Laney (5 page)

Chapter 6 - Disappointed

On Wednesday morning, we were both ready for school earlier than usual. I wanted to see Oliver as soon as possible and I hoped my underwear embarrassment wasn’t going to linger over to today. Kiera was thankful to be feeling better and looking forward to school. She was such a nerd.

We decided to walk. It was warm out, even though it was early; the last bit of summer was still hanging on. I was hoping Oliver would offer me a ride home and I knew Kiera was hoping we’d run into Carter on the way to school. Neither of those things happened.

I had only one class today, which meant Oliver did, too. I waited as patiently as I could in English, but he never showed. I was disappointed. I sat by the tree after class for longer than usual and my heart sank when he didn’t show up there, either.

Maybe seeing my underpants freaked him out. Maybe he thought my choice in undergarments made me a floozy.

As I waited by that giant maple tree, I spent some time studying and watching the squirrels scurrying back and forth. I listened to the birds chirping and watched as a few stray puffs of cloud drifted along in the almost spotless blue sky. I met up with Kiera after her last class and we started for home. I felt bummed at not seeing him all day and it seemed Kiera was about as gloomy as I was.

We had trudged quietly along the tree-lined sidewalk and were probably about halfway home when, from behind us, Carter’s familiar voice called our names. We both whirled around, but for different reasons. My reason wasn’t there.

Carter trotted up to us. “Hey, Ladies.” A goofy smile spread across his face. He was pretty cute in a “boy next door” sort of way. His messy, sandy-blonde hair was a little too long, covering his ears, and his bangs were slightly swept to the side to keep them out of his eyes. His blue eyes seemed to sparkle with his smile. He was tall and lanky, all arms and legs. He was goofy when he laughed. His eyes were a little too close together and his nose was just a tiny bit crooked. He was easy to get along with and adorable once you knew him, but he was no Oliver, not to me, anyway. He was just another boy.

We began walking toward home again. Carter fell in step beside Kiera and he seemed to be totally focused on her, taking in her every word and sneaking peeks of her body while she was focused elsewhere. It was about time.

I silently walked behind them the rest of the way home. I watched them as we walked, taking everything in. He looked to be close to six-foot, which was quite a bit taller than her five-foot-two frame. His body language made it obvious that he was into her—the way his eyes held her, how close he was walking to her, how his arm conveniently kept brushing against hers, and how he listened so intently, soaking up every word. I wondered if she had any idea.

They were talking about what they had each done all summer and about how Carter’s family vacation to Las Vegas had been—he had recently turned twenty-one, so there was plenty to tell. I watched and I waited for a break in their conversation that never came. I wanted to ask him the one question that was on my mind, but, before I knew it, we were at our door and Carter was waving “Goodbye.”

I sucked in a breath and called after him, “Hey, where’s Oliver?” It didn’t come out exactly how I wanted, or intended, it to and I felt my cheeks warm in embarrassment.

He turned around and continued to walk backwards toward his apartment. “Don’t know,” he shrugged. “He was gone when I got up this morning.” He waved again, turned, and strolled off.

I felt the heat leave my cheeks as we entered our apartment. Kiera was ecstatic. She couldn’t stop smiling. I was happy for her. I was just a bit distracted over Oliver. I wanted to know why he was gone and where he was. I really hoped my underwear had nothing to do with it. I don’t know why I was so preoccupied with this. It wasn’t like there was anything between us. It was none of my business where he was or why he was gone. I was just really disappointed, and possibly a little fearful that he’d gone back to Reno, never to return.

I got ready Thursday morning with a serious lack of enthusiasm. I just had a feeling I wouldn’t see him that day.

As we were locking our front door and about to head down the stairs, Carter called to us, “Wait up.” He smiled and jogged up to us, his backpack bouncing against his back as he did so. Well, Kiera’s day was made.

We walked; I don’t know why. They started walking in the opposite direction of my car and I just followed. I felt like a tag-along. They chatted away, and as I lagged behind watching them, I concluded that he was definitely way into her; there was no doubt. I wondered if she had caught onto that yet or if I was going to have to point it out to her. How oblivious she was to him liking her made me chuckle out loud and they both looked back at me like I was crazy. I gave them a crooked smile with a shrug and they returned to ignoring me.

