《Perfect Strangers》22| Adore you
Advertisement
I woke up the next morning way earlier than I normally would. I got up, got dressed, grabbed my phone and keys and then left for the cafe.
Should I get Carter on my way? No, I should just let him sleep.
I walked into the cafe and headed to the counter. "My usual, please," I smiled. I left to get my table but stopped when I saw Hudson sitting there. At my table.
Maybe I can get to Carter's table without him noticing.
I took one step forward and his eyes immediately set on me. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding in and turned back to the counter. "I'll take that to go," I said. I stood there, tapping my foot against the floor, hoping my tea would hurry up. I felt someone standing right behind me and I winced internally, hoping he would just go away.
"Hi," there was a whisper against my ear. I jumped and turned around to see Carter instead of Hudson.
I let out a sigh of relief, "Oh, thank God it's you," I huffed.
"Who else would it be?" His brows furrowed.
I looked over to my table but he was gone. "Nevermind, hi," I smiled.
"Hi," he chuckled, "Why are you standing here?" he asked.
"I was going to grab my drink to go," I replied.
"Why?" he frowned.
"I didn't know how early you'd come, I thought I'd go back home," I shrugged.
He eyed me suspiciously before letting it slide. He ordered his drink and then pulled me over to my table.
"Can we sit there?" I asked before he could sit.
"At my table?" he asked. I nodded and he agreed, taking me to his table. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"Yeah," I nodded.
He gave me a pointed look and I huffed, putting my head down on the table. "Is it your mom?" he questioned.
"Kinda," I replied.
"What else?" he asked.
"Hudson was here," I cleared my throat.
"Here? Like here in the cafe?"
I nodded, "Right before you got here. That's why I was so-"
"Jumpy," he finished the sentence for me. I rested my cheek on my arms and stared up at him. He mirrored my position and rested his arms on the table and his cheek on his arms. "He didn't say anything, did he?" he questioned.
Advertisement
"No," I replied. I stared off into space while he fidgeted with the sleeves of my sweater. "So," I sat up while he did too, "You like me?" I smirked.
He chuckled, putting his back down on the table. "I adore you," he smirked.
"So, you like me," I nodded.
"No, I adore you," he repeated.
"Same difference. Actually, it's just a bonus. You don't kiss people you simply adore. You adore puppies, you adore kittens, you adore babies. You like me," I teased.
"Yeah," he nodded slowly while Katy came up with our orders, delivering them to us. "I do like you," he admitted. Katy set out cups down and looked between us before shaking her head like she knew this was going to happen before walking back to the counter.
My eyes followed her until she stood behind the counter where Asher came up to her and asked her something.
I turned back to Carter. "You like me," I sang while sipping my tea.
"Do you like me?" he arched an eyebrow at me.
I chuckled, "I adore you," I said mockingly, "Do with that what you will."
"That's not- it's not the same thing."
"Then why did you say it?" I questioned.
He laughed and leaned his head back. "Please just tell me yes or no," he whined pleadingly.
He wanted to know so desperately, I felt kind of bad not telling him.
"Yeah," I nodded.
"Yes?" His eyes lit up as he sat up once again.
"Yes, I do like you," I nodded with a chuckle.
"Can I kiss you right now?" he grinned.
"No," I shook my head.
"Why?" he pouted.
"Not here, not now," I replied.
"Why though?"
"Because I said so," I shrugged.
"And I said I want to kiss you," he argued.
"You can wait till we leave the cafe," I said.
"No, you're too far," he whined. I stared at him in disbelief.
He is a child.
"Please?" he stuck his bottom lip out. I continued staring while he leaned forward on top of the table. "Please?"
I sighed in defeat before leaning forward and pressing my lips to his in a chaste kiss.
"YES! WOO HOO!" Katy yelled from the counter.
Advertisement
I pulled away laughing and tilted my head down, facepalming while Carter too, laughed and leaned back in his seat. We continued talking like we always do and decided to head out by the time our drinks were finished.
"God, we met here. That's crazy," I sighed while looking at the place. It wasn't too long ago, nearly a month.
"Yeah. You were sitting right there," he pointed at my usual table, "Looking all pretty, working on your laptop, staring at me," he smirked.
"You wouldn't know that if you weren't staring back at me, so..." I trailed off.
"True," he nodded.
"And then you came over. All cocky and annoying," I rolled my eyes, "Asking for your drawing."
"What do you do with them anyway?" he questioned.
"I keep them," I shrugged.
"Where?" he questioned, "I have yet to actually stay in your room."
"They're pinned up with the photos on my wall. You're really good at sketching, you should seriously do something with it," I said as we stood up and headed out.
"I can't draw portraits. What will I do with mini sketches of random things?" he asked.
"Make a little exhibition. For me," I grinned.
"Just for you?" he chuckled.
"Yeah. Who else has seen your sketches?" I questioned.
"Nobody," he shrugged.
"I'm special then," I smirked.
"That, you are," he nodded.
"You're so sweet," I pinched his cheek, teasing him further.
"Don't call me that," he smacked my hand off.
"Why? You are," I pouted.
He looked at me before sighing in what sounded like defeat to me. My laces were undone and slapping against my ankles, which was very irritating, so I moved to the side to tie them up. "Guys don't like being called sweet. Why?" I asked, looking up at him.
"Because," he sighed before kneeling on one knee in front of me and tying my laces for me. "Toxic masculinity," he answered.
"So, do you really not like it or..." I trailed off questioningly.
"I don't mind being called sweet, just... the girl you like should be calling you something else, no?" he said while standing up, holding a hand out for me.
"Why? Sweet guys are... sweet."
"Exactly, anyway. Where are we going?" he asked.
