have. If it’s set up right, this computer will do everything you need it to do and more. You can have all your programs running and still do a presentation without a glitch.”
I shook my head. “Don’t even joke about something like that. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if my computer actually worked.”
He put a hand on his hip. “If you’ve been having so many problems with that computer, why did you wait so long to say something?”
I shrugged. “I didn’t want to bother you. I know you have a lot on your work plate as it is. I didn’t want to add to that. I know how it feels when people come to you asking stupid questions all day.”
“Telling me your computer isn’t working does not qualify as a stupid question. I’m inclined to believe you’re one of those people who try to do everything themselves rather than ask for help.”
“You can believe anything you’d like,” I replied, my tone more than a little sarcastic.
Aka came jogging toward us with a box and I was never happier to see another human being in my life. He stopped near the display and moved one computer out of the way, so he could set the computer box on the shelf.
Mr. I.T. looked at the box for half a second before he did a fist pump and gave a sigh of relief. “What a stroke of luck, this is perfect.”
Aka gave him a fist bump and motioned at the computer. “My boss says since its specs are custom the price was sixteen hundred, but he’ll give it to you for fourteen if it walks out the door.”
Mr. I.T. picked up the box and tucked it under his arm. “Sold! It’s a steal and exactly what she needs.”
Aka addressed me. “Do you want to make sure it’s what you want?”
I gave him the palms up. “I wouldn’t know. I have to take Mr. I.T.’s word for it. If he says it’s perfect, then it is.”
Aka smiled, thinking he knew something he didn’t, and motioned us to the checkouts. Mr. I.T. came up next to me and grabbed my hand, tugging me toward the front of the store.
“Let’s get this paid for. I’m hungry,” he whispered, his hand tightening on mine.
“Hungry? What does that have to do with buying a computer?”
“It has to do with the fact that once this is paid for, I’m taking you to dinner at Da Kitchen Café. My treat, of course.”
For a few moments I felt excitement building at the prospect of sharing a meal with him, but then I remembered that night at my apartment and the smile fell away from my face.
Chapter Four
I sat in his car watching the little pineapple shaped air freshener swing lazily from the review mirror. My new computer sat on the backseat expectantly, expecting me to know what to do with it, which I didn’t. I was going to have to count on him , once again. He turned into the parking lot of Da Kitchen Café and found a parking spot, shoving the gearshift into park.
“I don’t feel comfortable with this,” I said suddenly.
He turned in his seat without turning the car off. “Seriously, Ellie, I don’t bite.”
I rolled my eyes, visibly, so he could see me. “I get it already. I’m not worried about you biting me. What I mean is, I’m not comfortable eating here instead of at the hotel. I feel like we should be supporting Kupid Enterprises if we’re going to eat out.”
He rested his wrist on the steering wheel without taking his eyes off me. “Fair enough, but since you avoid me like I have a disease at work, I didn’t think you would have dinner with me at Kupid’s Table.”
“You’re right, I won’t.”
He sighed, exasperatedly and shook his head a little. “That’s why we’re here. I want to enjoy your company, but you seem afraid of me all the time. You leave home early and come home late just to avoid seeing me.”
I opened my mouth angrily, “I do not!” He looked at me under one dark brow as if to say ‘Really?’ “Okay, so I work hard, there’s no crime in that. I’ll make you a deal. I have a lot of work to do considering
I shook my head. “Don’t even joke about something like that. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if my computer actually worked.”
He put a hand on his hip. “If you’ve been having so many problems with that computer, why did you wait so long to say something?”
I shrugged. “I didn’t want to bother you. I know you have a lot on your work plate as it is. I didn’t want to add to that. I know how it feels when people come to you asking stupid questions all day.”
“Telling me your computer isn’t working does not qualify as a stupid question. I’m inclined to believe you’re one of those people who try to do everything themselves rather than ask for help.”
“You can believe anything you’d like,” I replied, my tone more than a little sarcastic.
Aka came jogging toward us with a box and I was never happier to see another human being in my life. He stopped near the display and moved one computer out of the way, so he could set the computer box on the shelf.
Mr. I.T. looked at the box for half a second before he did a fist pump and gave a sigh of relief. “What a stroke of luck, this is perfect.”
Aka gave him a fist bump and motioned at the computer. “My boss says since its specs are custom the price was sixteen hundred, but he’ll give it to you for fourteen if it walks out the door.”
Mr. I.T. picked up the box and tucked it under his arm. “Sold! It’s a steal and exactly what she needs.”
Aka addressed me. “Do you want to make sure it’s what you want?”
I gave him the palms up. “I wouldn’t know. I have to take Mr. I.T.’s word for it. If he says it’s perfect, then it is.”
Aka smiled, thinking he knew something he didn’t, and motioned us to the checkouts. Mr. I.T. came up next to me and grabbed my hand, tugging me toward the front of the store.
“Let’s get this paid for. I’m hungry,” he whispered, his hand tightening on mine.
“Hungry? What does that have to do with buying a computer?”
“It has to do with the fact that once this is paid for, I’m taking you to dinner at Da Kitchen Café. My treat, of course.”
For a few moments I felt excitement building at the prospect of sharing a meal with him, but then I remembered that night at my apartment and the smile fell away from my face.
Chapter Four
I sat in his car watching the little pineapple shaped air freshener swing lazily from the review mirror. My new computer sat on the backseat expectantly, expecting me to know what to do with it, which I didn’t. I was going to have to count on him , once again. He turned into the parking lot of Da Kitchen Café and found a parking spot, shoving the gearshift into park.
“I don’t feel comfortable with this,” I said suddenly.
He turned in his seat without turning the car off. “Seriously, Ellie, I don’t bite.”
I rolled my eyes, visibly, so he could see me. “I get it already. I’m not worried about you biting me. What I mean is, I’m not comfortable eating here instead of at the hotel. I feel like we should be supporting Kupid Enterprises if we’re going to eat out.”
He rested his wrist on the steering wheel without taking his eyes off me. “Fair enough, but since you avoid me like I have a disease at work, I didn’t think you would have dinner with me at Kupid’s Table.”
“You’re right, I won’t.”
He sighed, exasperatedly and shook his head a little. “That’s why we’re here. I want to enjoy your company, but you seem afraid of me all the time. You leave home early and come home late just to avoid seeing me.”
I opened my mouth angrily, “I do not!” He looked at me under one dark brow as if to say ‘Really?’ “Okay, so I work hard, there’s no crime in that. I’ll make you a deal. I have a lot of work to do considering
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