”
Yes, Gigi. Which is exactly why you asked the king of casual flings to help you pick up guys. Because you don’t want him to want you as he teaches you to be exactly his type. Sure.
“You’re down there looking for Mr. Right, aren’t you?” Mollie accuses. She tsks at me. “Give yourself some time to heal.”
“I was healed the minute I had sufficient vitamin D,” I say. “All good.”
“Now, to find the other vitamin D,” Mollie muses. “That will help greatly.”
“Are you in my closet?” I ask.
“What?” She takes too long to answer.
“That clattering. You’re in my closet.”
I hear shuffling. A distinct bang! as she shuts the door. “No, I’m not.”
“Whatever you steal,” I say, “wash it and put it back.”
“It’s just your black jumpsuit,” she admits after a too-long pause. “I’m wearing it to go with Dad to some fundraiser thing.”
“Mom’s not going?”
I hear Mollie sigh. “You’ve been gone less than a week and she’s walking around the house like someone on an antidepressant commercial, looking longingly out the window. It’s like she’s afraid Belinda is going to poison you, and you’ll never come back.”
“That’s crazy,” I say. “Tell Mom that’s crazy.”
“You tell her,” Mollie counters. “She’ll believe you.”
I check the clock. “I have to go,” I say. “I’m helping Belinda with her restaurant, and my shift starts soon.”
Mollie sighs. “Gigi. Seriously?”
“It’s fine,” I get out quickly. “I basically volunteered.”
“Mom’s going to be pissed,” she states matter-of-factly. “You know, she told Dad right after you left that she was afraid you’d get stuck working or something.”
“I’m not stuck. I have a friend who works there, too. It’s really not a big thing.”
“I feel like you’re lying,” my sister says. “But okay. Have fun helping Belinda and not sleeping with the hunky tattooed hunk.”
I’m starting to regret sending Cade’s socials to Mollie. “You said hunk twice,” I tell her with a laugh.
“I know what I said,” Mollie replies, serious.
It’s Wednesday, and this is the third day this week that I’ve worked at least a full shift at the diner. Despite not wanting to be the replacement for the waitress who quit, I couldn’t fight Belinda. She needs help, and I’m not about to leave her helpless.
“I really have to go,” I say, making my way down the stairs and to the front door. I pull it open, revealing Rory’s Jeep parked in the driveway. “We can talk later. Have fun at the thing.”
“Have fun with the tattooed hunk,” Mollie says. I can practically hear her eyes rolling as she says it, but I’m still smiling at her as I hang up the phone and walk outside.
The moment I get into her car, Rory says, “I still don’t get how you ended up doing this.”
“I really don’t mind,” I tell Rory. “The extra money doesn’t hurt.” Extra money, Belinda admitted, will just be tips for me. She mentioned not putting me on payroll, and she’s the businesswoman, not me. I’m not going to argue.
“Speaking of which,” Rory says as she pulls away from the cul-de-sac and onto the main road, “EJ is going to replenish the stash tonight. So, if you want in, I need your cut.”
“I don’t,” I say. “But I can put in for Cade.” I fish bills from my bag, setting them in her cup holder.
Rory’s dark eyebrows fly into her hairline. “Since when are you buying him things?”
I shrug. “He’s offering to help me become the girl every guy wants. It’s the least I could do. Plus, he’s trying to get a tattoo shop going. He needs his money, you know?”
“Hold on,” Rory says, “I need details.”
When I finish telling her about the deal I’d made with Cade days earlier, Rory’s shaking her head. We walk into the back door of the diner together, grabbing aprons hanging on the wall as we go. I discard my bag into a nearby closet and am pulling my hair into a makeshift updo when Rory finds me.
“I know we just met, so who am I to call you out,” she says. “But didn’t you tell us you’re a hopeless romantic the other night? Now you’re Ms. Hit It and Forget It?”
I roll my eyes, shifting my weight onto one hip. “It’s not that serious.”
“It seems that way,” Rory says flatly. “I just don’t want to see you do something you’ll regret.”
“I’m no stranger to sleeping with someone,” I hiss. “And I hate nicknames.”
She holds up a hand. “Point taken. Just watch yourself. Don’t be something that you’re not.” And then she’s marching away, toward the front counter.
Joke’s on her. I can, and will, be both.
It’s the end of a busy dinner rush and I’ve just finished bussing nearly every table. The good news is that I’ve gotten used to the physical demands of serving in the few days I’ve worked—and invested in proper shoes. The bad news, however, is that no matter how good my shoes are, the walking and lifting is tiring.
Belinda escaped to the grocery store to stock, so when Rory’s face pinches when the front door opens, I think it’s her coming back. I turn, being greeted with EJ and Cade.
“Excuse me, waitress,” Cade calls when he sits, “we’d like to order.”
I roll my eyes, trudging over. I grab for my notepad and pen as I meet them. “Of course.” I put on my cheesiest, fakest grin. “What can I get you?”
