Page 47 of Eight Steps to Alpha

Chapter 14

“What doyou mean you kissed again?”

Fe stepped into the kitchen, covered her lips with one finger, then pointed to the living room. “Quiet please…”

April leaned back, bracing her elbows on the counter and waited for an answer.

The question was expected. The moment Ed asked about the plan, Fe knew things were going downhill. What she hadn’t expected was for Elliot to tell them everything. About the bull, and the drinking, and the ask without asking.

Stupid Ed and his nosey questions. Stupid her for being such a bad liar.

“Do you really need an explanation,” she said to April, gathering the platter of veggies she’d prepared that morning from the fridge. “Yes, we kissed, it’s not that of a big deal. And besides, like I said, it was all part of the plan.”

April smirked, maybe because she didn’t believe Fe—and quite honestly, she wasn’t even sure if she believed herself. “Not a big deal? Are you serious? You and Elliot kissed…. For the second time. How did it even happen?”

“Well,” she began. “I was helping him with the next step, then one thing led to another, and it just… happened. That’s all.”

April planted her hands on her hip and scowled. “Really? What step was that?”

Fe opened the pantry and pulled out a box of popcorn. “Six.” She closed the cabinet and looked up at April. “Please stop making such a big deal about this.”

“Why are you not making a big deal about this, that’s the better question.”

Fe rolled her eyes, then ripped open the popcorn bag with her teeth and put it in the microwave.

“Was it good?” April asked then.

Fe stopped, turned to the counter, and threw the plastic bag into the trash. “Can we stop talking about this?”

“Why? Because it was, wasn’t it?”

“No.” She lifted her chin. “Because this is a silly conversation, and frankly, it’s none of your business. Besides, Elliot and I already talked about it.”

April crossed her arms at her chest. “You did?”

Fe took in her skepticism, and turned to the microwave, listening to the popping noises before she nodded. “Yes. And we agreed it meant nothing.” She turned around, finding April’s brows lifted.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Fe scowled.

“It doesn’t seem like nothing.”

“Why do you say that?” She fetched the popcorn from the microwave, waited for it to cool, then poured it into a bowl.

“You guys have been ignoring each other all night, that’s why. It’s weird.”

Fe rolled her eyes, and sprinkled some salt onto the hot popcorn. “We’re not avoiding each other.”

“I’ve known you for five years, and not once have you sat on opposite sides of the table. It’s like you’re afraid to touch each other.”

Fe bit her lip, then gazed out to the living room where Elliot and Ed could be seen deep in conversation at the coffee table. She turned back to April, popped a handful of corn into her mouth, and began to chew. Maybe she was right. Maybe they were acting weird. “You’re looking for things that aren’t there, April,” she said, handing her the tray of veggies. “Elliot and I are friends. Will never be anything more than friends, and this is just a friendly experiment. End of story.” She flipped her hair back over her shoulder, then walked back into the living room.

Both Ed and Elliot sat forward in their seats, like they’d been discussing something similar to what her and April had been in the kitchen. She placed the bowl of popcorn on the table, sat down deliberately next to Elliot, then grabbed the set of dice. “Who wants to play another round?” she said looking directly at Ed.

Ed submerged his hand in the popcorn bowl, then stuffed a handful into his mouth. “I’m in.”

Fe turned to Elliot, meeting his eyes for the first time all evening. “You?” she asked, her heart thudding in her ear. Maybe April was right. Maybe she had been avoiding him.

Elliot leaned forward, and took a stick of celery from the tray. “Sure, why not.”

She nodded. “Good.”

Good

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