The elevator doors tried to close again, struggling against Tate's hand. But he refused to be moved. A wall of determination to keep everything frozen in a single moment. He stared at me with a shocked, confused expression as the doors struggled against him.
When it wasn't given what it wanted, the elevator began to wail like an angry and confused child, letting out a furious whine of protest. The elevator wanted us out and if we were not going to push a button and choose a new floor, it was going to scream its head off, making its hissy fit loud enough for my entire complex to hear.
The sound grew to a deafening screech, and soon, I was bolting out of the elevator, eager for the doors to close and stop screaming. I was already panicking on the inside, I didn't need the worst sound in the world as my soundtrack, heightening it. Freaking drama queen elevator.
I turned to stare up at Tate as he followed me out, letting the elevator doors snap shut behind him. Even in the silence that filled the world again, the look of shock and confusion still covered Tate's features, like he was piecing things together.
"Where..." Tate began. Realization dawned. "Iz," he breathed, running his hands through his hair.
"Iz didn't say anything," I insisted quickly. It wasn't her fault and she had done everything in her power to push me to talk to Tate instead of gossiping behind his back.
"I just..." I shoved my hands into my own pockets, utterly out of my comfort zone. I had never been good at treading lightly. I was like a tank trying to tread carefully in a garden. The flowers never stood a chance. And right now, Tate's feelings were flowers and I could feel myself on the verge of crushing them into potpourri, leaving nothing behind but destruction and crushed petals that smelled pretty.
I stared at the elevator button trying to decide if I could just press it, shove him back inside, and make it to my apartment before he could get back out. I wanted to reboot the conversation. Hit undo.
"I don't like being utterly clueless," I finally said. "So I wanted to get things cleared up."
"You've never cared before," Tate said quietly.
I almost laughed. I had always cared. But my grumpy, bristly exterior must have fooled him. But there was no denying it now. I cared very deeply where his feelings lied.
I continued to stare at the elevator button, willing it to light up on its own. Glaring at it, hoping that I would suddenly develop force powers to press it nonchalantly and not like a terrified girl with a major crush that really didn't want to talk about feelings. I really wish I hadn't listened to Iz.
"Well, you've grown on me a little," I replied with a shrug, peeking up at him from under my lashes.
A warm, tender expression slowly filled his eyes, bringing out the small flecks of gold that were so often hidden in the swirls of green.
I continued, not wanting to lose my nerve before I was done. Not wanting to see that smug look of satisfaction cross his face. "I promise I won't tell anyone. Unrequited crushes suckâ"
"Allie."
"And before you say that I am a terrible liar, and will blow your secret," I hurried on, holding up my hand. "I don't even know Laliana anyway, so of all the people to know you like her, it really isn't so bad that I know because in a few weeks we won't be seeing each other anymore anywayâ"
"Allie."
"So you don't have to worry about me," I finished.
Tate crossed his arms, eyeing me carefully. "Are you done?"
I paused, thinking for a long moment. "Yeppers." I supplied lamely.
Tate grinned, almost against his will. And dang it. It was adorable. "You sure?"
I nodded. "Absopositively." I seemed incapable of stating normal words. Oh my gosh, I've adapted Tate's vocabulary... and it doesn't bother me.
Tate swallowed, staring me down. "Good, because I have things to say, and a question that you seem to forget I have never answered."
He ran his fingers through his hair again, buying himself a moment. "Laliana is important to me. She's my best friend." He slowly leaned against the wall next to the elevator, exhausted, like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. "We've been through a lot together. And when my cousin's life was shattered, she picked up the pieces and gently put them back together with him." He smiled sadly to himself. "It's one of the reasons I love her. She brought my cousin, Aiden back."
Then Tate's eyes snapped up to mine. "I did like her. Emphasis on the word did. Just want to make that past tense part of the sentence perfectly clear." He held up his hand and slowly said, "DIIIIID" again and then ran two fingers under the invisible word like he was underlining it for more emphasis."
The word rang through me, crystal clear. A bell ringing deep inside that seemed to reverberate through my entire body. I never thought I could love one word so much. Did.
"But it was clear she liked Aiden and he liked her so I never said anything. But Iz is freaky observant and promised to never say a word."
He shrugged. "Eventually it went away like crushes do. And here we are. And that's the story of my non-dating history with Laliana. Pretty cool right? I'm thinking of having a book written about it. It would be a chapter long. And I would call it. 'That One Time I Crushed on my Cousin's Fiance Before She was his Fiance.'"
"They're engaged?" I asked surprised.
Tate smiled. "Yep. Took him long enough to ask right. They got engaged today actually."
I thought back to how he had described his day. "So you moving things around..."
"Was me helping Aiden with the proposal, yes." Tate smiled brightly, and after a beat, he started to laugh at the memory. "He was terrified. It was awesome. Nothing scares him. But he looked like he was going to pass out. Well more adorable and funny than awesome, but if he asks, yes it was awesome. I don't think he'd like to be thought of as adorable by anyone other than his future bride."
"How long did you like her for?" I asked.
Tate paused for a beat, looking somewhat embaressed. "For longer than I'd like to admit."
He pushed off the wall and walked the few feet back to me where I stood in front of the elevator. "Did that clear everything up? Want to ask any other questions while you have me here?" he asked in a teasing tone.
I fought the urge to glance towards my door down the hall. I wasn't having him and he wasn't staying here. He had to get back downstairs.
