All Grown Up (9 page)

"So, who is going to take me to get my car from
the beach?" I looked directly at Mina.

She smiled. "Sure
, Chloe, let me just…."

"I can take you if you want?" Mina and I both snapped our head over to Leo.

"Um…" I looked to Mina to save me, figuring that she would just take me still. No such luck.

"Sure
. Chloe, you don’t mind do you?" She smiled at me and then winked so only I could see her.

I was stuck. "Sure…ok."

"Give me a minute to grab my shoes out of my room." Leo stood and walked away quickly.

I pulled Mina into her room. "What the hell?" I scowled at her.

"What?" she asked a little too innocently.

"I saw that look on your face, what are you up to?" I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Well…two things." She smiled.

"And they ar
e? Spit it out before he gets back." I whispered harshly.

"
So, I can call Ollie back. He called me last night and I haven’t been able to talk to him. If Leo is gone, it will be easier." She smiled.

"You said two things
, Mina!" I was getting irritated.

"Oh
, yeah…haven’t you seen the way my brother is looking at you, Chloe? He is totally crushing on you…I just want to give him his chance." She laughed at the look on my face and walked away from me quickly.

"Mina …."

"You ready?" Leo popped back into the room.

"Sure." I headed toward the door, turn
ing back to give Mina the evil eye before I went through. I heard her giggle.

What the hell was I getting myself into?

Chapter Ten
The Car

Chloe

When we reached the car Leo opened the door for me.

"Thank you." I said quietly, climbing in and sitting down.

This was going to be an uncomfortable trip. Thankfully
, the beach is not that far away. At least it will be a quick uncomfortable trip. I’m going to kill Mina.

"Ready?" Leo had slid behind the wheel of his father’s car.

"Yep," I answered quickly and looked straight ahead. I was simply going to keep looking out the window during the trip. Knowing he drove as fast as Mina made me feel a little more at ease.

Pulling out of the driveway
, we were silent as I figured it would be. I felt Leo move but refused to look. When I heard music I realized he’d turned the radio on. My phone beeped and I pulled it out of my pocket. Mina.

Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. :) Feel free to take your time.

I was going to kill her.

Just wait till I see you…paybacks are a bitch. Or
, perhaps, I’ll just slip up and tell him about Oliver!

It was only a minute later when I got her reply.

You would never do that to me. You love me too much. :)

"Ugh," I
audibly sighed.

"Everything okay?"
I snapped my head to see Leo watching me with a crooked grin.

Damn it! There goes the
‘do not look at him’ plan!

"Yeah, it’s fine." I smiled, put my phone away and turned my head back to the window.

"So, Chloe, what got you into computers?"

Were we really talking about computers again?

"Uh...I’m not sure. I’ve just always been good with them and I liked it. They just kind of became my thing." I shrugged still looking straight ahead. Then I realized that he was driving slower than he typically did.

Great!

"Hmm." He paused for what seemed like forever until he spoke again. "What’s your favorite color?"

I couldn’t help but turn my head to look at him.

Was he serious?

I know that my face was covered in confusion.

"I can ask you that can’t I? Is it bothering you? Not too personal for you, is it?" He was smirking.

"No, I just…
green." I sighed out.

"Favorite food?"

"I...uh...I guess Chinese."

"You guess?"

"Yeah, I don’t particularly have a favorite food. But,
I guess
I tend to get Chinese a lot. At least that’s what Mina tells me." I shrugged. I was doing that a lot.

Why did I feel so
self-conscious around him?

"Well
, you seemed to be pretty excited about pancakes this morning." He chuckled.

Oh
God, please don’t revisit what he said this morning. I am begging the lord above that he doesn’t bring up what he said.

"What can I
say, your Mom makes the best pancakes ever." I smiled.

"That is very true." He agreed with a nod.

I looked back out the window.

Thank you
God, we were almost there.

"Chloe?"
I turned to him again.

Shit! Keep your face forward Chloe.

"When is your birthday?"

