The Girlfriend Request Read online

  Sarah rolled her eyes and shifted farther against the wall in an attempt to make some space between them. “Get lost.”

  Eli simply stood next to the booth, looking completely uncomfortable with the entire situation. He didn’t say a word, and refused to even glance my way.

  Megan, oblivious to the situation unfolding, jumped into friendly mode. “Hey guys, it’s packed, but we can slide in so we can all fit. Come on, we don’t mind.” She smiled and pushed closer to the wall, motioning for me to slide over as well to make room for Eli.

  I didn’t know what to do. It wasn’t like I could explain the awkwardness of the situation with Eli standing only inches away, and Kevin leaning across the table smirking.

  “Actually, ladies, you’re in our seats.” Kevin leaned back and crossed his arms across his chest. “But hey, I’m a giving man.” Another sleazy wink. “I’m willing to share with the three of you.”

  “What are you talking about? We were here first.” Sarah elbowed him in the ribs, hard. “You’re lucky I’m not shoving your ass on the floor.”

  “No, we were here first.” Eli finally spoke up, quietly. He motioned to the glasses on the table. “They’re ours. We already ordered, and just went back to play a few games until our food got here.”

  “Oh. Sorry about that,” little miss sunshine Megan bubbled. “Well, do you guys mind if we sit here too?”

  “No, we’ll find another table.” I stood up, attempting to slip past Eli, and motioned for the other girls to follow. Megan looked confused, while Sarah appeared resigned. Eli didn’t protest our leaving, but he also didn’t move out of my way.

  I held my hands out, looking at the other girls. “Well? Are we finding somewhere else to sit?”

  Sarah shook her head. “Emma, look around. There aren’t any other empty tables. I’m hungry, and I just want to eat.”

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Sarah knew this wasn’t a good idea. I stared at her, gaze pointed, before looking to Megan for support.

  “We might as well all stay here,” Megan said. “If they don’t mind, that is,” she hastily added.

  “Oh no, I don’t mind at all.” Kevin chortled. “Hey, Eli, do you mind?” He obviously knew some of the backstory to be that amused.

  Eli shot him a look, then seemed to realize his silence made him appear rude. “No. I don’t mind. Just stay, no big deal.” He motioned for me to sit back down.

  Megan sighed happily to have it all resolved.

  I wanted to go in the bathroom and throw up.

  Clearly having no choice in the matter short of walking out of the restaurant by myself, I sat back down. Since Kevin didn’t seem inclined to move over on his side of the booth, I slid closer to Megan, making room for Eli. He finally took a seat next to me.

  The booth normally seated two people on each side, so the three of us pressed tight against each other. Despite trying to sit as far away as possible without falling out, Eli’s leg was in direct contact with mine. Each of his movements allowed me to feel the shift in his thigh muscles, wreaking havoc with my ability to concentrate on any conversation going on around me.

  Completely oblivious, Megan leaned across me to ask Eli questions about some project for school. Rather than be rude and talk to the side of my head, Eli also leaned forward, which caused him to encroach even more on my personal space. His breath warmed my check and neck as he answered Megan.

  I closed my eyes and willed myself to relax.

  “You okay over there, Emma?” Kevin’s annoying voice broke my self-pep talk.

  Embarrassed, I opened my eyes and smiled with saccharine sweetness. “I’m just fine. Thanks for asking.” I wanted to knock his teeth down his throat.

  Trying to shift in my seat to look for the server proved difficult while squashed between two other people. “How long ago did you guys order?”

  “About thirty minutes or so. It should be here soon.” Eli spoke directly to me for the first time since we sat down.

  On cue, the harried server arrived at our table balancing a large pizza on a metal serving tray in one hand and two plates in the other.

  “Oh!” she exclaimed, looking at our group at the table. “Do you need more plates?” She slid the pie onto the table, and set the plates next to it with an inquiring look.

  “No,” Sarah said. “We’d like to place a separate order if that’s okay.”

  While Sarah placed the order, the rest of us sat awkwardly, not saying a word.

