14. Lizzie
14
LIZZIE
Big brother .
Is he serious?
After that night in his kitchen and all the looks at dinner with my family, plus these last few nights we’ve spent talking for hours in the dark? All for him to just refer to himself as a big brother trying to protect me from Brian’s advances?
I thought I made it super clear to Cameron that I was interested in his advances when I confessed to not being uncomfortable in his kitchen that night of Rangers. I honestly thought we had gotten pretty close after that.
It’s all falling into place now in my head, though.
He hasn’t made one single move since then or even a comment that could be considered flirtatious. I thought that him calling me pretty before the class started was him flirting, but I realize now that it was just him being nice.
I’ve obviously been friend-zoned. I’m just someone he likes to talk to. Like free therapy or something.
I’m mad but more embarrassed at this point, if I’m being honest. Lia is right. I need to move on from my crush once and for all. Enough is enough.
I guess it’s a good thing I finally agreed to go out with Brian, which I’m totally dreading anyway. He is good-looking, I’ll give him that, but then he opens his mouth and it’s just whining and woe is me. Like I owe him a date or something.
I don’t even know why he kept asking. Sometimes I feel like it’s an ego thing, like he can’t bear to be turned down. I don’t feel like we have anything in common or that he has any real interest in me as a person.
What’s done is done, though. Maybe I need to text Lia. I’m sure she’d be proud of me for finally putting myself out there.
When Brian leaves, I look out, and Cameron is still there. He’s on his phone, but I can’t just stay here watching him. So I busy myself with cleaning and getting all the chairs in place at the back of the studio. When I come back out a few minutes later, his car is gone. Thank God.
I quickly finish what I have to do, lock up the place, and get in my Jeep. On the drive home, I think about how I’m going to deal with tomorrow’s date with Brian. I really should have told him I’d drive myself and we could meet there, but he insisted that it wouldn’t be a real date if he didn’t pick me up, so I finally gave in.
When I come home. Cameron’s car is in his driveway, and I come to two separate conclusions.
One, I need to go on this date, and Brian will finally realize we’re really not meant to be.
And two, I can’t meet Cameron under our tree tonight.
I’m not sure I ever should again.
* * *
The next day seems to move at a snail’s pace, and nothing I do can distract me from thinking about the date. By the time five o’clock rolls around, I decide to start getting ready because Brian is going to pick me up at six forty-five.
After rummaging through my closet, I settle on a navy-blue skirt that hits just above my knees, and I pair it with a fitted white top and brown wedges. I leave my hair down and straighten it and apply some makeup in an attempt to tone down my freckles. I’ve never really liked them, so this definitely helps.
I glance at myself one final time in my floor-length mirror. I look nice, but I’m not giving off sexy vibes. My shoulders and arms are exposed, and I have only a tiny bit of cleavage showing. I don’t want to give Brian the wrong idea and invite any more of his attention.
I throw my phone and wallet in my brown clutch and then head toward the front window. I hear Brian’s truck before I see him and quickly exit my apartment and lock the door as he’s pulling up.
“Hey there, Lizzie. You look smokin’ hot,” he says with a huge grin and assessing eyes as he hangs his head out the window. I inwardly groan at his ungentlemanly behavior and want to cry knowing I’m going to have to deal with this all night.
Cameron opened the door for me to get in and then to get out.
Stop it, Lizzie.
“Hey, Brian. How are you tonight?” I ask, ignoring his comment on my appearance.
“Better now since you’re finally going out with me.”
Argh.
I open the passenger door and sit down. Brian is wearing dark wash jeans and a black polo shirt with black dress shoes. He looks nice, but it’s doing nothing for me. I pull my seat belt on, and Brian starts to drive away. I can’t help but glance at Cameron’s house and notice that his truck is gone but Morgan’s car is parked out front.
Which means he’s not home.
Stop it, Lizzie , I chastise myself again.
I take a deep breath to regroup and put my thoughts of Cameron on the back burner. I turn my attention to Brian and appreciate how handsome he is. Maybe I’m being too hard on him, like Lia said.
I mean, he has a great job as a firefighter and volunteers at the elementary school all the time to promote fire safety. He has a younger sister who’s really nice, and his parents are super involved in our town politics and activities. His older brother, Beau, is kind of an asshole, but there’s always one in the family, right?
“You look nice, Brian. And thank you for picking me up,” I say with as much enthusiasm as I can muster.
“No problem.” He looks over and waves a hand over his face. “You look better with your freckles covered up, by the way. It makes it less distracting when I’m talking to you.”
I’m so caught off guard that I just stare with my mouth hanging open for a second, completely taken aback. I’m embarrassed, and I can feel my face getting red, so I clear my throat to keep myself under control, otherwise I might tell him to stop the truck and let me out.
Or punch him in the nuts.
“Oh, um, yeah, the freckles can be pretty annoying. And distracting too, apparently. But I’m kind of stuck with them. We’re a package deal,” I say sarcastically.
“Well, if I were you, I would cover them up more often. Just saying. It looks nice.”
Apparently, he has no idea what sarcasm means. Or that he’s being a huge dick.
It’s funny, I left my apartment feeling good about myself, but I suddenly feel like an ugly duckling. I honestly don’t know why Brian has been trying so hard to go out with me if he’s making comments like these, and I’m starting to get pissed.
“Well, thanks for the advice. I’ll keep that in mind,” I say as civilly as possible, swallowing my annoyance, but I know there’s an edge to my voice. I couldn’t care less about his opinion because this will be the one and only time we go out.
I know Lia said to keep an open mind, and I was also just telling myself to do the same thing, but this thing with him isn’t going anywhere.
Probably sensing he hit a nerve with me, Brian doesn’t talk the rest of the car ride to Crest Steakhouse, and I’m more than happy with it. We pull into the parking lot, and I see that it’s a pretty busy night, even on a Thursday.
I get out of the car, pull down my skirt, and then pause, looking for Brian. I find him walking toward the front of the restaurant. He couldn’t even open my door or wait for me to walk up together. Not that I need him to, but still, a little chivalry goes a long way.
I reach the doors at the front of the restaurant, which Brian so nicely holds open for me, but turn around when I hear my name being called in a voice that I’m all too familiar with. I’m having a déjà vu.
It’s that night at Rangers all over again.
Brian and I turn and are met with Cameron’s scowling face and Reid’s amused one. Why is this happening to me? Haven’t I been through enough tonight already?
“Funny meeting you two here,” Cameron says animatedly. “What a coincidence.”
“Yeah, what a coincidence,” Reid repeats. “Lizzie, how are you? You look amazing.”
Brian and I both say hello, albeit Brian’s greeting is laced with a lot more annoyance than mine. Not at Reid, obviously, but what the hell is Cameron doing here?
Is he seriously playing the big brother role again and thinking he’s here to protect me?
I know I’m already reaching my tipping point after the car ride from hell, and I don’t want to finally snap in front of everyone, especially him.
“Well, enjoy your night, guys,” I say while looping my arm through Brian’s to pull him through the doors and make a hasty retreat. I’m now in the worst mood possible and wish the ground would swallow me whole. I have been insulted more than once, and now I have to sit through a meal knowing that Cameron is here—and definitely watching us.
Just my luck, right?
Fuck my life.