Page 15 of Beauty and the Nerd
His words made her laugh as she grabbed a few pieces to try on to ensure her backside was properly covered with the new styles they had for sale. Others might not mind wearing a thong, or as close to them as possible, in public, but she wasn’t of the same mind when it came to swim-wear.
She handed over the sports bras and shorts giving him another wink before moving to the fitting rooms as he headed after her to take a seat outside them.
She loved the fit of the second pair of bottoms she tried on. They were a little cheeky but nowhere near to worrying her they’d wind up in her butt crack if she actually swam in them, and she poked her head around the curtain giving him a grin. “Sure, you don’t want to see?”
“Emma, behave.” Ben gave her a long look, and she shook her head at him. “Please?”
“Not today.” She opened the curtain a bit before moving out for him to see the cover-up she snuck into the changing room with her. She slid over in front of him laughing silently at his relieved look. “So, what do you think? Is this beach worthy attire?”
He reached up to pluck at the strings on the black shorts set tube-top cover up. “Anything on you is beach worthy Em. Now would you please put something on before I claim a kiss right now?”
Ben nodded towards a couple juniors moving into the store. One was on the cheerleading squad with Emma, and she didn’t know what exactly would happen if he did that in front of the girl. They would likely have a fit and as amusing as it might be, she didn’t want the scrutiny right this second to ruin their day, or the weekend.
“They’re not so stolen if you warn me about them.” She gave him a softer smile before moving back into the changing area to redress.
Emma took the swimsuit, cover up, sports bras and shorts to the register and undid the zipper pocket on her pants where her cards were allowing her to not carry a purse. She took the bag and slid her card back into her pocket with a smile as theyturned to leave, smiling even further when Amber said her name in surprise. “Hey Amber, Jessie.”
“Hey,” Jessie said looking over to Ben with curiosity clearly written on her face.
“What are you two doing here—together?” Amber asked, looking between them before sharing a separate one with Jessie she could easily read as ‘what the hell?’.
“Just goofing off, right Ben?” Emma said easily. “We decided it was too cold to spend all day out hiking and Ben asked what I wanted to do instead, so here we are finishing a few of my errands. I saw the dress you had at Dana’s, Amber. It’s gorgeous. Orange is not my color at all, but you’ll look fabulous.”
“Thanks, I didn’t know you had a dress at Dana’s, we hadn’t heard that you’re going,” Amber said moving straight to snarky it seemed. “I mean after the whole Carter thing it must be impossible to find a guy that’s even remotely as interesting, right?”
“I’ll be there with or without a date, but there’s a certain someone I have my eye on going with, just waiting for the official invitation. I’m actually crowning the queen as well as being there bright and early to get things all set up. We could always use some more help if you’re available.” She knew the two wouldn’t begin to help unless they got something grand out of it, but it was a clear reminder to the two that she had far more sway around the school than they did where it counted most. “Let me know if you can help, okay? Right now, I think the candy store is calling our names, right Ben?”
“Sounds good to me,” he agreed laughing as they headed down towards it. “Very well played Em, very well played.”
“I try.” She bumped into his side enjoying the feel of being with him in public. Once there she spotted the Jelly Belly flavors and slid over to them, turning around with a full grin.
“What are you thinking?”
Ben’s question said he saw the glint in her eyes, and she grinned further loving that he knew her that well. She lifted a brow at him in challenge replying, “Well, I know you’re duly impressive with grapes, but what about jellybeans?”
“That could be a lot of stolen kisses Em.” She nodded not minding at all the potential of just how many it might be before grabbing a bag to fill. “No black licorice is all I ask; it tastes like mud to me.”
She paused in her movements to look at him in disbelief at the seriousness of his tone. “And how often have you eaten mud?”
“Once or twice a month in junior high when I wasn’t fast enough, although that was easier to get rid of the taste of than with toilet bowl swirlies.” His honesty made her smile dim realizing how people had treated him back then. Still treated him really just without the physical stuff it seemed. “That’s what happens to us nerd-boys Em, doesn’t mean it stays that way for life though. The physical shit stopped for the most part sophomore year when I shot up to five-ten over the summer and was taller than most of the others even if they did have more muscles.”
“I’m sorry Ben, but you are worth so much more than those jerks who did that to you,” she promised as she moved over to stand in front of him. He slipped a hand onto her waist and smiled down at her making her want a kiss right where they were. “Those guys will never really go anywhere in life, but you’re on your way to Columbia and you have me.”
“That I do,” he said with a nod, “and I certainly won’t feel bad when Carter realizes it.”
“Wait, Carter was one of the…” She shook her head at him in shock. “You should have told me that when I agreed to go with him to Homecoming to keep up appearances. I never would have if I’d known.”
“It was my own personal little bit of payback even if he didn’t know it since you skipped out early and spent the rest of the night kissingmewith your crown on.” His words made her smile up at him unable to hold in the laugh. “That’s my girl, I like you happy and smiling, not sad and hurting for stupid things that are in the past. Carter will likely flunk out of college despite going for football and then we’ll both be laughing at him.”
“Yes, we will,” she agreed before taking the bag to the counter to pay. She waited until they were out of the store before turning around with a new grin, ready to play. She tossed him a couple jellybeans and laughed as he easily caught the first and had to dive for the second, barely getting it.
“I see how you’re playing this one. You’re on Em.” He gave her a wink that sent them through the mall laughing and goofing around together as they browsed the stores.
Emma picked up a single jellybean well aware of the group hanging out around the fountain in the food court and wiggled it in her fingers giving him a grin. “What are we at again?”
“With the ten from the grapes, we’re looking at that being number thirty,” he said meeting her gaze. “So, what are you going to do with it hmm? I’ve only stolen three of my winnings, which would leave me twenty-seven more to go and I can’t guarantee I won’t steal one right now.”
“I guess we’ll just have to see, won’t we?” She tossed it in between the two of them as Carter, David and Steve pushed their chairs back to stand, then slid up to meet him, laughing aloud as he munched on the jellybean. “Nice catch Benny-boy.”