  Eli broke the silence. “It’s crazy in here. I heard there was some art and music exhibit at the middle school, so I’m guessing a lot of families stopped in after that.” He reached out to grab a slice and slid it onto his empty plate. Kevin did the same. “Do you guys want a piece until yours gets here?” Eli asked.

  “No, I’m good. I’ll wait for ours, thanks.” Sarah and Megan also waved off his offer, thanking him.

  He shrugged and took a large bite.

  Silence fell on the table as they began to eat.

  I wiggled my foot under the table, trying to think of something to say. The side of my foot smacked into a muscled shin. “Sorry,” I muttered in Eli’s direction.

  His smile was tense. “No problem.”

  Everyone else at the table looked at us.

  “I kicked him. Well, not on purpose obviously, because why would I do that?” I closed my mouth before I could sound any more like a babbling idiot. My nerves were definitely getting the best of me.

  Eli cleared his throat, while Kevin snorted.

  “Okay, well, why don’t we play a game while we wait?” Megan suggested.

  “It’s packed back there, and I don’t want to waste any more money,” Kevin said. “Besides, I’m hungry and I don’t want the pizza to get cold.”

  “No, I mean here. At the table.” She clapped. “Oh, I know one!”

  Sarah rolled her eyes, but laughed. “Sure, I’m in.”

  “Okay. It’s called ‘would you rather,’ and each of us takes turns picking someone that has to answer a question. And you have to be honest,” Megan explained.

  Kevin made a “let’s go” motion with his hand, before shoveling a huge bite of pizza in his mouth. “We got it, get on with it,” he instructed, mouth full.

  “I’ll go first.” Megan paused, looking around the table at each of us. “Sarah.”

  “Yes?”

  “Would you rather eat a live spider or jump in a pit of snakes?” Megan giggled.

  “Gross. Neither.”

  “You have to pick one. That’s the rule,” she said.

  “Okay, fine. I guess jump in a pit of snakes. But I get to wear some super-padded outfit so I don’t have to feel them, and I’m getting back out right away.”

  Everyone laughed.

  “So now what?” Kevin asked, reaching for his second slice.

  “Now Sarah gets to pick someone and ask a question.”

  Sarah glanced around the table. Meanwhile, the server came back with our cups and the other pitcher of soda. Eli thanked her and began to pour one for each of us, passing them down the table.

  “I pick Kevin,” Sarah said, a wicked smile on her face.

  “Of course you do, babe.” He waggled his eyebrows.

  “Oh shut up. I’d eat the spider before that.”

  Everyone but Kevin cracked up. Instead, he slung an arm around Sarah’s shoulders and leaned in making kissing noises.

  “Oh, gross. Get off me you Neanderthal.” Sarah smacked his arm away. “Anyway, would you rather make out with Sam or Dean from Supernatural?” She smiled triumphantly.

  “What the hell kind of question is that?”

  “It’s my question, and you have to choose. That’s the rule.” She pointed at Megan. “She said so.”

  “I don’t care if that’s the rule. That question is freaking moronic. I don’t pick either.”

  I laughed watching him sputter. “You have to answer, Kevin.”

  “Oh for…fine. You pick one. It’s stu
pid anyway.” He shot me a glare.

  “I can’t answer for you, it’s not my question.”

  “Whatever. Dean. Though it’s dumb because everyone knows I don’t swing that way.” He grabbed his glass and took a long drink, glaring.

  I laughed.

  “Fine, Emma. I pick you for my question.”

  I shouldn’t have pissed him off. “Okay, go. Ask away,” I said in a breezy tone. This wasn’t going to be good, I could tell. My lips pressed together in a fake smile, and I shrugged nonchalantly.

  He smiled back. An evil smile. “So tell us, would you rather”—he paused for effect before continuing—“kiss Eli”—he pointed his slice in Eli’s direction—“or your boy, Jake?”

  The blood drained from my face.

  Eli placed his slice back down on his plate, jaw clenched.

  Kevin smirked.

  Sarah looked aghast, while Megan just giggled a little before asking, “Who’s Jake?”

  “Yeah, Emma, why don’t you tell us all about him?” Kevin asked.