Huh? Why would he…?

"September, why?"
He shrugged. I sucked in a breath and found my inner confidence. "What’s with the interrogation, Leo?"

"I asked if it was bothering you. Did you lie to me?" He smiled at me.

Damn him and that smile! Suck it up, Chloe, this is Mina’s brother, the same guy you grew up around. He is the same guy that has never looked at you twice and who sees you as his sister, so quit acting so weird about this.

"No I didn’t lie. It’s not bothering
me."
lie
"I just don’t get what all the questions are about? It’s not like we are close or hang out or anything." I furrowed my brow and turned to see we had arrived at our destination. 

Yes!

As soon as he stopped, I got out of the car. Heading to the truck, I felt a hand wrap around my wrist. I turned and Leo’s face was much closer than I expected. I hadn’t even heard him get out of the car. I took a step back to put space between us.

"I was going to get the door for you, you know?" He took a step
, bringing himself back to being only about three inches from my body.

"That’s okay, I got it, but thanks." I started to take another step back but Leo still held my wrist
, stepping with me as I moved.

"Um, Leo, can you let go of my wrist?" I looked down to my wrist and saw his thumb start to rub over my skin.

"Leo…" I looked back up to ask him again to let go, but his face was intense with indecision written all over it.

"Chloe," he finally spoke. "W
e could change that, you know?"

I
bit my lip and looked confused.

"Being close, you know
, like you and Mina are?"

"Yeah, okay. Umm…I need to get back." I slid my arm free and climbed into
my dad’s truck. Once I pulled out of Leo’s sight, I exhaled a large breath.

What the hell was that?

Leo

I didn’t know what the hell I was thinking when I offered to drive her to get her car, but it was clear on her face that she wasn’t into the idea. I tried to make conversation, just to ease the tension, but all the questions that I wanted answers to were personal. I couldn’t help but find myself wanting to get to know her. She was clearly uncomfortable and I was making it worse.

When she got out of the car the urge to go after her was ridiculous. It was like there was a chain binding me to her. I had quickly grabbed her wrist and brought myself close to her. I could smell her, she smelled like flowers. The feel of her skin was like buttery silk, it’s the only way to describe it.

"I was going to get the door for you, you know?" I had felt her move back, but the damn electricity humming between us pulled me with her. I had no control.

"That’s okay, I got it, but thanks." She started to take another step back.

"Um, Leo, can you let go of my wrist?" I couldn’t stop touching her skin. I heard what she was saying but the smell and feel of her so close was overwhelming.

"Leo…" She looked back up to my face and stopped what she was saying. She studied my face. I wanted to bring her perfect lips to mine. I wanted to know if she tasted as good as she felt and smelled. Fighting an internal battle to actually let her go
, I said the first thing that came to my mind.

"Chloe," I looked into her eyes
, "we could change that, you know?" She looked confused and she bit her lip.

Christ
, that lip biting thing is hot.

I continued.

"Being close, you know, like you and Mina are?” I was serious. I wanted to get to know her. I had to. There was something that pulled me to her and didn’t allow me to walk away.

"Yeah, okay. Umm…I need to get back."

Shit!

I had definitely come on too strong as I felt her pull her wrist out of my hand and hurry into the truck. I walked back to the car
, watching her drive away. I leaned back against the car and sighed, running my hand through my hair.

"What the hell is the matter with me?" I shouted at myself aloud and rubbed my hands over my face. I knew what was wrong with me.
Chloe.

Chloe

I parked my car at my house and went inside. My mind was still turning ove
r everything that had happened.

He said to get close like I am with Mina. I am close to Mina like a sister, so he wants to be close to me like a sister.
If that’s the case, then what was up with  the looks, the remarks this morning and the whole wrist thing. Jesus Christ!

Given all my confusion with all things that were Leo, I was suddenly relieved when I remembered the he was leaving today. I only had to hang at my house until after lunch. That would be easy.
Hanging out at my house instead of Mina’s, easy peasy.

