Chapter 14 #2
I lean against the bar, flashing my best grin. “Figured I’d give you time to recover after that devastating rejection.”
“Please.” She scoffs, rolling her eyes but not moving away. “Freddie will regret it, eventually.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Obviously.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Love the confidence, darling.”
She leans in a little. “You love the attention.”
And yeah, this is fun.
I’d never actually sleep with Brianna—Freddie’s old flings are off-limits. But flirting with her is fair game. Flirting is easy and fun.
“Actually,” I say, lowering my voice slightly, “you can help me with something.”
She raises a brow. “Now we’re talking. What do you need?” She’s giving me fuck me eyes.
“Is Delilah here?”
Slowly, a smirk spreads across her face.
“Delilah Greer?” she asks, voice dripping with curiosity.
“Yeah.” I keep my tone bored, casual. “Need to figure out some project details.”
She doesn’t believe me. I can tell by the way she tilts her head, watching me like she’s figuring out a puzzle.
“Nope, she didn’t wanna come…but I can give you her number?”
Delilah still hasn’t texted me and I’ve just been showing up at her place at 8 AM all week to drop her in. I hate how much it bothers me that I don’t have her number.
But after a beat, she pulls out her phone.
“Sure. Okay.”
She types something quickly, then slides her phone across the bar for me to copy.
“Thanks,” I mutter, walking away.
I stare at Delilah’s number in my phone for a solid five minutes. I could wait and text her tomorrow, actually about the project.
Instead, I type out:
What’re you up to, Mittens?
I hit send before I can overthink it.
The response comes immediately.
Lilah
Who’s this?
I grin.
She knows exactly who.
You know who.
Lilah
Another level of stalking. Flattered.
I laugh to myself.
Yeah, okay. Maybe I walked right into that one.
Nah, just been thinking about the project.
Wanted to discuss how we’re planning on sourcing the materials for the grid.
She doesn’t reply as quickly. I nearly put my phone away and rejoin the party, like I should be doing, anyway.
Lilah
Are you seriously at a party thinking about school?
I raise a brow.
How do you know I’m at a party?
Lilah
Brianna texted me to let me know she gave a crazy guy my number. She wanted to check if I was ok with it.
Damn. You actually said yes?
Lilah
It’s not like I could have done anything about it AFTER she gave you my number, is there? Don’t let it go to your head, Hawkins.
Too late.
I lean back against the bar, ignoring the crowded party around me. The music is still blasting, people are still laughing, but for some reason, I’m more interested in this conversation.
So, where are you?
Lilah
Why? Thinking of stalking me in person now?
Obviously
Lilah
I’m at the bookstore. Doing stock take.
On a Friday night?
Damn, Greer, you really know how to party.
Lilah
Its extra hours. And it’s easy.
Plus, I like it here
I pause at that.
Because that’s… kind of nice. It’s not the kind of answer most people would give. Most people would complain about having to work late. Which is probably why I send the next text without thinking.
Which bookstore is it?
Send me the address
Lilah
Why?
Party’s boring. I wanna help you
Be a knight
Lilah
…You want to help. At a bookstore.
Yeah. Why not?
Lilah
You don’t even read.
Wait, do you?
I grin.
I can lift heavy things. Move boxes. Look hot while doing it.
It’ll be fun I promise
Lilah
I don’t need some drunk guy showing up to bother me.
I’m stone cold sober, Mittens. Please let me help out. I am so bored.
Lilah
Fine.
A second later, my phone buzzes again with the bookstore’s address.
I push off the bar, already heading toward the door. And yeah, okay. Maybe this wasn’t how I expected my night to go. But, this feels like one of my best plans.
I pocket my phone but before I can make it outside, I spot Ethan near the drinks table, stacking red cups into a precariously tall pyramid while talking to some freshman who looks way too impressed.
I knock the top cup off as I pass.
“Yo,” I say. “Tell the others I’m heading out.”
Ethan catches the falling cup midair, impressive as hell.
“Wait—what?” He turns to me, eyes wide. “You’re leaving? Bro, it’s barely midnight.”
“Party’s boring,” I say, keeping it casual.
Ethan gasps dramatically. “No. You’re boring.”
“Nah. Just got better things to do.”
“What, like sleep?” He groans. “Lame. I expected more from you, Hawkins.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, yeah. You here with Paige?”
Ethan’s expression shifts immediately.
“Yeah, haven’t seen her for a bit though.” He scowls and tries to hold it back, but I know him too well.
She’s a PhD student, smart as hell, and for whatever reason, she actually likes him. But I don’t really vibe with her. I’ve met her a couple of times now and she’s just a little…cold.
He tries to act chill about it, but every time she’s out of sight for more than ten minutes, he gets that crease between his brows, like he’s almost worried she’ll slip away.
“She’s probably just nerding out somewhere,” I say, giving him an easy grin. “You know, whispering sweet nothings to a telescope or whatever she does.”
Ethan laughs, but it’s a little distracted.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll find her in a sec.”
“Good.” I clap him on the shoulder. “Now tell the others I left before Tara assumes I died or something and panics.”
Ethan salutes. “You got it, boss.”
I nod and head out, shoving my hands in my pockets as the cold air hits me and I tell myself this is not a big deal. That I’m just choosing a quieter night.
I’m definitely not ditching a party full of people just to go hang out with Delilah Greer in an empty bookstore.