She cuts me off. “You’re not. I’m saying that management has noticed his hesitancy, as well, and I’d bet it was long before he approached you about Charlie. You’re not a shoo-in, by any means. But they can feel his…,” she pauses to search for the right word, “Hesitation to jump in with both feet. I don’t know how to explain it, and I don’t think management can really put their finger on it, either. We’ve just felt like he’s not all in. He’s been holding back. Regardless, they’re not blind, and they reward those who put their heart and soul into the corporation. Just keep doing what you’re doing and get me that chocolate eclair, okay?”
For the first time in weeks, I feel like I can finally breathe. Like a weight that’s been burying me into the ground has finally been lifted. And everything might just work out after all.
“You sure?” I ask.
With a kind smile and a swift nod, Alexandra stands from her office chair and practically pushes me out the door.
“Get out of here, McCoy. I better get an update when you get back.”
“Sure thing, Alexandra. Thanks again.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Charlie
“I’m sorry…he was at your place, and you didn’t jump his bones?” Suzette accuses.
My phone was blowing up with texts from her, Indie, and Sophie as soon as Levi left my home in a huff. Instead of telling the story three times, or even bothering to text it in the first place because I was so drained, I set up a group message. The answer was simple. If they wanted all the details, then they should meet at Get Baked at noon the next day, and I’d fill them in.
Needless to say, at 11:59 am, I had three sets of eyes counting down the next sixty seconds so they could get the details.
And now, here I am. I’ve rehashed the story and am getting questions thrown at me left and right. If only I knew the answers.
With my face scrunched up, I answer Suzette’s question. “Levi was on my couch with his feet propped on my coffee table and a bowl of popcorn in his lap when I showed up around eleven o’clock last night. He was a total jerk, pretty much telling me I was a slut for kissing his roommate, even though he was the one who set me up in the first place. Then he did the sexy chin grab and got all up in my business before leaving cold turkey like a bat out of hell. And I have no idea how I’m supposed to process any of it.”
“Hmm…,” Indie hums. “And what did he say again? That Conner isn’t the right guy for you?”
Shrugging, I try to remember his exact words, but the whole thing happened so fast, and I’m not sure if I’m making his comment out to be more than he intended. “He said that if Conner didn’t make my toes curl and my…,” I clear my throat, “My boy shorts wet, then he wasn’t the guy for me.”
“And what did you say back?” Sophie probes.
With a groan of defeat, I rub my face roughly. “I asked him who he thought the right guy might be.”
Suzette continues her interrogation. “What did he say?”
“He didn’t answer. He said he had to go; then, he booked it out the door. Didn’t even finish his popcorn, and he’s anal about his popcorn,” I explain, hating how well I know him.
“And you haven’t heard from him since?” Sophie asks.
“Not one word.”
“He usually comes in before the morning rush, but we didn’t see him,” Indie adds, wringing the dishrag in her hands that we usually wipe down the counters with.
“Which means he’s probably embarrassed for being an idiot,” Sophie concludes.
Suzette puckers her lips. “And it also means we need to figure out how to get him to fess up and admit that he’s the one for you.”
“If getting front row seats to a make-out session between me and his good friend-slash-roommate isn’t enough to push him into telling me how he feels, then I don’t know what will,” I murmur honestly.
“Maybe he’s scared,” Indie offers. “I mean, that’s why you never told him how you feel about him, either. You didn’t want to screw anything up.”
“That makes sense,” Suzette agrees. “So, you’re officially writing Conner off?”
With a deep breath, I grimace. I’ve been analyzing my feelings nonstop all morning and most of last night too. After a few seconds, I answer her. “I just…I don’t get the zing with Conner. The kiss was nice. He had good technique. He even tasted pretty good. It just didn’t…wow me like it did with Levi. And that was before I knew Levi could maybe have feelings for me too.”
“Maybe?” Sophie scoffs. “I have no doubt in my mind that Levi’s in love with you, Charlie Brown.” I roll my eyes at her nickname as she continues. “Our plan worked. Now we just need to give Levi one final push,” she reiterates.