  Punching his teeth down his throat wasn’t good enough. I wanted to grab the serving knife and stab it through his black little heart.

  “That’s a stupid question. Give me another.”

  Eli turned to stare at me. His eyes were unreadable. “Why can’t you answer?”

  “It’s not that I can’t answer. No one else got a question like that.”

  “What are you talking about? She asked me about kissing two dudes!” Kevin argued.

  “That’s different.”

  “You have to answer!” Megan piped in.

  Eli still watched me, jaw twitching. No matter what I said, it wouldn’t be the right answer. If I said Eli, I’d look like a fool since he’d made it clear he was mad at me, and barely even wanted to speak to me. If I said Jake, well, there was no way that would go over well either.

  “We’re waiting,” Kevin said. “Tick, tock.”

  I took a sip of my soda, stalling for time. Who would I rather kiss? The image that popped in my head was as clear as day, the answer to the question, the only real answer there could be, if I was honest with myself.

  Swallowing, I lowered my head, whispering, “Eli. I’d rather kiss Eli.”

  A sharp intake of breath sounded to my left. Ignoring the catcalls around me, I peeked Eli’s way, trying to gauge his reaction to my response.

  He looked right at me. This time, his eyes showed relief. And something else. Something I was almost afraid to identify. Desire.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Emma

  Everything else faded in that moment. Acutely aware of how each point our bodies touched on the crowded seat, it became increasingly difficult to not scream, “Would you just kiss me already?”

  Eli’s eyes changed from their mix of blues and greens to a smoky gray. He was magic. A touch on my hand sent shivers through my body. Eli’s touch.

  Something pegged off the side of my head breaking the trance. I blinked, reaching up to see what hit me. I pulled a wadded-up straw wrapper out of my hair where it had stuck in one of my curls.

  “Get a room,” Kevin muttered. He didn’t look thrilled that his little plan didn’t work the way he’d expected. Apparently, he’d been looking forward to a scene of Eli and me fighting, not making ga-ga faces at each other.

  Eli pulled his hand away, shifting on the seat. He cleared his throat, and his neck flushed slightly. Sarah, on the other hand, looked very interested in what just happened on the other side of the booth.

  What had happened? The look in his eyes, had I imagined it? No. It was there. He’d wanted to kiss me, too.

  “Oh, here comes our food, finally!” Megan was ever oblivious, or else she didn’t care about the soap opera going down right next to her.

  I stole another quick glance at Eli, and we shared a private smile before we turned our attention back to what was going on around us.

  The server headed toward our table, carrying the pizza and wings. We all attempted to clear some room on the table for her to set the food down.

  “Here you go, sorry about the wait. It’s a little backed up tonight.” She brushed her forehead with the back of her hand. “Can I get you anything else?”

  “No we’re good, thanks.”

  Sarah took charge of our meal, divvying up the wings on small plates and handing them out. Kevin reached out and grabbed one out of the basket.

  “Oh, by all means, help yourself,” Sarah said.

  “Thanks, I will.” He shoved the whole thing in his mouth.

  “You know, it really is such a shocker that you don’t have a girlfriend.” I wrinkled my nose as he sucked the last of the sauce noisily.

  “Hey, we can’t all string two people along like you do, Emma.”

  “Knock it off, Kevin.” Eli said, shooting Kevin a death stare.

  “What? I’m only stating the obvious.”

  “Give it a rest.” Eli’s tone held warning.

  “Whatever, man.” Kevin leaned back in the booth, crossing his arms in front of him.

  He’d stuck up for me. Trying not to smile, I reached for my slice and took a bite. The tangy sauce tasted delicious. Or, maybe the idea of Eli standing up for me and seeming to want to kiss me made it taste so good.

  We finished the meal without any more drama, keeping the conversation to general topics. The awkward moment of ‘what now’ came after the food was gone. We hadn’t arrived together, but I really wished Eli and I could spend some alone time after the moment we shared.

  Sarah had other ideas. “Okay, ladies, time to commence girls’ night.” She clapped her hands briskly. “Gentleman, it’s been a pleasure, but we’re outta here.”

