A fierce blush blooms on my cheeks, then spreads all the way to the tips of my fingers.
“Well,” he says. “What’re you waiting for? Surely you weren’t justsayingthings to try to distract me from my work.” Hollis’s expression is that of someone two moves away from checkmate. “That would be childish. And you are, as you’ve reminded me on several occasions now, not a kid.”
“On second thought,” I say, searching for an exit that doesn’t involve admitting I was screwing with him for the purposes of my own entertainment, “probably not a good idea to break out the ol’ ‘Battle Hymn’ in these parts. They still haven’t forgiven Sherman for his March to the Sea, you know.”
“Oh, I don’t think Bud and Connie will mind. Bud surely isn’t into that Lost Cause nonsense with his great-great-granddaddy and the founder of the town a former Union colonel. An officer in the US Colored Troops even. No, I’d say you’re good to go there. Might even be appreciated. A tribute to his family, and to Gadsley, South Carolina’s illustrious and surprisingly progressive history.”
Of course he was listening while I read the passages from Bud’s book. Hoisted by my own petard yet again. And it’s clear by the look in his eyes behind his glasses, equal parts self-satisfied and predatory, that he knows that I know I’m in a pickle here. Sure, I could back down. But what if... Well, what if I just do it?What if I callhisbluff? Hollis is such a know-it-all, thinking he knows me, thinking he knows Mrs. Nash, thinking he knows the truth about love and people and the entire universe. It might be nice to knock him off balance, show him how little knowledge he actually possesses.
My fingers hesitate for a moment at the hem of my chartreuse shirt, then close over the fabric and slowly lift. Hollis’s mouth opens to say something but freezes with his lips slightly parted as he catches the motion.
Oh.
It’s not just bravado, is it? Hollis’s antagonistic flirtation isn’t about flustering me for his amusement. Or at least, it’s not completely about that. He wants me like I want him. I see it in the way his eyes follow my leisurely movement, how his shoulders rise and fall as he takes a deep breath.
Six inches of paste-white stomach are sandwiched between the bright yellow-green cotton of my bunched-up shirt and the light-blue denim of my jeans. Any higher and Hollis is going to get an eyeful of boobs. The fact that they’ll still be mostly covered by my bra and it’s not all that different from what he’d see if he googled “Penelope to the Past bikini” doesn’t make it feel any less like we’re standing on the edge of a precipice. His eyes connect with mine in a silent dare:Jump.
I’m going to do it. I’m going to. Because I don’t want to do this with anyone else if Hollis is an option, and it’s starting to feel like he might be. If I’m going to jump, I might as well do it from the highest point possible so I have more time to enjoy the fall.
My brain doesn’t even have time to tell my hands to act before a knock sounds at the door, and I pull my shirt back down in a panic. Hollis’s body whips around to face his desk again. The heatthat’s been flowing like lava under my skin turns into burning-hot embarrassment, as if the door is transparent and we’ve actually been caught doing something naughty. Then the knock comes again, a little louder this time. Hollis clears his throat as he stands and marches the few steps to the door.
“Miss Connie,” he says as he opens it a crack and sticks his head out. “Good afternoon, ma’am.”
“Oh, Hollis darlin’, I hope I’m not interruptin’ your work,” she says in a hurry. “I only wanted to let you and Millie know that we’re doin’ tea and scones downstairs, if y’all are interested. Didn’t think to mention it earlier, since we thought you’d be leavin’ today, but since you’re stickin’ around after all...”
“Thanks so much,” he says. “I’m afraid I’ve still got a lot to do here, but I’m sure Millicent will be down shortly.”
“Wonderful,” she responds. “And how are y’all on essentials? Towels and whatnot?”
“Just fine. Thank you.”
“Great. You’ll let me know if there’s anything we can get y’all to make you more comfortable?”
“Of course. Goodbye, Miss Connie.”
“Goodbye now,” she says. Then hastily adds, “And sorry again to disturb—”
“No problem. Have a nice evening, ma’am.”
After he shuts the door, Hollis leans his head against it. “Tea and scones,” he says on a weighty exhale.
“Tea and scones,” I repeat. It feels like we’re speaking in some sort of code, but I’m not exactly sure of the translation. “So, I... I think I saw a Chinese place when we came in last night. We could go get some takeout. I’m sure Connie has Ryan’s number, I can just text him and tell him I’m good to do the parade.”
“No, you should go to his place. Have a good time.” He pushes off from the door and settles back down at the desk, immediately reabsorbed in his writing.
“I don’t mind skipping it,” I say. “So you don’t have to eat alone.” I’m suddenly aware of the double-meaning of my words, and I flush a bit even though that’s exactly how I meant it anyway.
“No. I think it’s probably best if you eat with Ryan tonight,” he says.
The rejection pinches my pride, especially when he seemed so game a minute ago. But... tea and scones. Tea and scones. Perhaps I read it all wrong. Maybe he wasn’t excited so much as horrified by the prospect of me naked. Too horrified to stop what was unfolding. Maybe Connie didn’t interrupt so much as save Hollis from the terribly uncomfortable situation in which he found himself.
“Okay. Well, um, I’m supposed to be at Ryan’s at five, so I’m probably not going to come back up to the room before I head out. So... bye.”
“Wait,” he says, standing abruptly.
I freeze midway through threading my arm through my backpack’s strap. My heart is thumping in anticipation of Hollis changing his mind, asking me to stay. “What?”
“Let me give you my phone number. Just in case things go bad. I mean, you’re going to a stranger’s house in an unfamiliar town, and you completely lack evolutionary survival instincts.”