"I don't know. Where are we going?" I replied.
"I have to go at six pm. Until then I'm all yours," he said.
"Where are you going at six?" I questioned.
"I have training," he said.
"Training?"
Oh. The boxing.
I gasped, "Can I come?" I asked estatically.
"No," he chuckled.
"Why not?" I frowned.
"Because you're going to get bored there. I won't be able to keep you company," he replied.
"So? I can watch," I shrugged, "You don't have to keep me company there. You train, I watch. Simple," I shrugged.
"Not so simple," he said mockingly, "What are you going to do over there? Just watch me for an entire hour?"
I nodded. He fell silent, which meant he was contemplating it, which meant all I have to do is be a little convincing. "Please?" I stuck my bottom lip out while linking my arm with his. He shook his head once again. "Please?" I mumbled, leaning in closer.
"No," he said, a little hesitant this time.
"What if I did this?" I asked before pecking his lips. He simply arched an eyebrow at me. I rolled my eyes, "Fine," I shrugged, beginning to walk.
He grabbed my arm and pulled me back. "You can do more than that," he smirked before kissing me again, longer this time.
I pulled away after a while and looked up at him. "Please?" I whined.
He sighed in defeat, "Fine," he nodded. I laughed before standing behind him and jumping onto his back. He chuckled and shook his head before starting to walk.
We still don't know where we're going.
◆:*:◇:*:◆:*:◇:*:◆
I looked around the place as we walked in. There were so many people here. Mostly guys. But there were a few girls around the place. The gym was huge. Like... huge. And filled with people.
I'm not good with people.
"You train here?" I asked.
"No, I train upstairs," he replied while signing himself in.
"There's an upstairs?" I mumbled.
"Come on," he chuckled before grabbing my hand and pulling me along. Upstairs was smaller but it was all for boxing. There were a lot of guys up here and the one thing I could sense in this place was testosterone.
Jesus.
"You wait here, I'll go change."
Now it's just me in a room full of testosterone. Great.
.
.
.
.
.
Chapter twenty-two
Sorry I kind of disappeared for a day or two but I started watching Teen Wolf for like the third time... or maybe the millionth, it's whatever, and I haven't written since because all I've been doing is school work and watching Teen Wolf.
I forgot how in love I was with Stiles.
Advertisement
- In Serial38 Chapters
Convicted
Sentenced to the sea for a crime he didn't commit... Wrongly convicted of killing his lover, Li is sent off to serve his sentence in the privateer fleet of Mahlon, where he finds himself somewhere between a sailor and a pirate. He supposes it is a better way to die than wasting away in a prison cell for a crime he didn't commit. If it isn't the sea or sailing necromancers that threaten his life, perhaps it is his assigned partner, an unfriendly man named Ardlac who seems to want nothing to do with a stranger sharing his space. Li doesn't know that his unfriendly exterior masks a wounded soul suffering from a loss Li can understand far too well. But that is only one of the many secrets lurking around him and one of the many threats to uncover. CONVICTED is a low-stakes story about healing, recovery, and comfort. Originally posted on Tapas, I am now cross-posting this story on Royal Road, Wattpad, and Neovel.
8 236 - In Serial7 Chapters
The Legendary Martial Artist: Failed Beta
Sunny was selected as a beta tester for what should have been the game of the year: World' fusion a game with a futuristic setting.But without explanation, he woke up in the body of a wounded man bringing the game interface with him.Now in this world of martial artists, his first mission is to...Survive the protagonist??
8 176 - In Serial43 Chapters
Ashen Reign
In a dark & psychedelic world the tribes of this land tread pace with gods & muses, alive in course of their thoughts. A promising oracle, Azarra, is sworn to a life of seclusion and severe vows of chastity for communion with the fateful powers that marked her. When an upstart warlord imposes on her shrine and forces her to break those oaths, she inverts a sentence of death and disgrace into one of ambition & retribution. Proclaiming her son as the incarnation of their pantheon's progenitor, Drakkon. Azarra shapes this child, borne of unwanted union, into a tool of vengeance against all who wronged her. Swathing Drakkon in illusion of deification, she casts him as a Living Light to set her foes aflame. The cult they cultivate comes to ordain a new Aeon, a reign of Thunder. But the fiery storm of their imperium falls as rain of ash. (Fantastical elements inspired from Greco-Roman & Germanic/Viking influences in a fictional setting of war & woe.) Cover art & design by Lyria Key. Title font/logo by Dark Saturnus Eventually aiming to release as amazon paperback and kindle e-book. May conjure up a discord and donation link. But for now hoping to generate some interest and entertain as many readers as the work reaches & speaks to.
8 389 - In Serial8 Chapters
Twenty
A young woman runs away from her secluded childhood only to find that her new life may be coming to a hellish end.
8 137 - In Serial42 Chapters
Bandit don't start as Bandits
You always read zombie stories with the dumb zombies or special types of zombies. The easy bash in the heads and the need for a swarm of them to kill a survivor. Well, I wanted to try a different style of zombies. Showcasing the brilliance of us gamers that other stories downplay. Of course sneak a little revenge in the Starbucks clerk that messed up my order. But welcome to the new world of zombies. The new order of fighting for your life.. also please give me feedback.. first draft.. do wish to prefect the art as much as possible.
8 208 - In Serial13 Chapters
SMG4: Super Mario X Meggy Sunshine
Mario and Meggy are on a honeymoon to Isle Delfino and meet up with a cleaning robot, F.L.U.D.D., but they unexpectedly get arrested because they're mistaken for shadow versions of themselves. Now it's up to them to find out who's behind this Shadow Mario and Meggy trick, while trying to clean up all of Isle Delfino along the way, of course.
8 264

