Outsider Series: Outsider Part 18

The man returned with some ice wrapped in a rag. "Thanks," I muttered and when he had disappeared around the corner I lobbed it at Caeden. He laughed and caught in his hands.

I chose that moment to look around the Italian restaurant. Everything was terracotta colored and a red glow seemed to surround the place. I could smell garlic coming from the kitchen but it wasn't overwhelming. The waitress came to get our drink order and Caeden handed her the rag of ice. She looked at it perplexed and then left. Obviously news of our grand entrance hadn't reached the kitchen yet.

I perused the menu and quickly made up my mind. The girl came back with our water and had her notepad at the ready. "Do you know what you want?" she asked.

Caeden indicated for me to go first. "Yeah, I'll have the fettuccine alfredo."

She wrote it down and turned to Caeden. "I'll have the same," he said.

"It shouldn't be too long," she said with a light smile and took our menus. I thanked her and then she was gone.

"So," said Caeden leaning across the table. I found myself leaning closer to him as well.

"So?" I prompted when he didn't continue.

"Are you still mad at me?" he asked, looking at me with those big blue eyes. I was quickly learning that those blue eyes could certainly get him out of trouble.

"No," I said. "As long as it doesn't happen again."

"I'm not making any promises," he grinned.

"Then I guess I still have to be mad," I said with a light smile.

"Too bad," he said. "But it was certainly worth it."

I laughed. "I'm glad my torment is your pleasure."

"What can I say?" he said shrugging his shoulders. "I'm a disturbed kind of guy."

I shook my head, "And here I thought you were more of the jokester type."

"Babe, haven't you ever heard of not judging a book by its cover?" he said in mock shame, hanging his head.

"Have any tattoos I don't know about?" I asked.

He laughed. "Nope, my skin is perfectly clear. But you're welcome to check."

I looked around the restaurant. "I would," I said, "but you see that lady over there," I pointed and he nodded, "I really wouldn't like to cause her to have a heart attack and die prematurely. That seems cruel. Don't you think?"

"I guess so," he replied.

The waitress returned with our food. We had scooted so close to each other across the table that our noses were practically touching. We jumped apart and both gave a nervous laugh. Caeden coughed into his hand to hide his flaming cheeks. It was getting difficult to resist our magnetism. Our bodies were always being drawn together. There was no fighting it. Heck, most of the time we didn't even realize it was happening.

"This smells delicious," I said.

"Oh, it is," he said.

I took a bite and moaned in pleasure. Caeden laughed. "Somehow," I said around a mouthful, "everything always tastes better when you don't have to make it. Don't get me wrong. I love to cook but sometimes it's nice not to have to. This is a treat."

"I'm glad you're enjoying it," he said taking his first bite.

"Oh, I am," I said taking a big bite that I could barely fit in my mouth.

He laughed.

"What?" I asked. I realized I had pasta sauce smeared across my face. I wiped it off my cheeks turning red. I shrugged my shoulders, "I never did claim to be lady like."

"And I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Oh sure?" I mocked.

"No, really. I like you just the way you are. You're perfect."

I pointed towards his food with my fork. "Just eat so you can stop feeding me lies."

He laughed and shook his head. "One day you'll believe me when I tell you how smart, beautiful, and perfect you are."

"Not likely," I said, and then laughed. "But I am pretty smart."

He laughed, its deep sound resonating in my bones, "You make me laugh," he said.

"I try," I said with a smile and fluffed my hair.

"G.o.d I lo-," he stopped himself.

"What?" I stuttered. "What were you going to say?"

"Never mind," he said dismissing his previous statement with a wave of his hand. Had he really been about to tell me that he loved me? Now, looking at his stony expression it seemed impossible.

I scrambled through my brain trying to come up with something to ease the awkward tension. I wasn't used to this feeling around Caeden. "I hope this keeping me away from my studies doesn't resolve in a big fat F."

Caeden sent me a thankful look. "You'll do great, you're smart. I have no worries, you shouldn't either."

"Somehow, I'm still worried," I joked.

We finished our meal and Caeden paid the bill even though I begged him to let me pay my half of it.

He took my hand and we walked outside. The snow was, if possible, falling harder. I loved the crispness in the air and the feel of the snowflakes on my cheeks. "Thanks for dinner," I said. "I would have paid for mine. You didn't need to do that."

"I know you would have, sweetie," he said. "But I asked you on a date and that means that I pay the bill. No arguments. I like to spoil you. You're just going to have to get used to it," he said with a grin, his dimple appeared. I couldn't resist it. I had to kiss that dimple. He grinned when I pulled away.

