When I'm With You (Little Hollow Series, #2)(3)

He puffs out his chest with fake pride which pulls another laugh out of me. He’s broken the ice.... kinda.

It turns silent and I look around the room feeling the awkwardness creeping back into the atmosphere. I don’t know what to talk about, definitely not my past and I don’t know anything about him to ask him general everyday things.

He clears his throat. “So… how do you like working with Sam?”

Is he really going to talk about Sam while he’s having dinner with me? I answer him anyway. “Sam’s great and I love hairdressing, I’ve done it all my adult life so… yeah, it’s awesome.”

Saved by the bell, the waitress brings over our food and we don’t have to talk for the next ten minutes, apart from the customary asking each other how the others food is.

“Erm… You have a little something.” He points to the corner of his mouth and I grab my napkin to wipe it off.

How embarrassing, but better than he not tell me and I sit here with sauce all over my face, why I chose the ribs I don’t know. Rookie move, Kee. Rookie move.

“Thanks,” I mumble with embarrassment.

He gives me a straight smile. “I didn’t say thank you. You know, for filling in for Sam. You didn’t have to.”

Filling in for Sam? I roll my eyes at his choice of words. “Jeez, thanks.”

“No, not filling in… I… I meant... thank you for keeping me company tonight,” he stutters, and gives me an awkward smile.

“Well I didn’t really have a choice.” He actually looks a little hurt at that so I add, “But it hasn’t been all that bad.”

I give him a small smile and he relaxes.

“How was that for you guys? Dessert?” I take the menu the waitress offers to me and she takes our plates. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

We both choose what we want and she’s back to take our orders soon enough. When she leaves, silence descends over the table again. I really need to interact with people more, I’ve lost the function to keep a simple conversation going and Lewis looks just as uncomfortable.

Our desserts don’t take long to come but halfway through finishing them, his phone rings.

He points to it and says, “Do you mind if I take this?”

I wrinkle my nose, well isn’t that just fucking rude. He doesn’t wait for an answer as he shuffles out the booth and heads in the direction of the bathrooms.

I put my spoon down and watch him walk back over to me with worry etched on his face. “I’m really sorry, Keeley. I’d love to stay and finish up but I’ve gotta go, my mom needs me.”

I narrow my eyes and try to stay calm. “You could’ve just finished your dessert and called it a night. You didn’t have to make up a shitty excuse to leave. I get it.”

I pull some money out my purse and throw it down on the table.

“It’s really not an excuse,” he quickly answers, picking up the money and holding it out to me. “Dinner’s on me.”

I push his hand back at him. “I’m paying for my own dinner, you can shove your money up your ass. I don’t owe anybody anything.”

I scramble out the booth and throw my purse strap over my shoulder, storming out the restaurant. I probably could’ve handled that a lot more maturely, but screw him.

“Great guy. Thanks, Sam. I spent the rest of my night sitting down at the beach.”

“He really is a great guy and it more than likely wasn’t an excuse, Kee.” Oh yeah right. “Honestly, he’s his mom’s emergency contact. She had a stroke seven years ago that paralyzed her so he has to look after her.”

If there was ever a perfect face palming moment, this is it. I feel like the biggest asshole on the planet. Thanks for the heads up, Sam. I can’t believe he didn’t try to explain, he just stood there and took me acting like a primadonna on the chin.

She practically waves me off and starts talking about the fundraiser to take my mind off of things. I roll my eyes as she starts making a list of what we need to arrange, get, or do in time for Saturday, I’m not staying around for this. I say a quick goodnight but she doesn’t answer me, so I quietly slip away to my room.

I’m so fucking tired of trying to fit in, I love who I am and I’m not changing for anybody. Being icy keeps me from getting hurt.

My mind wanders back to Lewis and I hang my head in my hands, or it gets me in some embarrassing situations. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Well we aren’t going to be friends anytime soon. I should probably go and apologize, then at least it’s in his hands, not that I want anymore friends, but then at least hopefully he won’t think I’m an asshole anymore.

I peel off my shorts and throw them in my laundry basket, pulling on some pajama shorts and a tank top. I stretch and sigh, remembering I forgot to brush my teeth. Walking back out into the apartment, Sam is still pouring over her list, so deep in concentration that she either ignores me or doesn’t even realize I’m here. I’m glad that she’s happy to plan this on her own, I’ll help get everything she needs but I can’t sit and plan a party for a community who hasn’t given me the best of welcomes.

We’ve ran out of creamer so I head in the direction of the smallest grocery store I’ve ever seen. It’s warm out today and I’m definitely not complaining, the heat agrees with me, I’m glad I’ve chose to settle in a warm state.