He laughs like this is the funniest thing I’ve ever said. “Ours, silly.”
“It’s going well.”
It is not. But honestly, I’ve had worse. The food was good, I haven’t spilled anything on my cute sweetheart-neck blouse (thanks to my apron covering it up), I’ve gotten plenty of timeto experiment with the pasta machine, and nobody’s been rude to me. An even bigger plus? In thirty minutes, I’ll be on my way, and I’ll have a cookie apron from my new best bud. Also, the night is young. It’s only half past seven. There’s a lot to be grateful for.
Kambryn was so right about what to bring Trey as a gift. She has so much gym swag at home, and he seems to love the bright orange drawstring backpack I brought him with the matching water bottle. Speaking of…
“Trey, do you want me to fill up this water bottle for you? You’re going to have quite the hangover tomorrow if you don’t drink some water and get something to eat. You’ve barely touched your pasta.”
He looks down at his plate and wrinkles his nose. “Wanna know a secret?”
“Not really.”
“I like boxed macaroni and cheese better.” He turns around and puts his palms down on Glenda’s workstation dramatically, making her and her friend giggle. “Do you ladies like mac and cheese?”
They all start singing about pizza pie and love again, and I pull out my emergency romance book from the large slot in my purse where I keep it. Kambryn made so much fun of me for bringing it along, but who’s laughing now?
I’m just getting to the good part where the cowboy and his new bride run into town for supplies. All the busybodies give her a hard time in the millinery shop, and he pulls one of those famous you’re-talking-to-my-wife moments. Tell ‘em, Dusty.
But then Trey sidles up next to me, and says in a low voice, “Pardon me, ma’am. It’s clean up time. That there looks like a purty good book with all the lassoing and whatnot.”
I am officially pulled out of the moment and maybe ruined for mail-order-bride books forever. Thanks a lot, Trey.
In his defense, the book is called Lassoing a Lady. Which makes no sense. Who would want to be lassoed like a cow?
I laugh when he starts riding an imaginary horse around the room, at least until I glance over at the doorway and see Liam leaning against it with an unreadable expression on his face.
Chapter 19 – She Invited Herself
Liam
I didn’t mean for Rosalie to spot me lurking in the doorway, but my surprise in seeing her here turned into blatant curiosity. I hope she doesn’t think I’m judging. I’d uncross my arms, but then I wouldn’t know what to do with them. The truth is, I’m glad she doesn’t hate her blind date, even if I hate him a little bit.
Rosalie is not that much younger than me, but at moments like this, I feel so old. I’m a dad waiting on my son to finish class. The guy she’s with looks barely old enough to drink. Or maybe it’s the way he’s dressed with his popped collar, skinny jeans, and a pair of Chucks that are more stroll the mall than play ball.
There is so much to take in here. Are they wearing matching aprons? No one else is wearing matching aprons.
Rosalie takes a step toward me, but at that moment her date runs back to her with a “Yeehaw” and lifts her off her feet.
“Oof. Trey, put me down, dude.”
“Okay, partner.” He sets her down and follows her gaze over to the doorway. “Do you know that guy?”
“I do. He’s my boss.”
“Whoa. Are you in trouble?”
“I don’t think so. I’ll be right back.” She gives him a reassuring smile and walks over to me, resting her head against the back wall of the classroom and sighing. I can smell the peach blossom from her shampoo. It’s a scent I discovered when I caught her on the stairs. Her hair looks really pretty. She’s wearing it down in loose waves that frame her face.
“How was your day?” she asks.
“Good. Busy. Wyatt will be done with karate at eight. We’ll probably go get ice cream. What about you and that guy? What are your plans after this? Do you, uh, need a ride home?”
“We drove separately.”
Our eyes meet, and she wordlessly acknowledges that my concern is warranted but she has it handled.
I’m not about to ask her if she wants to join us for ice cream, but the longer she looks at me, the more I want to.