Page 33 of Cocky Nerd
Olivia
Iwake up in a bed of thousand thread count Egyptian cotton sheets. The only noise outside the window, which is covered with sheer white curtain panels that let in gorgeous light, is birds singing. No honking, no people on the street, no street noisewhatsoever.
This guest room is spare but so tasteful and elegant and relaxing. The door is still completely shut. The rubber snakes are still on the floor. I’m glad they didn’t leave a mark on the creamy white walls. But I’m also annoyed that he didn’t come to me last night, even after that hot kiss. Must have been an important business call. He wasn’t kidding when he said he has a busy schedule. I suppose if this were September instead of July, I would barely have time for him or anyone else that I was trying to have a romantic relationshipwith.
I suppose it’s still unclear as to whether or not we’re even trying to have a romantic relationship with eachother.
But that’s also why I want to get as much out of this next month with him as possible. I want to make a dent in his universe. I have never seen this guy let loose or lose his shit. Even when I hid the rubber snakes in his sleeping bag when he was twelve, I heard him make a few loud "uhhh! uhhh!" sounds and then Nathan said he jumped out of the sleeping bag, rolled it up and tossed it into the closet so the snakes couldn't get out. He said he was a fast-thinking badass. Then I ran into the room laughing, but it was terribly disappointing. I could get his attention, but I could never quite get a rise out of him. He always seemed to be able to think his way out of anemotion.
I need to loosen him up. Maybe he’s all talk and he isn’t really ready for action with me. Maybe I need to break down his workaholic nerdwalls.
I check my phone,to see if John has texted or called to let me know what to expect this morning—nope. I brush my teeth and run my fingers through my hair, but don’t change out of my sleep shirt, just put on a pair of leggings and walk barefoot to the kitchen, expecting to fend for myself, not even sure if John is home rightnow.
I find a cherubic middle-aged Hispanic lady in the kitchen, making coffee. It smells amazing, and I smell food too. This must be hishousekeeper.
“Hello,” Isay.
She turns to me, all smiles. “Ohhhhh hello good morning! You must be Miss Olivia! I am Gracia, I go to your house yesterday. I meetCallie.”
“Yes, hi! Thank you so much for doing that, I’ve never seen our apartment look sogood.”
I hold my hand out to shake hers, but she brings me in for a warm squishyhug.
“What a great location you got! What you want for breakfast? I already make everything Mister John say you like.” She gestures towards the kitchen island, where there’s a stainless steel chafer set up, like in the breakfast room of a motel, but fancier. She holds up the lid to show me perfect scrambled eggs and turkey bacon. There’s a three-tiered stand holding my favorite fruit, gluten-free high fiber muffins and bread, a Belgian waffle-maker and a Vitamix blender. “I can make waffle. Smoothie things are in the cupboard here and in the fridge and freezer here. I just now make a fresh pot of coffee. The boys are in Mister John’s office. They already eat. Oh and we got your cereal too. What do youwant?”
This. I want all of this. Everyday.
Gracia reminds me of my Mom, if my mom were Hispanic. My heart aches a little for Johnny, because I know that’s why he hired her. Johnny has always adored my Mom because she’s everything his own mother isn’t. Now he’s hired a Steph Montgomery for himself. Now that I think of it, his driver Richard was like a Polynesian Alan Montgomery. It’s like he’s putting together his own West Coast multi-ethnic Montgomery clan.Aww.
After eating literally allthat Gracia had to offer, I explore the rooms of the house that John didn’t show me last night. I love this house. It’s not at all what I would have pictured for Johnny and I can’t help but imagine myself living here. It makes me kind of mad that he’s never invited me here sooner. Or maybe I’m still mad at him for blowing me off last night. Or maybe I’m just used to being mad at him for something—anything.
I step into the large bedroom that is being used as an exercise room. He has an impressive array of exercise machines, a mirrored wall, and indeed he has a ballet barre set up. I lift my leg up onto it, to stretch, but it’s too soon after eating. I take a peek at the iPhone speaker dock, curious to know what John listens to when he works out, betting on podcasts. I press play on the remote and Tupac blares from the tiny speakers. He certainly has acclimated to the WestCoast.
I make my way down the hall to the door to his home office. I hear WuTang Clan playing at an acceptable work-space volume, and several voices. The door is half-open. I knock and poke my headin.
John is wearing a form-fitting grey T-shirt and black jeans that instantly make me want to make out with him, and also makes me angry because I know I can’t. He’s wearing glasses this morning, an expensive blue-rimmed pair that accents his blue eyes and black hair beautifully. In high school he wore steel-rimmed glasses that did nothing for his face (other than helping to keep his face from walking intowalls).
He is holding up a laptop and flanked by two early twentysomething geeks in hoodies and a clean-cut young East Indian man wearing a tucked-in salmon pink poloshirt.
They all look up at me andstare.
Welcome to Nerdville,please leave your boobs at the door, do not make eye contact with the nerds and absolutely do not attempt to touch the nerds or they may short-circuit.
John smilesand hands his laptop to the guy in the polo shirt. “Morning. Comein.”
I step inside. He comes over to kiss my cheek. He smells soapy-clean and minty fresh with a hint of coffee, and I’m so glad he hasn’t shaved yet. “You have breakfastyet?”
“I did, it was wonderful,thanks.”
He puts his hand on my back. “Guys, this is my girlfriend Olivia. Olivia, this is Sanjay whom you spoke to on the phone, and two of my programmers, Mike andStuart.”
I smile at all of them and wave, but the words “this is my girlfriend Olivia” are ringing through my ears and vibrating through my body. He didn’t use the g-word when he introduced me to Phil and Elaine last night. It’s strange and exciting and sexy but a tad uncomfortable. Like putting on a new pair of thong panties. I can get used toit.
The guys just stare at me, open-mouthed for a few seconds, before Sanjay steps forward to shake my hand. “Very nice to meet you in person, Olivia, we spoke on the phoneyesterday.”
“Hi, yes, very nice to meet youtoo.”
John takes the laptop back from Sanjay so he can retrieve something from a pile of papers on the table. “I’ve emailed you your itinerary for the trip, did you receiveit?”
