Page 4

CHAPTER FOUR

ELLIOT

“It was so embarrassing,” I whisper to Katie as we sit in a black leather booth across from each other. “I didn't see him at all.”

The sound of soft music flows from hidden speakers, and the smell of earthy herbs fills the air of the small corner bistro Katie and I had chosen to meet at. The tiny restaurant is buzzing, full of people, so we lean over the table talking quietly as we wait on our orders to arrive. The last thing I want is for anyone to overhear the conversation.

“Okay, I have no idea what you are talking about. What happened?” She quirks a red eyebrow that's a shade lighter than her ruby red, wavy locks that frame her freckled, heart-shaped face. Curiosity, and nosiness, shine in her pale blue eyes.

I had just blurted out the first thing on my mind because it's all I've been able to think about for days now. Katie had made a short trip out of town to visit her family, and this is the first time I've seen her since the hallway collision with Forrest. I hadn't mentioned Forrest to her the day I'd met him because… Well, I'm not sure why. I've been dying to tell her everything and get her opinion, but I've been hesitant to bring it up over text. Because of my lack of social skills, I’ve had no one else to talk to. The only reason I’d even met Katie was her complete inability to leave someone sitting alone, even a random stranger like me.

I groan as I recall every confusing moment between me and Forrest since I'd laid eyes on him.

“Okay, so last week…” I begin. “I was at work. I think it was my third day there and I had no idea what I was doing yet, right? I'm a fast learner but there's apparently a lot more to know about making coffee than I realized. And that doesn't include the other stuff, like the register and?—”

She snaps her long, slender fingers in front of my face. “Stop stalling and get to the juicy stuff. I'm hungry and my patience is nearly at zero.”

I roll my eyes. “Fine. So, this guy comes in, and just looking at him, he appears permanently mad. Or bitter. I don't really know.” I frown. “Anyway, when I asked him what he wanted to order, he seemed to instantly hate me. And before you ask, nope, I have absolutely no idea why. He knows I'm new because Gina told me he comes in every day.”

“What did he say?” she asks while narrowing her eyes.

“I'm getting to all that, Miss Impatient.” I sigh. “So, he ordered the most complicated drink on Earth. The thing wasn't even on the menu. And even before Gina confirmed it wasn't his usual order, I somehow knew he only did it to make my job more difficult.”

Katie cocks her head. “Why would he do that?”

I furrow my brow in thought. “I would love to know the answer to that myself. But there's more.”

“By all means, please continue. I have a feeling this gets better.”

“Better for you because you love gossip and drama.” I shoot her a mock glare.

She grins in response, offering a nonchalant shrug. “Guilty.”

“For me it's been awful though.” That's not entirely true. His fingers against my skin were the exact opposite of horrible. The touch had sent my heart racing, even if my skin had been on fire from the coffee mess. “So, after work that day, I headed upstairs to the apartment to change clothes. This was actually the day I was late meeting you for lunch.”

She lifts her hand, rotating her finger in a circle, urging me again to get to the good stuff.

“Well, I'm getting my key to let myself in the apartment and the door across the hall opens. Take one guess who walks out and is also my new neighbor.” I pause, remembering the unlikely coincidence.

“No way. The jerk is your neighbor?” Her voice rises, and she sounds excited for some reason.

I glare, a real one this time. “You do realize this is bad news, right?”

“Well, maybe I will when you stop taking a million years to tell me everything.” She gives me a pointed look.

“Well, it was awkward and he was weird. The guy seriously looked at me and said, “ No .” And it wasn't the only time. He's done that a few times now, actually.”

“ No what?” she asks, sounding as confused as I still feel about the whole exchange. I shrug again, because what else can I do? “Okay, well, that is weird. I agree.”

“He makes no sense and seems perma-moody. And for some reason he's singled me out to be annoyed at or something.” I puff out a long breath. “Anyway, two days later, he was coming down the hall and I was running late. I wasn't really paying attention and literally ran straight into him. I'm talking body slamming him against the wall, Katie.”

I groan under my breath, remembering how mortified I'd been. The only part of that incident that had been pleasant was feeling a man's body against mine. My thoughts stray once again to his touch on my stomach, but this isn't the time for that. I need Katie's advice on how to handle Forrest. Shaking my head, I refocus on the conversation.

“No,” she gasps, but there's a hint of amusement in her tone. “What did he do?”