I drifted through the day, not really paying attention, just off in my own thoughts, thoughts that included Oliver. I wondered if I’d ever see him again and worried that maybe he didn’t like it here after all. I was, of course, hoping he’d show up. He didn’t.

He was gone again, all day, and I started to believe my underwear had really chased him away. That would just be ridiculous! If anything, he should be excited that he got to see my underpants; no one else ever had. Ugh! This was making me crazy. My mind was reeling. It frustrated me to no end that he had this effect on me.

I met up with Kiera and—surprise, surprise—Carter, after our last classes. It was the same story walking home. I was a third, unwanted, wheel. I so wished I had driven that morning
.
I tried to distract myself from their cute, and somewhat disgusting, flirting by kicking oak balls out of my path.
Okay, I admit I’m just a wee bit jealous.
That realization just made me feel worse and grumpier. The oak balls did have the potential to be rather dangerous—you could seriously hurt some cute, little, lovey-dovey couple if you threw one at the backs of their heads.
Fine! I’ll drop the stupid oak ball.

As we were walking past the apartment parking area, Carter’s voice caught my attention. “Look who’s back,” he said, giving me a sweet smile (That made me feel even worse about wanting to tag him in the head with an oak ball.) and nodded toward the parking area. And there it was—that big, black, beautiful car. He was back! My mood instantly changed dramatically and a smile spread across my face. I was no longer lost in my moodiness; I was back and my mind was racing with excitement. I rushed past my roommate and her love interest and up the stairs two at a time, hoping to run into him, but I didn’t. I didn’t care. He was back and I just knew I’d see him in the morning. My panties hadn’t scared him away after all.

I realized then that a crush could make you behave like a fool—but I was okay with that.

Chapter 7 - Thursday Night Tortilla Incident

Kiera wanted to make her famous cheese enchiladas, so I was on my way to the store to get tortillas. Of course, we had all but one ingredient. “Tortillas are rather important when making enchiladas,” Kiera had told me sarcastically.

I turned right out of the apartment parking lot and onto University Boulevard which led past the university on the right and just a couple blocks farther down it led past Main Street on the left, in the center of town. Just a few blocks more and I’d find the closest grocery store on the left-hand side of the street.

Excitement filled me knowing Oliver was back and that I’d get to see him soon. I couldn’t sit still. I was pretty sure I was getting on Kiera’s nerves and that was why she sent me to the store. I knew we had tortillas; Kiera never forgot to buy an ingredient. I didn’t care. It got me out of grating cheese. His car was still in the apartment parking lot when I left and that just boosted my excitement. I couldn’t wait to see his gorgeous smile and hear his beautiful voice. The next day couldn’t come soon enough!

I wandered the aisles searching for tortillas. Kiera was the shopper and knew where everything was. I was the cart pusher. The store was bright and a little too cold; the music was sad and that made no sense to me. Did they think it would make people buy more food because they were prone to eating more when they felt sad? It just made me want to leave.

An older woman in a hot pink, velour jogging suit and lipstick to match passed me just as I found the tortilla rack. I couldn’t help raising an eyebrow at her as I watched her pass by with her little lap dog in the top of the shopping cart. That couldn’t be sanitary.

I was standing in front of what seemed like a hundred different kinds of tortillas, trying to figure out which ones to buy, when I heard a familiar “hello.” I spun around to meet a smiling Oliver with a regular ol’ Carter beside him. My heart rate picked up at the sight of him—Oliver, not Carter.

“Hi,” I said, breathless from the surprise of him being there and because his beauty and dazzling smile could literally take my breath away.

“Hey, Laney. What’s for dinner?” Carter chuckled.

“Kiera’s making her famous cheese enchiladas.” I replied, noticing out of the corner of my eye that Oliver hadn’t taken his eyes off of me. “Would you guys like to join us?”
Whoa!
That just slipped out—but it was out there now.
Please say “yes!” Please say “yes!”

Carter’s eyes lit up. “I love Kiera’s enchiladas. Are you sure she won’t mind?” He was excited. Oliver winked at me.
He did not tell Carter what I said about Kiera liking him, did he?

“I’m sure she’d love to have you guys over.” I smiled nervously. If I was nervous, she was sure to freak.
“
Give me a second to call her and see if we need anything else.”