"Not likely," I replied.

He squeezed my hand and said, "I always win."

"I never lose," I narrowed my eyes.

His smile made his blue eyes tinkle. "There's always a winner and a loser and I am not about to lose on this matter."

I laughed. "I think we just like to argue. What are we even fighting about?"

"The fact that you don't want me to spoil you. I thought that was every girls dream?"

"Not mine," I said. "I can look out for myself. Remember, I moved around a lot so I had to learn to be pretty independent."

"But you don't need to be that way anymore," he said. "I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."

I looked down at the snow covered ground. "I know that," I said. "It's just a lot to get used to."

"I know," he whispered and I wondered if he really did.

twelve.

I must have fallen asleep on the way home because I awoke to Caeden's arms wrapped around me as he laid me on my bed. I cracked my eyes open and he said, "Hey, beautiful."

"Sorry, I fell asleep," I said groggily.

He started taking my shoes off. "I actually thought it was pretty darn cute."

I groaned and took my hat off throwing it across my room. I felt a slight bounce on the mattress and then Archie lay down next to me. Caeden turned to leave.

"Wait!" I called and he paused.

"Yeah?" he said turning.

"Thanks for tonight."

He smiled. "Better than studying?" he asked.

"Way better," I said smiling.

He started towards the door. "Wait!" I called again. He looked back at me a full blown grin on his face. Despite being half asleep I stood. I took his face between my hands and kissed him slowly and deeply. "Now you can go," I whispered against his lips.

"Not yet," he breathed pressing his lips firmly to mine. My mouth opened under his. When he saw that I wasn't going to resist he gentled the kiss.

Gram chose that moment to walk by my room. I heard her footsteps pause and then she spoke. "If you two keep that up I'll be a great-grandma. You best stop that now."

Caeden chuckled against my lips. "Love you too Lucinda. Love you too."

Satisfied she walked away.

"Bye," said Caeden pressing his lips once again to mine.

"Bye," I said.

He grinned and left.

I changed into my pajamas and climbed under the covers. For once, Archie gave me my pillow. "Thanks," I muttered to the little dog. He wrinkled his nose at me and then started snoring. I laughed and in moments was sound asleep.

A strange white light filled my room when I woke up. I pushed the quilt off of me and cracked the blinds in the window that was beside my bed. I smiled to myself. It looked like a winter wonderland outside. It couldn't be more than two or three inches but it was beautiful. It covered the various trees outside my window in a fine dust.

A light knock on my door had me turning. "Hey sleepyhead," Gram said.

I looked back out the window and startled at the amount of light outside my window. It had to be after first period. "Oh c.r.a.p," I said jumping up.

Gram chuckled. "Don't worry. School's cancelled."

"Oh," I said stopping in my tracks.

"Here," she said holding out a cup of hot chocolate.

"Thanks," I said taking it. I took a sip and let the silky, chocolaty, goodness slip down my throat. "You're amazing Gram," I said holding up the cup.

"I'm still planning to open up the shop today. Would you mind working too much?" she asked.

"Of course not," I said.

"Great," she replied. "I'll make you some breakfast and then you can head over."

I finished my hot chocolate and then jumped in the shower. I blew my hair dry and then pulled it back in a ponytail. I put on a black long-sleeved shirt and then put my Lucinda's shirt on over it. I was silently thankful for a moment that Gram let her employees where jeans. I put on the hat and tied the laces on my sneakers. All set.

"Just in time," said Gram sliding a cheese omelet onto a plate.

I sat down at the little table and took a bite, "Yum," I moaned.

Gram laughed. "Good?"

"Delicious," I said.

She sat down then with her own plate. We ate in comfortable silence and then I cleaned my plate.

"Alright," I said. "I'm going to head out."

"Okay, be careful," she said.

"I will," I said, already tugging on my winter coat.

I started my car and let it sit for a couple of minutes to warm up. I pulled away and drove as slow as possible the short distance. The neighborhood roads were pretty bad but once I made it to the main drag the road were fairly decent. I still worried over black ice though.

But luckily I made it to the store without wrecking the car. I parked and Caeden pulled in right at the same time.

"Fancy meeting you here," he said getting out of the Jeep; he had his Lucinda's baseball cap on backwards.

I feigned shock, "Caeden Williams are you stalking me?"

He laughed. "I'm not p.r.o.ne to stalker tendencies," he said and then appraised me. "But for you I might."