Distracted By You: Book 1 in The Exeter Running Girls Series, стр. 24
Why did the creepy guy always have to show up when you were thinking of the guy you actually want? I was busy daydreaming about Tye and clearing tables in the coffee shop when Kyle walked in. I hadn’t actually seen it was him. I was too busy wiping down the table when I became aware of a presence behind me. When I turned, surprisingly hoping with every fibre of my being it was Tye, Kyle greeted me instead, stood shockingly close.
I jumped away, bumping into the table, and knocking over the tray of cups I had just tried to clear. As Kyle laughed, I hurried to set the cups straight and clear up the spill.
“You’re all in a kerfuffle to see me. My, my, that is a good sign,” his leering voice was slow and whispered.
“You surprised me. Get lost, Kyle.” Any attempt I was making to be polite before had left me. Partly because he was truly creeping me out now, and partly because he was not the face I had been wanting to see.
It was still early morning and quiet, so the coffee shop did not have many people. Beyond the cashier and barista, there were only two customers, all of their focus on the counters of goodies.
“I think I’ll stay, I haven’t ordered my coffee yet,” he smiled in what he no doubt thought was a charming way and put his hands in his pockets. He used to be really sweet with Rosie, who was this guy? I didn’t recognise him anymore.
I leaned down to pick up a scattered sugar sachet when I felt him step nearer. I stood straight back up, leaving the sachet where it was to stop him coming closer, but it was no use. He lifted one if his hands from his pocket and set it on my waist. I was now holding the tray between our chests, trying to keep him away, though it appeared to be ineffective as a barrier.
“Get your hand off me.” I spat with venom. “I’ve had enough of this.” Why couldn’t he just go back to being the sweet version of Kyle? Surely he would soon, once he took my ‘no’ seriously.
“I’m not doing anything,” he shook his head like I was being silly.
“You have your hand on my waist.”
“I could put it somewhere else if you like?” As his hand trailed lower, I lifted my foot and brought my heel down sharply onto his foot.
“Ow!” His cry of pain made the cashier look up, giving me my chance to escape back to the till. I didn’t need to say anything, the cashier could tell roughly what had happened from my face and gestured for me to go out back. I hid in the staff room, waiting until the CCTV cameras showed he was gone.
Later that day, I was still feeling off kilter when the girls came in. I was serving them discounted frappuccinos when I noticed Tye join the back of the short queue. At that point, I kept my eyes trained on the coffee machines and my work. I hadn’t told any of the girls about my meet ups with Tye, and I certainly wasn’t going to yet, they would ask hundreds of questions I didn’t know the answers to.
“So what’s the plan for tonight?” Cara asked, leaning her chin on the coffee counter. She was the only one of us short enough to do that comfortably and not get a crick in her neck.
“Blind dates!” Leonora said with glee, clapping her hands together.
“We’re tired of being the only two that date so we want to set you two up for the evening,” Ellie held her dazzling smile as she gestured at Cara and me.
“Blind date?” My eyes shot briefly to Tye at the back of the line. He couldn’t possibly hear us, and neither were we dating, but last Saturday had made letting go of my daydream a little more difficult. Tye became aware I was looking at him and caught my eyes. I looked away as though burned, the same way I had done when catching his gaze at Mandy’s the first night he drove me home.
“Yes please!” Cara jumped up and down at the thought, probably excited to think of someone else other than Benji.
“No, thank you,” I delivered the first frappuccino to the girls, which Cara quickly snatched away before anyone else could claim it.
“What? Are you serious?” Leonora asked in disbelief, more than a little disappointed.
Tye had moved up the queue as my partner barista served up a set for the waiting line. He might have been able to hear them now… God forbid!
“Perfectly. No date for me, thank you.” I served up the second frappuccino along with a tea for another customer.
“I haven’t seen you on a date all year,” Ellie complained too loudly for my comfort. Yes, please do declare in front of the guy I fancied how inadequate I was.
“I don’t want one.” I spoke stubbornly, aware it may have come across as being rude.
Tye was now at the front and placing his order with the cashier.
“Ivy, what’s with you? It’s just one tiny blind date. If you don’t like the guy then you don’t have to see him again. Give me one good reason why you don’t want to go?” Ellie was persistent.
Tye moved to stand behind the girls as I served up the last frappuccino. Much to my disappointment, they didn’t leave with the coffee and now Tye was definitely listening to everything. He was enjoying himself far too much, his arms folded loosely across his chest and his eyebrows raised. He had that usual glint of