Shy Town Girls by Katie Leimkuehler Read Free Book Online

in.
It’s too soon to say. And why do you say Gold Coast like it’s a bad
thing?”
    “ Come to my hood, Wicker Park, this
weekend,” he said. “Leave your lipstick, perfumes, and designer
crap at home and see how the other half lives. I’ll buy you some
low calorie beer,” he teased. “My friend Sam’s band is playing.
They’re kind of a Mumford and Sons meets Blink-182 meets the
Beatles kind of thing.”
    “ Blink-182. . . God. Do you
remember that concert?”
    “ Yeah, when Travis came down from
the sky like a drummer-god.”
    We relived the moment together. “Do you still have
that t-shirt I got you?” I asked.
    “ Somewhere, definitely.” He sighed.
“Please don’t remind me of those days.”
    “ You mean high school? Mr. Prom
King.”
    “ Pfft. It was a fluke. Someone
rigged the votes!”
    “ Oliver, are you blushing?” I called
him out. “You know you were totally that artsy fartsy mysterious
guy all the girls made up stories about,” I laughed.
    “ Bullshit!” he threw his head back
and laughed.
    “ Yep, don’t deny it,” I pointed at
him. “I remember one of the best rumors was when you got back from
London and people were saying that you joined a band and had been
on tour with—”
    “ I know. And here I was actually
with my family on a Christmas holiday. Although, I did bring my
guitar with me on that trip, so maybe you don’t know everything
about me.”
    “It’s all about style points, Olly. Ew, that leather
jacket with the weird design on the back you used to wear. . .”
    “ You know, I’m beginning to regret
bringing you coffee,” he said rubbing his temples. “I mean, I know
I wasn’t as cool as Bobbi-snobby. Forgive me if I didn’t import all
my fabrics from Italy and make all my own clothes by hand. You
weird ass.”
    “ You didn’t complain about the
jacket I made for you. On second thought, weren’t you wearing that
when you lost your virginity? Huh, weird. You’re welcome.” I patted
myself on the back.
    “ Touche, I owe you my manhood.” He
pressed his palms together and bowed. “You are a goddess. I worship
you.”
    “ Of course you do. And you know,
Olly, I really do appreciate the over-roasted coffee,” I said
sipping and cringing. “So, when’s your next shoot?”
    “ I’ve got to go pick up my spiffy
new camera and shoot some French chicks at Trump Tower today.” He
clapped and rubbed his hands togther. I loved that he was more
excited about his new camera than being swarmed by European
models.
    “ Ooh, French chicks, exciting,” I
mimicked his starry-eyed expression, clapping and rubbing my hands.
“That should make your day.”
    “ No, my day was made when I walked
in and saw you.”
    “ Ahh. . .”
    The sincere look he flashed me sucked the air out of
me. Something mysterious was going on behind those deep green eyes.
It was an expression he’d turned on me before, but only rarely, a
secret weapon if you will. It always made me feel naked when he
looked at me like that, but I knew it would only be fleeting. To
cover my confusion, I made another wisecrack. He returned with one
of his own, and we both laughed.
    A new voice, deep and resonant interrupted play time,
“Bobbie, can we talk? Alone?” My stomach flip-flopped at the sight
of Charlie’s face in the doorway. I wasn’t sure how long he’d been
standing there, eavesdropping. The mood in my office had deflated
like a dead balloon. The morning had just turned into an episode of
Days of Our Lives. Oliver threw me a glance, pushed up from the
chair, and stuck out his hand.
    “ Charlie, how are ya?”
    Charlie ignored Oliver’s hand, hardly deigning to
look at him.
    “ Alrighty then, Booger,” Oliver
said, “I’ll catch you later.”
    “ Have fun at the shoot today, Olly,”
I called after him. “Thanks for the coffee!”
    Charlie took Olly’s seat, which was probably still
warm and infused with the scent of Old Spice.
    “Bye Booger,” he mocked Oliver, “Really