I pulled my cell out of the back pocket of my jeans and called Kiera. She was pretty excited about an evening with Carter (as was I about an evening with Oliver). As I listened to Kiera excitedly tell me we still only needed tortillas, I saw Oliver lean over close to Carter and quietly say something to him.

I hung up. “Just tortillas, and she’s excited you’ll both be joining us.” I said with a suspicious look toward them. Oliver’s eyes were on me again, and that smile—tonight it was almost devious.
Interesting.
I hoped it had nothing to do with my underpants. Then again
… Ugh!! There I go again!

“Well,” Carter began, “Oliver claims he has already eaten, though I’ve never seen him do so.” He chuckled and Oliver shot him a quick glance before returning his eyes to me with an expression like he was studying me. It made me a little self-conscious. “So, it will just be me,” Carter finished.

My heart sank and my smile faded. He wasn’t coming. Without looking, I reached for the first bag of tortillas I could find and as I pulled it free they all started to fall. I was able to stop the first few, but then they all started to go. It was like a tortilla avalanche. “No, no, no, no, no!” I pleaded.

But it was too late. Almost the entire rack, and it was a large rack, of tortillas was heaped on the floor and I was standing in the middle of them.
STUPID FREAKING TORTILLAS!
I stared at my feet, took a deep breath and looked up as another bag of tortillas slid from the rack and plopped onto the floor. The boys were staring at me, stunned. I sighed and bent to start picking them up, brushing my hair away from my face and tucking it behind my ears—no wonder I always wore it back—and then I lost my footing. I was going down in a pile of tortillas in front of the one person I wouldn’t want to see this.

I let out a little screech in frustration and terror as the floor got closer; then suddenly two very strong, cool hands saved me from hitting the floor. I looked up into Oliver’s intense emerald eyes as he pulled me up, facing him.

“Are you okay?” There was a hint of concern in his voice; he was still holding me like he wasn’t sure I was steady yet.

“I’m fine.” I felt winded and my cheeks burned with embarrassment.
Why? Why did this have to happen in front of him?
I tried to catch my breath and was hit by his cologne, which smelled so fantastic.

“I can see that you’re fine, physically,” then he added hesitantly, and very quietly, “but you seem...sad.”

“Oh.” That was unexpected. “Um…I guess I’m just a little bummed that you aren’t coming over,” I said softly. I shyly looked away. I felt the warmth continue on my cheeks and down my neck. I couldn’t believe I had just admitted that
.

He gently touched my chin, lifting my face to his. The concern in his face was replaced by his amazing half-smile. “That’s all?” he said with a hint of laughter. “I’ve already eaten, but I’d still like to join you.” He brushed my hair away from my face. Shivers ran down my spine and my knees went weak. It was probably a good thing he was still holding me up. The sound of someone clearing his throat brought us back to reality. We both looked over to see Carter staring at us with his mouth hanging open and his eyes wide. Beside him was a rather stout store clerk wearing a black clerk’s apron with the name of the store printed across the chest and a white oval name tag that I didn’t bother reading. His hands were on his hips and the look on his pudgy face was irritated. I assumed he was the throat-clearer because Carter seemed completely dumbfounded.

Oliver quickly let go and I swayed a little in the tortillas. I sincerely apologized to the clerk, grabbed the first bag of tortillas I could reach, and the three of us quickly rushed through the checkout and out of the store.

We parted ways in the parking lot after agreeing they would be over in thirty minutes. I sat in my car and took several deep breaths, trying to compose myself. I could still feel his strong grip on me and his cool fingers touching my chin and brushing my face. I liked it; I liked it a lot.

As I flew home, still thinking about Oliver’s hands on me, I came way too close to slamming into the back of some familiar idiot’s car. It was a dark silver Mazda RX-8 with a personalized license plate frame that read, “Football Players Do
IT
Best.” It was a car I had once been a passenger in, just once. Common sense had warned me not to go on that date, but I hadn’t listened.

I rolled my window down as I passed. I knew I shouldn’t, but he had interrupted my Oliver fantasy and I figured it was dark enough out that he couldn’t really see me. “It’s called a blinker,” I yelled, “learn how to use it!” I guess he heard me because he gave me the finger. I returned the gesture and sped past him down University Boulevard on my way back home.