Part 20 (2/2)
The bell above the door jingles, but I don't look up. ”I'm sorry, but we're closing.”
”Actually I came to speak to you.”
I spin and look at the handsome male wearing a white s.h.i.+rt and dark jeans. His blond hair is my favourite part about him; it touches the top of his collar, curling slightly on the ends. Not many men could pull off a longer hairdo, but he's one of those that definitely can pull it off.
”Hey,” I breathe, standing with a rag in one hand and a bottle of spray in the other.
”I am so sorry I didn't make it today. I overslept.”
I check the clock on the wall and quirk my brow at him. ”Until six at night?”
His teeth sink into his lower lip and his eyes scan the girls as they pull on their coats and grab their bags ready to leave. ”Until two, but I had a few things to do when I woke up.”
I turn back to the table I was cleaning and lift a chair to rest it upside down on the surface.
A firm chest presses against my back as arms come around me and help my shaking, weary arms guide the chair to the table. I stop breathing and tense when his jaw skims against my ear. It's smooth and soft; he's shaven and he smells divine.
I can't tell if I imagine it, but his body seems to linger against mine and his jaw seems to rub against my ear. I'm certain I hear him inhale and that thought alone causes a s.h.i.+ver to run through my body.
”I know it was your birthday yesterday,” he says quietly and his breath fans through my hair.
He steps away, leaving me weak, wobbling and cold. ”Yeah, I didn't make a big deal out of it.”
”I know...” He lifts the next chair and turns it over, resting it on the table. ”I... I...” I've never seen him look so nervous. His hand reaches into his back pocket and fumbles with something. ”I should go.” He rips his hand away and runs it through his hair. ”I just wanted to apologise for not helping today; it was wrong of me.”
”It's okay.” I'm not lying. s.h.i.+t happens. I'm hardly going to hold it against him. ”You weren't the only one who didn't show up. We got it done though, so it's all good.”
”Do you need any help now? With anything?”
I look around the clean cafe and shake my head. ”No, I'm going to enjoy an Irish coffee with Crystal and then I'm going home.”
He looks shocked for a moment. ”Irish coffee? The one with Baileys?”
”Yep.”
”Do you think that's a good idea?”
I'm not really sure what he means. ”I'm eighteen; it's totally legal now. Besides, it's not like I'm doing shots of hard liquor.”
”No...” He scratches his head and looks up to the ceiling as if searching for an answer. ”I know.”
Huh? ”You know what?”
He gives me a look that I don't understand. ”No, I mean that I know.”
Blink. ”You know what?”
”Don't play coy; you know what I'm talking about.” Why the h.e.l.l is he getting frustrated?
”I'm not being coy. I genuinely don't have a clue what you're talking ab...”
”I know that you're pregnant.” He blurts, the words coming out in a jumbled mess, but not so jumbled that I don't understand him. ”I didn't want to say anything; it's your business...”
”Wait...” I hold up my hand to silence him as a nervous giggle escapes me and my heart breaks slowly into a thousand pieces. ”Is that the reason you've been nice to me this entire time? The lunch time study sessions, the rides home, the inviting me to your parents... it's because you think I'm pregnant?”
His stern face falters. ”Well...”
Oh my G.o.d, I've been so d.a.m.n stupid. ”I'm not pregnant!” I throw the rag on the table. ”Who the h.e.l.l told you I was pregnant?”
He opens and closes his mouth before finally answering. ”I overheard a conversation in cla.s.s between you and Hayley. It's okay, Elle... I'm not judging you.”
”Holy f.u.c.k,” I choke out and rub my temples with my fingertips. ”I'm not f.u.c.king pregnant.”
”If you terminated, I completely understand...”
A rush of air leaves me. I can't believe we're having this conversation. ”Stop, just stop. I'm not, nor have I ever been, b.l.o.o.d.y pregnant!”
”But I heard...”
”You heard wrong! I'm not even sure what you heard to make you a.s.sume that I'm pregnant or ever have been!” I know I'm shouting, but I'm embarra.s.sed and extremely angry. More so at myself for thinking that maybe he enjoyed my company a little more than he should. ”G.o.d. I can't believe this...”
Isaac winces and scratches at his neck. I've noticed that this is something he does when he's feeling uncomfortable. ”If you were, you know that you could tell me... right?”
”Oh G.o.d, please... just stop trying to relate to me. This is so weird on so many levels.” I drop the spray by the rag and move to the door. ”I think you should go.”
”Elle...”
”No, please. This has been mortifying enough. I really...” A thought comes to mind. ”Did you tell anybody?” When he doesn't answer, my entire spine straightens and stiffens. I turn to him, directing my anger at him. ”Whoever you told, you better un-tell right now! Okay?”
”Of course.” He mutters and moves to the door. ”I am so sorry. I should have just spoken to you first. I just didn't know how to handle it.”
I lower my head and close my eyes, needing for him to be gone when I reopen them. ”Please just go, please.”
”Right.” The bell jingles as the door opens, but I still don't open my eyes. ”I'm really sorry, Eloise.”
I lock the door behind him and close the shutters before finally making the coffee. I'm surprised Crystal didn't come and see what the commotion was.
I step into the back with two cups of Irish coffee in my hands, still feeling annoyed and embarra.s.sed at myself for ever letting myself believe that Isaac might have liked me as more than just his student.
”You will never guess what just happened,” I say as I place the cups on the table in front of the couch.
I turn to Crystal, ready to give Isaac a piece of my mind through her, but find her slumped forward in her seat, her forehead against her arm. Her other arm rests limply by her side.
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