How to Date a Nerd

Chapter 14 - How to Confess to a Drunk Girl

“Where’s Freddy, by the way?” Dad asked.

“In the kitchen,” Emma replied with a wry smile. “You know how he thinks he’s the better cook.”

I couldn’t agree more with Freddy. Emma’s cooking wasn’t really that good. Okay, it was horrible. The thought of that risotto two years ago still made my stomach churn. It tasted like glue. Shivers ran down my spine and I saw Sarah looking at me with some understanding. She had to live with that every day. Anyhow, I just smiled at Emma like I was sorry I couldn’t have some of her cooking. Which was a complete bogus.

Dad folded his sleeves up to his elbow. “Then let’s see,” he grinned while heading to the kitchen, leaving me and Sarah behind.

“So any progress yet?” I asked breaking the silence. “Time’s ticking, you know.”

With an unsure look, Sarah sat stiffly on the seat next to me. “N-not really. How much more time?”

“I’m all yours for less than three months. After that, I’m off.” I smiled at her, managing to make everything sound like a big joke. Like it was no big deal. Inside, I was just scared to death that Sarah won’t get her memories back before I had to leave for LA.

She didn’t meet my eyes though I was sure she was listening.

“But no rush. Let’s just… enjoy this.” I leaned back on the sofa and drew a deep breath. Somehow, even though she didn’t see me as how I’d hoped her to, just being in the same room as her quieted the nagging doubts in my head.

Slowly, she lifted her eyes to me but I pretended to not notice. “Does it hurt?” she asked hesitantly.

“What?”

She just looked at my broken arm with a hint of worry. “S-sorry, I was too clumsy. If it wasn’t because of me slowing you down it wouldn’t have hurt that much.”

“It just hurt a little. No worries,” I assured her with a wide lopsided grin. “Didn’t know you care.”

Awkwardly, she looked away looking confused before her forehead crumpled. “No actually. I just don’t want to owe you anything. That’s all,” she mumbled, her face turning a bit red.

That just made me laugh. I put her through so much trouble and she was thinking about my arm? She was worried about me after all. But something told me she’d rather eat her own hand than admit it. Sarah fumed silently to herself, giving me more time to look at her without her noticing.

When she scowled at me, I looked away mumbling “Sure, sure,” with a shrug, forcing a straight face. “I just want to say… thanks.”

“F-for what?”

“For not telling Freddy about the school…”

“Not telling me what?” Freddy entered the living room from the kitchen patting his burly hands with a towel.

“Nothing,” we both chorused. Sarah almost jumped from her seat.

Did I mention that Freddy was a little over six feet with huge buff arms, curly black hair, bristly chin and tanned skin? Much like your modern-day Viking Dad. And tonight, he wore a ruffled white apron that said Sexy Thing.

In panic, Sarah blurted, “I-I told him I wasn’t going to Yale anymore… He thought you didn’t still know about that.” Sarah looked pale. Such a lame liar too. But her efforts to cover up for me just had me stunned.

“Okay,” he said looking not at all convinced. “Dinner’s ready. I cooked so it’s edible. Don’t worry.” He gave me an unassuming wink before going back to the kitchen.