"Thank you for the cake," I said, ignoring his sass and my unfiltered thoughts with his, while you have me, phrase. I tucked several strands behind my ear and chanced a glance at his face, curious to see if Tate was going to tell me how hard he worked on that circle of chocolate heaven.
Tate rocked back on his heels, smiling brightly like I had just declared him the winner of a million dollars. "Oh yeah? What did you think?"
"Honestly?" I paused, planning on making him sweat a little before telling him the truth. I let out a slow breath. He suddenly looked unsure. Concerned. "I was tempted to consume the whole thing in one go like a vacuum cleaner."
He chuckled, relieved. "What stopped you?"
"Wearing a ball gown and not trusting my ability to not spill on it."
I leaned towards him and tapped the elevator button next to his waist, my fingers hovering close to his shirt. Our bodies a breath away from each other.
I didn't lean away. Instead, I took a beat to enjoy the warmth of him so close to me. Of the smell that had begun to feel like a safety blanket as it wafted off of his body. He was very tempting. Constantly making me want to lean closer, to ask for more, to flirt with employee employer boundaries that Tate hadn't seemed to bother about keeping in place.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" Tate asked his voice low, rumbling in his chest, breath close to my face.
My heart began to hammer wildly. Blood roaring in my ears so loud that I had to hold my breath for a moment to get my hearing back. The look in his eyes told me he wasn't asking just to make small talk. Something was brewing underneath the surface. "I was thinking of going to the car race track in the morning. Haven't fully decided. Nothing too concrete yet." I murmured, excited and terrified by the reasons he might be asking.
"Well, in that case..." Tate leaned down, his bright forest green eyes filling my vision and washing away the world. All that was left were glistening beautiful green pools of warmth, and strands of brown hair framing it all like a cage of chestnut wood. "I am calling in one of my favors."
My brain went blank. "What?"
His dusty lashes brushed against his cheeks, long and beautiful as he smiled down at me with a mischievous grin. I spotted hints of the bruise on his face under a layer of foundation. Most likely Iz's work. "You agreed to cook for me, remember. You said you had the day off," he added.
"Yeah to have fun. Not cook for you."
"It'll be fun," he insisted, his voice low, sending chills through me as he inched slightly closer. He wasn't talking about the kind of fun, filled with jokes at the end of a punch line. It was a very different type of fun. Is this hallway on fire? I think I need to sit down. Or pass out? Or maybe learn how to breathe again.
"Fine," I breathed out slowly, losing more and more of my resolve. "Come by at six."
"Or... I can pick you up and drive you to the car track since your car isn't fixed yet," he replied, tucking a strand of my hair out of my face, gently brushing my cheek as he pushed the strand back. Sparks of fire filled my skin from the contact, wild and electrifying.
"You could do that..." I agreed softly. "So long as you promise not to be too loud when you pick me up at ten in the morning." I raised a brow of warning. "Give this night owl a fighting chance or you may get scratched."
The elevator door opened behind him. Tate shook his head, eyes flickering with amusement and mischief. "No promises."
I leaned towards him again. Tate sucked in an unsteady breath, frozen in place, muscles going tense. His eyes suddenly wide in surprise as my right hand brushed his waist. Then I quickly hit the elevator lobby button behind him and leaned back, pulling away from his body.
Tate's face turn bright pink, seeming embarrassed that he thought I was making a move. A note I tucked away in my mind for later. He was speechless. A rarity that left him looking more vulnerable than I expected. He used humor and clever remarks as a shield and I had snatched them away in a playful moment, leaving him startled into silence with nothing to hide behind.
I had tried to thank him several times for all he had done for me today, for the sweet note, the wrist brace, the food, the cake, but I hadn't been able to form words that would be enough.
I had always been better with actions. So before he could manage more than a nervous swallow, I pulled Tate towards me by his shirt collar, and with painfully slow determination, I leaned in. I moved terribly, jaw clenchingly slow, and kissed his cheek, while he stood there, stunned.
His pulse responded under me like fireworks going off. Chaotic and strong. I lingered for just a moment, enjoying the way his jaw felt under my lips, the wild pulse that came alive.
What little lipstick I still had on, branded the side of his face, making me smile as I leaned back. I liked the look of it there and it made me want to kiss him everywhere, claiming him as mine with my lips. "Thank you for today," I murmured, hoping that was enough to show him how much it had all meant to me.
Then before he could say a word, I pushed him backwards into the open elevator.
He stared at me, dumbfounded as the elevators doors began to close between us. "Goodnight, Convertible Guy."
Then the doors closed, sending him back to the lobby with an astonished look on his face.
I smiled to myself, enjoying that final look of shock on his face. Okay, he's adorable. I just may have to see how flustered I can make him tomorrow.
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Thank you for reading chapter twenty-two! I hope you are enjoying the story! Or are at least curious to see where it goes!
UPDATE DAYS - A NEW CHAPTER EVERY FRIDAY!
Things seem to be cleared up!
How do you think Tate is doing with that goodnight?
How long do you think Tate liked Laliana for?
Would you like to read Tate's POV? If so, keep your eyes peeled for that announcement because I am currently working on that story! :)
Now the question is... Is there time together tomorrow a date or a hangout?
They are going to a car track, will we meet any of Allie's old friends? Will they like Tate?
Will we meet any boys from Allie's past?
CHAPTER QUESTION -Â Are you better at showing you care with your actions or words?