Page 100 of Offside Rules

Cammy mentions a baby shower, Peyton asks whether the lemon cheesecake cupcakes come in a larger size, and I’m still writing when my coffee arrives.

I like this part. Dates, quantities, flavors. Things I can answer without wondering whether I’m making a terrible decision.

"So how’s the shop coming along?" Penelope asks.

I glance at Ellie, who lifts both hands.

"I’m proud of you. So sue me."

"There’s a space two doors down," I explain. "I’ve spoken to the leasing agent about applying. I’m getting everything together, and the gala payment should get me the rest of the deposit."

"The Second Shift event?" Penelope asks.

I nod. "Four cupcake flavors and two cake pops."

"For five hundred people," Ellie adds.

"I’m trying not to say that part too often."

"You handled yesterday’s order beautifully," Natalia says. "You’ll be ready."

"You also won’t be doing it alone," Peyton adds.

I look down at my notebook, pretending I need to check what I just wrote. They spent hours helping me finish an order when most of them barely knew me. Now they’re discussing another one as if showing up is already decided.

"Thank you," I say. "I’ll probably take you up on that."

"Good," Cammy says. "Just give us jobs before Hunter starts asking which ones he can eat."

Peyton laughs. "He’ll ask anyway."

Penelope closes her notebook. "Send me your pricing and availability too. We order food for office events, and I’d like more dessert options."

"I can do that."

I write it down before she can change her mind.

"You should come over," Penelope tells me. "We watch at my house when the guys are out of town."

"Ellie comes," Natalia says.

I look at her. "You do?"

"Sometimes."

"How did I not know that?"

"You haven’t exactly been eager to discuss the Hawkeyes until recently."

That’s unfortunately true.

"We eat, watch the game, catch up," Penelope says. "You’re welcome whenever you can make it."

"I’d like that."

The answer comes out before I have time to consider what my family would think of it.

I stay through another round of coffee. Keely tells us about a school email she wishes she hadn’t opened, Natalia shows us the gift she finally managed to keep hidden from Luka, and Ellie complains about a supplier who sent the wrong boxes and then suggested she could probably make them work.