Page 12 of Spell Ya Later
“You have issues. Why can’t you just find a nice boy and settle down for longer than two minutes?” I wince the minute the words leave my mouth. I sound way too much like my mother.
“Youhave issues. Why can’t you get out of your hole and actually meet a guy?” Laura snaps.
You could hear a pin drop.
The urge to comfort her, to smother my own emotions, is too strong to ignore. Despite the fact she hit the nail on the head. ButIamout of my hole, and I’m working on making a real life for myself. Finally.
“I’m sorry.” I always apologize first.
She sighs. “Me too. That was uncalled for. Let’s order our burgers and work on this whole hangry thing, hmm?”
“Yes! I’m starving!” Deflection is my super power. I’ve never held Laura accountable for the things she says to hurt me, and I’m not going to start tonight.
“Hey.” A shaking voice interrupts my internal innuendos. It’s not BEBE, but it’s one of his friends. One of his slightly tipsy friends, if the wobbling is any indication.
His gaze is firmly planted on Laura so I let her take over. I need a burger and I need it now. In my face.
With an approving nod from Laura, I stand and make my way to the bar.
I lean over the side to get the waiter’s attention. “Hi!”
He waves a hand at me as he chats up averyattractive guy with the roundest ass I’ve ever seen. I’m not even mad that he’s taking his time.
“It may be a minute,” says a calm voice that floods over me like an ocean wave.
I freeze. Without looking, I know exactly who that voice belongs to. I don’t know if it’s a witchy moment or what, but I know that voice belongs to BEBE. Almost as if I’ve heard his voice my whole life.
I force a cough, trying to reanimate my body.
I can definitely talk to the man whose eyes have haunted my dreams for weeks. This is totally normal.
“It happens. I’m just hungry.” Very normal response, Hazel. Good job.
BEBE’s lankiness shouldn’t work for him, but all those long limbs are drawing me in. I want to know how many times his arms could wrap around me. Probably fewer than I’d want.
No. I barely know him and I don’t need to be thinking about anything wrapping around anything.
“I was promised mozzarella sticks myself, but Benji seems to have forgotten that.” He motions over to the tipsy boy still leaning precariously over my giggling sister.
“Why are my attempts at enjoying food being thwarted by bubble butts and fluttering eyelashes?” I grumble.
His eyes bug out of his face as water shoots from his mouth like a hose set on high. It takes a few moments for BEBE to stop hysterically laughing.
I’m definitely blushing again, basically on fire. No wonder my mom never allows me in public. She may have been right this whole time.
Thankfully, the almost-death-by-laughter of BEBE has roused the waiter’s attention and he appears in front of us.
“How can I help you?” the waiter asks, eyeing his wet counter.
Is teleportation out of the most embarrassing moment of my life on the menu? “Two cheeseburgers, please.”
“Absolutely, sweetheart. And you?”
“May I have two orders of mozzarella sticks and another round of drinks, please?” BEBE asks politely, still chuckling a bit. Must he draw out my embarrassment so?
“Will do.” The waiter writes down our orders. “Sorry for the delay.”
“No problem.” I wink. I was aiming for funny, but I’m pretty sure it just came off creepy. But the waiter gives me a fond smile regardless. He’s getting a very large tip this evening.