Cade’s eyes twinkle. I have to look away to keep myself upright. “Tell me what’s good here. Other than you.”
“Cade,” I warn, flashing a dark look. “Our specials,” I supply blandly, pointing to the chalkboard by the register.
“I know what the specials are,” Cade replies smoothly. “But what do you like from here? Our tastes are clearly similar, so I thought I’d ask.”
The sea of gray in his eyes goes stormy as he watches me. Ever since the day we got coffee, and he showed me the building he wants for his shop, we’ve been different. A push-and-pull banter exists now that we’ve been alone together.
You’d think it’s sexual tension if you didn’t know any better. I’m thankful for his casual attitude. It’s like a wall that keeps me from seeing him for the otherwise-attractive man he clearly is. And because I’m not attracted to him, he’s the perfect guy for me to get dating, or lack thereof, advice from. It’s like hearing it directly from the source without the intimidation.
“Stop trying to flirt,” I say.
Cade guffaws. “I know better than to flirt with a woman who isn’t interested, princess.”
My skin feels like it’s on fire. I turn my attention to EJ, his head bent as he surveys the menu. “Do you know what you want?”
“Avocado turkey burger with sweet potato fries, please.” EJ flashes a smile, looking up at me. I notice immediately that he has dimples in the same places as Cade, small dark indents splitting his cheeks.
“Taking me up on trying to be healthy,” Rory says, as she passes by with trays full of water glasses. “I’m proud of you.”
EJ’s ears go pink, and I wink at him when I notice. “They’re in love,” I tell Cade.
“I already know,” Cade sighs. “Trust me, I’m working on it.”
I’m laughing, giddy, as EJ says a nearly silent, “Am not.”
“Sure. Cade, have you decided?”
“Surprise me, baby,” Cade challenges.
Baby. He is the most impossible man. The most annoying, hard to handle, and even harder to understand—
My legs are Jello, and I place a hand discreetly on the table to hold myself up. I feel like I’m losing blood to my brain with every second I’m in his presence.
“Cade,” I warn. Knowingly, he winks.
Asshole.
When I walk to the window with their ticket, I find Rory waiting there.
“You’re doing a great job of not getting yourself into trouble,” she deadpans. “It’s obvious you and Cade don’t want to fuck each other.”
“We don’t.” I think back to the first night, sitting with Cade in the apartment. The way he said we would sleep together if I asked. “I don’t. I want to learn how to be the girl guys like Cade want, sure. But I don’t want Cade. I promise.”
Rory narrows her eyes at me. “Promise me you won’t.”
“Rory—”
“I’m serious,” she says. “Promise me. I care about you even though you’re driving me crazy, and I can already tell Cade is a walking disaster waiting to happen. I don’t want to see it happen to you.”
I nod. “I promise. I meant it when I said being non-committal is a deal-breaker.”
She cracks a small smile.
“I mean it,” I add, heat climbing to my hairline.
Her smile widens. “Uh huh.”
“I think,” Cade says as we sit on the couch in the apartment a few days later, “that you need a practice run.”
I turn to him. I feel so light in his presence, like anything goes. I don’t have to be anything other than myself. “A practice run of what? Having casual sex?” I joke.
He smirks, tugging teasingly at my ponytail. “No. I mean, picking up somebody. Why don’t I take you to the bar on Friday night so that we can do a warm-up? You can flirt and see how many drinks you can get for free.”
“So, you’re going to be my wingman,” I say. “Okay.”
“You asked for my help,” Cade reminds me. “This is me offering to help. Plus, you women are lucky. You’re the ones getting the free drinks.”
I sigh. “Can’t we start small? Get coffee and people watch while you give me pointers?”
“Are you nervous?” Cade chides. “Oh, you poor baby.”
“Cade!”
He chuckles. “No, we can’t start small. It’s better if you jump in headfirst. Guys like that. Confidence is hot, you know?”
“Maybe to you,” I say, taking a sip from the cocktail I’m holding.
He takes the cup from me, taking a long gulp. He winces. “God, that shit’s terrible, princess. How can you drink that?”
I laugh. “Not all of us enjoy the taste of beer.”
“For a girl like you,” he explains, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “It’s better to rip off the Band-aid.”
“You don’t know what I need,” I say, indignant. “And what does that mean, huh? Girls like me?”
“You’re all… pink, sparkles, and frills, princess. But also a scaredy cat.”
“Hey,” I say, a pout starting. “A scaredy cat? Really?”
Cade laughs. “Totally not my type, you know? I’m not a frill guy.”
I shove him playfully. “I believe you. I do. The guy who sleeps with everyone won’t try to get with me, I’m sure of it.” Just saying it out loud disappoints me a little.
“And since you know I won’t be your fall back,” Cade says, his gaze burning the side of my head as I don’t meet his eyes, “you need to find someone else, right?”
He does have a point.
“Fine,” I say. “But you’re buying me a shot the minute we get to the bar.”