WIP Wednesdays -Meet Hugh from Beauty & the Brit (Patreon)

Ladies. We've all been there (I think). Some dude/dudette just doesn't take a freaking hint. You feel trapped. You feel like nothing you can say will get through to them. You feel a piece of yourself slowly dying inside with every word this guy/gal says. It's cringe-worthy. Yeah. That's what you're in for with this excerpt from Beauty and the Brit my upcoming novel here on Patreon (Premiering Ch 1 this Sunday exclusive to Patrons 1 month earlier than the rest of the world!)

Loyal readers. I'd like you to meet Hugh. Please for the love of God comment and share your thoughts and/or personal experiences that this [unfortunately] reminded you of!

-Britt xo

“No, no, no, /no!/” Paige stuttered under her breath as none other than the singularly most unappealing person in the entire town met her eye coming straight for her.

“Paige! Just the girl I want to see!” Hugh declared boisterously; arms wide.

“Hugh I’m really sorry but I have to—”

“Nonsense I’ll walk you there,” he interrupted forcefully. “You’re a busy girl, I’m a busy guy but we can take our moments together. Now—” he went on just as she set to interrupt him, “we need to talk about us.”

“Us?!” she repeated in alarm.

“I know; sounds great to say it out loud right but we still need to talk about it at least a little,” he declared, “It’s just like we’ve known each other so long and neither of us have talked about it or anything but it’s like why don’t we just stop playing around and go out already? May as well I mean it’s almost really stupid not to just be dating already...”

Paige could die.

“And besides a girl like you shouldn’t be single anyway it just sends off the wrong impression about all the people around you especially a guy like me I mean c’mon right? It makes me look stupid like what I don’t have the balls to take you out or something? And it’s painfully obvious especially because we’re both single that we shouldn’t be single like that together because that’s just embarrassing,” Hugh laughed awkwardly.

“Anyway but don’t tell me you haven’t pictured it,” he went on before Paige could recover enough to speak, “Coz it’s like almost hot to picture.”

“Hugh—”

“Sweetheart I’ll pick you up tonight say eight? Naw let’s make it seven we can do six o’clock and do dinner with wine the whole shebang before— Well not to get ahead of ourselves to the shebang shebang!” he laughed at his own innuendo.

Paige thought she might be sick. “Look, Hugh, this isn’t going to—“

“Shhh Paige. I know I shouldn’t have said that last part it’s moving too quick I get it although it’s inevitable  but Paige you don’t have to be afraid of giving into passion. And listen I get it too that you don’t want your friends jealous or people around town upset that we’re off the market but that’s just the way things go. When things work they work out you know? And not just at the gym...”

“Look Hugh please just let me finish. I can’t go out with you tonight—“

“Look if you’re closing the store I’ll just pick you up at work then and—“

It was her turn to interrupt now. “No, Hugh, I’m not working. I have other plans already.”

“Alrighty I won’t interrupt girls’ night then I get that’s sacred and all that. So then I’ll grab you up tomorrow.”

“No Hugh I already have plans tonight; with another man.”

The silence following this statement could have been met with a knife. Once Hugh recovered himself he finally spoke: “Surely you can cancel your plans? I mean c’mon you’ve got me; your plan worked to make me jealous and come running for you. Thank goodness you didn’t have to go out on that date in order to do it!”

Was this guy so thick skulled or was he just that full of himself to think that she or anyone would ever make that effort to snag him?

“No, Hugh, that’s not what this was— or is. I’ve got plans and that’s it. I’m sorry but I’m not cancelling on him. I’m flattered you’d want to-to hang out and everything but it’s just not a good time.” Now or ever she added on in her mind. “Thanks but I’ve got to go.”

She hurried forward and popped into the first door to her right ahead: a doctor’s office. She doubted he’d follow her in here. And she was right.

From behind their slatted blinds, she watched Hugh stand dumb-struck for a few moments then chuckle to himself and walk away not looking rejected in the least.