I entered my room to Roni lying on her bed with her laptop. Max was lying next to her. She turned when I w
alked into the room and smiled.

"So, did you get the truck?" She giggled lightly.

"Hey, Chloe." Max raised his hand to wave and then placed it back onto Roni’s back.

"Yes," I hissed. "I got my truck. Where is Mina?"

"Oh, she was making a ‘call’ so I came over here." She winked at me.

I shook my head.

"Well I hope she had a good phone call! The evil little trouble maker." I plopped down on my bed.

"Well I’m sure that Oliver appreciated getting to talk to her if that makes you
feel any better." I shot my head over to look at Max. Roni was staring at him too. "What? You think that I didn’t figure that shit out? Please! Dude looks at her like he’s going to eat her." He laughed. "The same way that Leo looks like he wants to devour…" He stopped.

"Hey. I should’ve known this is where you would be." Leo spoke a
s he walked in off the balcony.

Shit, shit, shit! My fortress of solitude has been compromised. There goes my plan.

Max rolled over and wrapped himself around Roni.

"Um
, let me see…sit over at your house, alone, or lie around with this hot lady right here? I think that the decision would have been easy for you too dude." He smiled large as he squeezed Roni. It was kind of sweet and I saw Roni shove him a little as she smiled.

"Did you at least pack up all your stuff?" Max nodded that he had. Leo wasn’t looking at me at all. I was thankful, but at the same time it kind of bothered me.

I turned my head back to the ceiling and threw my arm over my face.

I’ll just lie here till
they, or at least he, leaves.

Then I felt my bed dip. My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest
. I finally opened my eyes, it was Mina. She lay down next to me, on her back, putting her head on my thigh.

"So
, Leo, when exactly are you guys planning to get the fuck out?" She laughed. "Or have you decided to stay a little longer?" I could hear the innuendo in her voice. I jerked my thigh so that her head was jolted and she giggled.

"Why
, Mina? Do you have plans hidden from me?" He eyed her suspiciously.

"Of course not
, Leonard." She laughed as his face contorted.

"You know I hate that
, Mina." He scowled at her.

"Sorry
, Leonard. I’ll try not to let it happen again." This time we all laughed with her.

Leo quickly jumped onto my bed and started to tickle Mina. I shifted quickly to move away from the chaos. We were all still laughing and I was pinned against my wall waiting for them to calm down. Leo grabbed Mina into a hug, kissed her head and just la
id there with her. It was cute. I moved to get up when I felt a hand around my calf. I knew by the electric pulse that it was Leo. He caressed my leg before I shook it off and got up from the bed. I sat at my computers to distract myself.

"Oh my
God. You know what we need to do?" Mina sat up quickly.

"If you say go shopping, so help me
God, Mina, I will throw this laptop at you." I threatened from behind my desk. Roni laughed.

"No...
well, we will need to do that eventually, though." I sighed at her response. "We need to plan the Halloween party."

"Mina, you always plan
the Halloween party," Roni rebutted her idea.

Mina shook her head.

"Just listen. This year will be different. We are going to do costumes!" She was bouncing excitedly. "Don’t worry, I will plan out ours! Maybe we will do Alice in Wonderland! I’ll be Alice, of course. Roni, you, can be the Queen of Hearts and Chloe…" She stopped when she saw the look on my face. "Oh, suck it up, Chloe.  You will definitely be the Mad Hatter." She giggled. I rolled my eyes.

Roni changed the subject, thankfully.

"Why don’t we worry about our camping trip for the time being?"

"You guys are going camping?" Leo was stifling laughter and Max was chuckling.

Mina turned to Leo.

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"Well, there are no closets," he looked at Mina. "No computers," he looked at me. "And there isn’t really anywhere to do your hair or make up," he looked at Roni. Then he and Max started laughing again.

"Zip it
, Leonard!" Mina smiled largely. "It’s not going to be just us. There is a group of us going."

Leo sat up quickly.

"A group?"