Page 39 of Get to You
8
I spend my weekend having a pity party. By Monday, I shower off the mess I let myself become, done feeling sorry for myself.
Jess spots me walking up smiling. She assumes it's leftover from my date with Nate, "Was it great? You looked great. I knew you two would click." I burst her matchmaking bubble quickly before I even get the gate unlock. I eye her with one brow raised and add an amused chuckle.
"No, it wasn't great. Click? You thought I'dclickwith a twenty-five-year-old that still lives at home and wants to play video games for a living?"
Jess looks offended, "Oh, come on Sam. He wasn't that bad." She fires back while I'm disarming the alarm.
"Oh, but he was! Did you know dogs are way toomainstreamfor him and that he likes when his ferret sleeps on his feet?" I screech, as Jess's head shakes back and forth. Her face scrunches up like she has caught a bad smell.
"Nooooh," she groans. "That is not first date material. That's the kind of thing you throw down after I love you’s are exchanged."
I slap my hand on the coffee counter, "You knew!" I accuse. There’s no real heat to my tone.
Jess has the nerve to look sheepish, "Other than that, he's a good catch, he’s driven. He wants to make a lot of his life. He’s cute and dresses pretty nice. I mean, the ferret thing is odd, but if you're in the bed with him, he won't need the ferret to keep warm." She starts laughing at my expense.
"You know," I say thoughtfully tapping my chin. "You're right. I should totally call him and beg for a second date. A date where I can walk twenty blocks in heels, pay for my own meal that he end up eating when he doesn’t like his own, and then listen to him rave about how well his mother cooks. I don't know what I was thinking. Hurry, let me borrow your phone." I make grabby hands at her as her laugher turns to a horrified expression.
"He didn’t!" she shouts.
"I assure you, he did," I wave my hand dismissively. "That was all before he suggested we share our sexual history, especially any and all bedroom preferences. I quoteincluding, but not limited to spanking, biting, bondage, fur or pony fetish, and role playing. I about pissed myself, Jess. He seemed totally cool with the fact I don't talk about my kinks until the second date. Said he thoughtthat was reasonable. So yes, my darling Jess, it was in fact, that bad."
Jess apologizes profusely throughout the day, and as we sit together for lunch, she promises to leave my love life to me.
“It’s fine Jess, I don’t date often anyway.”
“Still, so sorry.”
I move to change the topic, “So how’s it going with Tim?”
Jess pulls a spoon from her mouth, and smiles. It’s a private smile that tells me just how in love she is.
“He’s just---we’re just. Sooo good.” She exaggerates dreamily.
I grin as a response.
“We had dinner with his parents again. I was worried at first, but I really like them.”
Anna walks by pointedly ignoring us, preoccupied with her phone. It has been a theme for her, most of the morning at least.
“You okay, Anna?” I ask.
She murmurs a positive response but continues to flick through her phone in an agitated manner. Well that’s a bit odd.
On Tuesday, after work, I hit the grocer, stocking up on items for the book club meeting tomorrow night. I plan to make pretty much the same dishes as last month but add in a pumpkin cheesecake, perfect for the October weather.
As Wednesday morning rolls around, I go about my usual prep work, both cooking and dressing myself for the event ahead of me.
After the cab drops me and my packages at the door, I make sure everything is running smoothly, before heading to the employee lounge. I drop my things off there and prep the dip quickly. I haven't had to work the floor much, with the new hires, and I find I miss the interaction with my customers. I quickly return to the front.
I have to make myself not think of Beau today. Usually I'm good at not over thinking that last encounter. It’s not until I get home, I start second guessing my choice. Would giving into him been better than this, just to have any part of him? I know the answer. It's just harder to accept today, because I'm still hoping he'll show up.
He doesn't, but ten others do, including my small group of regulars. A few of them watch the stairs, eagerly anticipating Beau; I find my gaze drifting there as well.
“We scared the new guy away,” Mickey mumbles forlornly to the group, and gets an equally forlorn reply.
After introductions, the discussion blossoms. There are even more opinions regarding the second book. It seems that without Beau here, the ladies are a little more open to share.