“Well, he was holding a cup of coffee and it went everywhere. Both of our shirts were soaked, and it burned. But I couldn't even feel it because I was humiliated when I saw it was him. He basically asked if I was stupid and was pulling my shirt to try to prevent me from being injured.” Now that I’m thinking about it, the gestures comes as a surprise. Each time I've seen him, I've been given the impression the jerk would happily see me suffer.

“Oh my god. That's terrible.” Her words don't mask her interest in the story.

Even though I'm pretty sure my embarrassment is pure entertainment for her, I continue. “It was. I offered to replace his shirt, but he wasn't having it and reminded me I was late for work. I just rushed off to privately die a little inside.”

“So dramatic.” Katie giggles, confirming she is enjoying this rather than feeling any sort of sympathy. “Then what happened? Did he bust down your door and strip you naked? Throw you on the bed?—”

“No,” I interrupt and tack on a scowl I don't really mean. The thought does hold some appeal because I'm apparently losing my mind. “Your imagination is not only perverted, but borderline psychotic sometimes.”

She shamelessly grins, revealing pearly white teeth. “I know. So, what happened next then?”

“Nothing.” I shrugged, which seems to be my go-to for anything grump-related. He confuses me. “He hasn't been back to the shop since then. Or at least not when I've been working, and there's no way I'm asking my boss if she's seen him.”

Katie nods. “Makes sense. But I get the feeling you're leaving things out. The guy sounds like an asshole, but he's also not because he saved your precious snow-white skin. And I sort of think you want to do him.”

“What?” My voice rises so high that the word cracks with a mix of an awkward squeak. “No way.”

“If you say so.” She snorts, clearly not believing me. I don't believe me either.

I’m saved from replying, at least for now, when our server arrives. He sets a plate of pancakes and eggs in front of me and a veggie omelet in front of Katie. After he tells us to enjoy and walks away, Katie immediately starts shoveling food into her mouth. I know she'll want to know more later, but there's honestly nothing else to tell her yet. I know run-ins with Forrest are bound to happen again, but maybe eventually he'll grow tired of glaring at me. And maybe I won't create some sort of disaster. One can hope anyway.

Katie had to bolt for her shift at a local bar after we'd finished eating, and I have the day off. I'm stuffed and lazy, so I don't feel like walking around the city to explore. I'm left sitting on my bed alone, streaming a reality show on my phone to cure the boredom.

I feel trapped in this small shoebox of a room because Parker is home as always and gaming. His headset is on as usual, yet he has music blaring from speakers that he's not even listening to. His time would be better spent doing the piles of laundry he leaves around the apartment to make the place habitable. That isn't going to happen any time soon. Judging by his greasy blond hair, I don't think he's moved from that sunken spot on the couch for days to even shower. I honestly don't know how he pays his part of the rent, and I'm afraid to ask.

Over the noise, I hear banging on the front door. I glance toward my closed door and frown. No one ever comes over. Not since I've been here at least. I know there's no way Parker is going to see who it is, so I press pause on my show and set my phone on my nightstand.

I slide off the bed and walk through the apartment, hesitating when the banging starts again. The person doesn't seem happy, and since I have no idea what Parker’s friends are like, I'm afraid of what's on the other side of the door.

Taking a deep breath, I open the door and freeze. It’s definitely not a friend of Parkers. It's Forrest Grump himself, and he looks absolutely livid, though the expression does seem to ease slightly when he sees me for some reason.

“I was expecting Parker,” he says loud enough to be heard. Parker pays no attention to the new arrival, and it's awkward to be shouting at Forrest over the music and my roommate's voice.

I press my hand against Forrest's chest to push him backward without thinking. I think I notice a catch in his breath but can't be sure. Urging him back into the hall, I follow him and close the door behind us. The sound is barely muffled, and I immediately know that's what drew grumpy pants from his bear cave.

“I can't work with all that ridiculous noise, and he knows it,” he grumbles, but again, it's barely audible.

I'm not having this conversation in the hall anymore where I'll just struggle to hear him, so I start walking toward his apartment.

“Where are you going?” He spins around and follows me as I open his door. His tone is laced with annoyance and surprise. Honestly, I'm shocked at the bold move too. Something about this guy eliminates my normal shyness, to a point. But if he wants to talk, this is the only way it's going to happen.