  I felt Eli’s gaze. Looking over, I gave a tiny shrug. It wouldn’t be right to bail on Megan and Sarah. He seemed to understand, and offered a small smile before standing up to allow us room to slide out of the booth.

  “Wait, we don’t have our check yet.” I scanned the booth.

  We all looked around for our server, but she was nowhere to be seen.

  “Super,” muttered Sarah. “This will take forever.”

  “Why don’t you guys go? I’ll take care of it when she brings it.” Eli shrugged. “I’m not in a hurry to get anywhere.”

  “Great, thanks!” Sarah immediately replied, pushing Kevin to move so she could get out too.

  “Here, we’ll give you the money.” I reached into my bag and pulled a ten-dollar bill from my wallet. Sarah and Megan each did the same, handing it to Eli.

  “Well, I guess we’re going,” I said, not sure what else to say.

  He seemed equally at a loss for words, shuffling his feet and tapping on the tabletop. He nodded, looking right at me. “Have fun.”

  I smiled. “We will.”

  “Come on,” Sarah called, bored with the goodbyes and starting to walk away.

  “I guess you better go,” he said softly.

  “Yeah. See ya later.”

  “Bye.”

  I turned to walk away, but only got three steps before he stopped me, his hand on my arm.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”

  “That’d be great.” I beamed.

  “Cool.” His face lit up in a wide smile, just for me. “Well, okay. I’ll talk to you then.” He brushed his fingers down my arm all the way to my hand, which he squeezed before letting go.

  My heart rate doubled timed.

  “Talk to you then.”

  “Oh my God, can we go already?” Sarah tapped her watch and gave me a pointed look.

  I laughed. “I’m coming.” Walking away, my heart soared. It was really happening. I couldn’t believe it.

  As we walked through the parking lot to Sarah’s car, Megan looked my way. “So what’s going on with you and Eli anyway?”

  “No. No, no, no! We are not talking boys tonight, especially not that saga,” Sarah said, shaking her head emphatically. “Tonight is a night for manicures, makeovers, junk food, and movies.” She unl
ocked the car. “That’s it.” She laughed.

  The three of us climbed into the small car to head back to my house.

  “Sounds like a plan,” I agreed, smiling at both of them.

  On the drive home, we chatted about whether or not we wanted French tips or solid colors, if we should try straightening my hair to see what it looked like, and what kind of candy we wanted to buy. Simple topics. Welcome topics.

  A block before the grocery store where we planned to stop to buy our chocolate fix, my phone beeped. Eli. Warmth rushed through me just seeing his name displayed.

  I wish I had just kissed you like I wanted to.

  My pulse sped up reading his admission. He’d wanted to kiss me, and he was thinking about it right now. I glanced up at the front seat, where Sarah and Megan discussed what we should get at the store.

  Lowering the phone so they couldn’t see what I was doing, I took a deep breath and typed,

  Me too.

  It felt funny being able to tell him that, finally. I waited impatiently to see if he’d say anything else. His response was quick.

  :)

  I grinned and bit my lip. It was a heady sensation—Eli thinking about wanting to kiss me.

  Lights washed over the car. We’d arrived at the store. Megan and Sarah turned around to face me.

  “Oh no,” Sarah groaned.

  “What?”

  “You’ve got that face on.”

  I looked back and forth from Sarah to Megan. “What are you talking about? What face?”

  Megan giggled and nodded at Sarah.

  “What face?” I repeated.

  “The I have Eli on the brain face,” Sarah said.

  I snorted. “I do not.”

  “Yep, you do,” Megan agreed, nodding again.

  “Oh shut up.” I laughed, reaching for the door handle.

  “Nope, you can’t go in with us.”

  “What are you talking about, why not?”

  “Because,” Sarah stretched out the word, “You will be absolutely useless as a member of the girls-only club tonight.” She raised one brow.

  I stared at her. “What do you mean? Snickers, M&Ms, Tootsie Rolls, let’s go get them.”

  “Emma, you’ve been in love with Eli most of your life.”