Because, Brett... [BxB]

Chapter 6: You're The Only Ten I See

His fingers twitch on the back of the chair as his grip intensifies. His head tilts to the side, a little confused and a strand of his dark hair falls in front of his eyes. "I'm sorry?"

I take in his appearance once more, and honestly, he does look familiar. So what's the confusion? I must just sit there gawping at him like some deranged stranger because his smile does falter some.

"Are you waiting for someone?" He asks, voice calm and collected, rehearsed maybe?

"Yeah, I guess." I pause for a moment. My elbows find their way onto the table as I lean forward to search his eyes for the slightest bit of recognition. "You're not R?"

"No. . . no I'm not." He quirks an eyebrow in curiosity.

"I'm sorry if this is blunt but this meeting is kind of important," My stalker, my problem, "and I don't really have time to talk."

More like I don't want to talk, I think to myself. But the stranger doesn't leave. He fiddles silently with the chair back as he stands, nails scraping against the wood and a hand reaching into his pocket. I don't even know why he's here in the first place. I check my watch again for the hundredth time: 13:19.

"Whoever you're meeting, they're not coming are they?" The man speaks and I realise his eyes aren't trained on me anymore but on his phone in his hand as he taps away at the screen.

"They're coming," I sigh, rubbing my hands over my face.

"Doesn't seem like it."

"And how would you know?" I retort, maybe a little too harshly.

His phone makes a click as the screen goes dark and he shoves the device back into his jeans. "You've been sitting here alone for almost an hour."

I huff out a reply, "So that's why you decided to come and say hi? Because I've been sitting here like a loner for an hour?"

If he's stunned by my statement, he doesn't show it. No anxiousness or awkwardness. "That and because I think you're handsome."

The forwardness of some people astounds me, truly. His eyes don't leave mine for even a second as he stares me down. I fidget in my seat.

"I could go more obvious if you like?" I say nothing, yet he looks as though he's wracking his brain for words before he smiles and comes out with, "Hey, are you from Tennessee?" I shake my head. Not because I'm not from Tennessee (even though I'm not) but because I know where this is going and I can't push the slight smile from my face. "Because you're the only ten I see."

He smirks, and maybe a chuckle as light as a feather falls from my lips. "That was terrible." Cringe worthy.

He'd probably like to think he's getting to me some way by acting like a smooth-talking know-it-all, but I'm not that easy. Not after years of working at a strip club where I basically get paid to have men hit on me. That's not to say he's not attractive though — if I had to rate him, he'd maybe be a seven or an eight, and he certainly has a personality I could get along with.

Internally scolding myself, I gulp down the remainders of my latte before abruptly standing from my seat. I look over my shoulder to see Elijah with his phone in hand and covering his mouth as he yawns out his boredom.

"Elijah," His eyes flit away from his phone for a second to latch onto mine, "he's not coming. Let's just go."

Silence prevails and a moment later he says, "Okay." Like the stranger, he tucks his phone away and then he stands up.

"Who's this?" Not-R's voice cuts like a newly sharpened blade as he eyes Elijah up and down.

"I could ask the same question." Elijah gives me a pointed look before not-so-subtly nodding his head towards my new friend as if asking, who the fuck is this guy?

I shrug my shoulders as I simply don't have an answer for him. I hadn't really planned on getting to know Not-R and I do just want to get out of here. For starters, the guy comes along and doesn't introduce himself, he asks prying questions and assumes to know what's going on better than I do. Not to mention he's been watching me for an hour. "He's just some weirdo," I elaborate, casting a sly smile towards the stranger who feigns hurt.

"I think you should leave us alone," Elijah's hand easily finds it's way around my shoulders and he takes a step towards me. I want to shake him off.

"For reference, the name's Seth," Not-R says, a slight twitch of the lips as Elijah tugs me a little closer, I can tell wanting to lead me to the exit, "So, is this your boyfriend?"

"No."

"Good."

Elijah's hand grips tighter.

"He's not looking," Elijah adds because that's what I've always told him to keep him at bay. I don't have a boyfriend and I don't want one. Not after Chloe.

I regret that a little now.

Seth's eyes dance over us once more, "I'm sorry to hear that."

"Yeah, I bet you are," I hear Elijah grumble under his breath as he once again attempts to drag me away from the situation. Seth's only a step behind us though and I feel his strong fingers clamp around my wrist like a vice.

"Before you go, can I get your number?" He smiles sweetly before adding, "Just in case you change your mind."

With furrowed eyebrows, Elijah eyes the interaction. I nod and before I know it Seth is thrusting his phone into my hands and underneath the new contact, I add my name, phone number and a little message in the box where you can add an email address if you so wish. It reads simply, Call me :)

As we leave, I catch a glimpse of Seth's smile as he stares stupidly down at the device in his hands.

Elijah is the protective type and that's fine. It only bothers me that he's possessive when I'm not even his to be possessive over. Walking down the road side by side, I can see the scowl on his face. He tries to hide it every time I look over but it's as clear as day.

"He seemed quite nice," I say, testing the waters.

Elijah's lips turn down further but he doesn't reply. I take that as a hint and assume he doesn't want to talk about Seth — the handsome stranger.

Just as I'm about to change the subject, a distinct ding sounds from my back pocket. I've got a text from an unknown number.

13:28
Maybe next time I can buy you some more chocolate cake?
Seth